He Played Guitar for an Okapi. It Walked Right up to Him.

Quick Take

• One animal was declared impossible to approach, but that changed the moment Plumes started playing. See the okapi encounter →
• Plumes spent three years going viral for music, but fame was never the point. His actual goal might change how you see his videos entirely. Discover his real purpose →
• One encounter scared him off so badly that he packed up and left, though not because of the animal you'd expect. Read about the rhino visit →

When you think of serenading an audience, you probably imagine a packed concert hall or a cozy coffeehouse stage. French music artist Plumes, however, prefers a more unconventional crowd — one with fur, feathers, and sometimes a set of very curious horns. Armed with his flamingo-pink guitar and a heart for animals, Plumes has made it his mission to bring acoustic melodies to camels, giraffes, monkeys, and even the elusive okapi, creating tender, viral moments that blur the line between music and mutual connection.

“I just wanted to see if cows really liked music,” he says of the experiment that launched it all. What followed was a stampede (sometimes literally) of new four-legged fans — and a musical journey that’s still unfolding today.

What first inspired you to bring your music into nature and play for animals?

Well, this whole thing started about three years ago, when I first heard somewhere that cows enjoy music — that music feels good to them. So, I wanted to try it out. And at the time, I was living in the countryside with my grandma, so I thought it could be the perfect opportunity to try it with cows. I went from there, and it ended up being an amazing experience, because they were listening to the music. I basically haven’t stopped since.

What was that moment like?

Well, they all came running. At first, you’re a little surprised and even scared, maybe. They’re huge, you know? And you underestimate how huge they are! So you’re like, “Are they gonna stop?” And they do stop once they’re right against you. So, that’s good. They just stayed around and listened to music for almost an hour, which was pretty great. They also rub their heads against you and give you some cow love.

You’ve played for everything from horses and pigs to monkeys and camels. Do different species of animals react differently?

Yeah! Some are more curious, for example, and some are more shy. So it takes a little more playing to get used to each other. Sometimes it takes 10 minutes for them to even make a move towards me. But after that, it’s pretty much