An Original Album composed by
Peter Raeburn x Biophonica
We Are Biophonica
Each location in every corner of the world is home to thousands of different species. Each with its own orchestra and chorus. Each with a melodic and rhythmic sound signature that tells its own unique story.
‘We Are Biophonica’ - is an intimate love letter and celebration of the remarkable, inter-connected natural planet we call home. Rich in heart, humor, awe and emotion - we will glide, soar, strut, and stot through the seasons of Life, unforgettably touching the lives of families and children around the world.
We are Biophonica features the most diverse group of performers, singers, bassists, natural elements + rhythmic artists in the world [see full cast list]. Drawing from all continents and habitats, nature’s voice in harmony with human, the iconic characters alongside the often under-represented.
Ageless + Timeless.
Each location in every corner of the world is home to thousands of different species. Each with its own orchestra and chorus. Each with a melodic and rhythmic sound signature that tells its own unique story.
‘We Are Biophonica’ - is an intimate love letter and celebration of the remarkable, inter-connected natural planet we call home. Rich in heart, humor, awe and emotion - we will glide, soar, strut, and stot through the seasons of Life, unforgettably touching the lives of families and children around the world.
We are Biophonica features the most diverse group of performers, singers, bassists, natural elements + rhythmic artists in the world [see full cast list]. Drawing from all continents and habitats, nature’s voice in harmony with human, the iconic characters alongside the often under-represented.
Ageless + Timeless.
Peter Raeburn was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and grew up in London, England. He is a multi-award-winning composer, music producer, and songwriter, and is the Founder and Creative Director of Soundtree Music.
Peter's acclaimed feature film soundtracks include 'Force of Nature,' 'Sexy Beast,' 'Under the Skin,' and AACTA-nominated 'The Dry'. He recently scored Thea Hvistendahl's 'Handling the Undead,' which premiered at Sundance, winning the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Original Music and earning a nomination for an Amanda Award for Best Score.
He was also musical director and producer on the highly influential record 'Township Sessions' by The Mothers, which features songs as lyrical health messages created to educate communities in South Africa about essential health issues.
Peter has released four solo records to date, with his highly anticipated latest album 'We Are Biophonica,' set to release on Platoon in August 2024. He also produced and co-wrote Anoushka Shankar's critically acclaimed album 'How Dark It Is Before Dawn,' which was nominated for a 2024 Sky Arts award.
Peter is based in Los Angeles, and when not in the studio, he loves spending time with his family, their dogs, and swimming in the ocean.
PETER RAEBURN
COMPOSER + FOUNDER OF SOUNDTREE
NATURE'S ORCHESTRA
‘We Are Biophonica’ is the union between Mother Nature’s chorus and the profound power of music. Peter Raeburn collaborates with Martyn Stewart, whose life’s work of traveling the world, expertly and lovingly recording nature’s treasures in every shape and size is brought to life in a way that has not been heard before. Peter Raeburn’s music tenderly enfolds the splendor of these natural sounds, unifying them into one harmonious symphonic form that traces a lifecycle from infancy to slumber. ‘We Are Biophonica’ reminds us that we are all intertwined as part of nature’s orchestra and underscores our guiding truth – humanity resides within nature, and we will find connection and peace within ourselves once we learn to cherish its embrace and protect our home.
THE TEAM
Tulips and Chimneys is an award-winning collective of designers, illustrators and directors based in Cape Town, South Africa. Working across all mediums and using a range of techniques including 2D and 3D, they create high-end characters, build dazzling worlds, and tell engaging stories. Tulips & Chimneys have directed work for Hendrick’s Gin, Unilever, Knorr and Riot and Ribena amongst others. With a wealth of skills and experience, they are fully equipped to tackle any ambitious project.
TULIPS + CHIMNEYS
DESIGNERS + ILLUSTRATORS - ALBUM ART
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AMANDA HILL
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, CO-FOUNDER OF THE LISTENING PLANET & BIOPHONICA
Amanda is recognised as a significant change agent and brand builder within the global media industry. Not only is she an experienced board-level executive, but she has also spent her career spearheading brands into new markets, media and platforms. She is now singularly focussed on championing transformative and purpose-led ideas that inspire a new level of action to solve the major issues facing our Planet and Society.
Amanda has worked primarily in media for the past 17 years, she founded BBC Earth and led its development into a global brand reaching >1bn around the world, after which, Amanda became the first global CMO for BBC Worldwide/Studios where she was responsible for developing the BBC brand strategy and global brand portfolio internationally. Amanda latterly served as Global CMO for A&E Networks in New York, prior to joining Harrods as their first Chief Marketing and Customer Officer. She is also an adjunct lecturer and teacher of record in Marketing at Lewis & Clark, and is on the Board of Catlin Gabel, the Wildstar Academy, don’t MiND me, The Listening Planet Foundation, and on the Advisory Board of The London Philharmonic. She was previously on the board of the Royal Academy of Music. She is currently also a juror for MIP TVs SDG Awards, organized in partnership with the United Nations to celebrate global media companies having an impact on planet and society.
Amanda founded The Listening Planet + Biophonica with Martyn in order to do good, for good - to create a living and breathing legacy for her uncle’s work.
TULIPS + CHIMNEYS
DESIGNERS + ILLUSTRATORS - ALBUM ART
Tulips and Chimneys is an award-winning collective of designers, illustrators and directors based in Cape Town, South Africa. Working across all mediums and using a range of techniques including 2D and 3D, they create high-end characters, build dazzling worlds, and tell engaging stories. Tulips & Chimneys have directed work for Hendrick’s Gin, Unilever, Knorr and Riot and Ribena amongst others. With a wealth of skills and experience, they are fully equipped to tackle any ambitious project.
WE ARE BIOPHONICA CREDITS
Composers: Peter Raeburn + Nature Biophonica
Producer: Peter Raeburn
Songwriter: Peter Raeburn
Mix Engineer: Mark Rankin, Peter Raeburn
Mastering Engineer: John Webber
Performers:
Baby:
Nature
Keyboards - Peter Raeburn
Percussion - Various Percussionists in Capetown, SA.
Nature’s Classroom
Nature
Keyboards - Peter Raeburn
Singers - Megan Wyler, John Mourounas, Sasha Baldwin, Various Choir Members in Capetown, SA.
Percussion - Various Percussionists in Capetown, SA.
Hope
Nature
Keyboards - Peter Raeburn
Flute - Luis Almau, Ben Castle
Violin - Eloisa-Fleur Thom, Rowen Merrill
Singers - John Mourounas, Various Choir Members in Capetown, SA.
Percussion - Various Percussionists in Capetown, SA.
Africa
Nature
Keyboards - Peter Raeburn
Singers - Peter Raeburn, Megan Wyler, John Mourounas, Various Choir Members in Capetown, SA.
Percussion - John Mourounas, Various Percussionists in Capetown, SA.
Mother’s Cry
Nature
Keyboards - Peter Raeburn
Singers - Peter Raeburn, Megan Wyler, John Mourounas, Various Choir Members in Capetown SA.
Above and Beyond
Nature
Keyboards - Peter Raeburn
Brass and Woodwind - Ben Castle
Violin - Eloisa-Fleur Thom
Singers - Megan Wyler, Various Choir Members in Capetown SA.
Percussion - Various Percussionists in Capetown SA.
Lullaby
Nature
Keyboards - Peter Raeburn
Singers - Peter Raeburn, Megan Wyler, John Mourounas, Various Choir Members in Capetown SA.
“Nature’s soundscape is a dynamic symphony bursting with life – an ever-changing chorus that is vibrant and diverse. For ‘We Are Biophonica’ my vision was to represent the depth and breadth of this sonic spectrum where each element of nature has their voice, and we humans find our frequency as part of mother nature’s world. Sometimes we’re not sure if it’s a bird or a singer, because birds are singers and singers are birds, and it’s all one. This musical story takes us on a journey through a lifecycle of the natural world, from birth to rest, providing us with an opportunity and invitation to connect”.
- Peter Raeburn, COMPOSER
“I have spent my lifetime trying to record the natural world one sound at a time, aiming to give a voice to the voiceless. Sound can also echo a disappearing world, a sonic landscape undergoing an extinction event of its own – one that is, with painful irony, happening silently. Amanda, Peter and I wanted to write a love letter to the natural world and this is the result. Together, we are able to reach a completely new audience with both a beautiful and deeply important message. Peter is a true master in his field. It has been remarkable to live in his mind and imagination during this time. He has truly composed with nature. That’s quite a feat”
- Martyn Stewart, SOUND RECORDIST
MARTYN STEWART
SOUND RECORDIST + ECOLOGIST + CO-FOUNDER OF THE LISTENING PLANET & BIOPHONICA
Martyn Stewart, is regarded as the “David Attenborough of sound” - BBC + National Geographic
For over 58 years, Martyn has travelled the world, microphone and recorder in hand. He was driven by one single mission, to give nature a voice and to inspire in us a greater desire to both connect and safeguard our natural world. In his lifetime, Martyn has built one of the most important and also largest personal living libraries of nature sounds in the world with more than 37 thousand hours and almost 100 thousand stems from over 60 countries. His work has been featured in hundreds of documentaries, films, live experiences and, more recently, in albums, music and animation. Since he began his work, 75 per cent of the landscapes and soundscapes that he’s recorded have vanished, been silenced or suffered significant degradation.
3 years ago, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. At that point, he teamed up with his niece, Amanda Hill, to set up The Listening Planet, a foundation dedicated to continuing Martyn’s lifetime of work and sharing it with the world. In 2022 they went on to create Biophonica as a means of partnering with artists and musicians all over the world and to put music at the heart of a global conversation about nature conservation and restoration.
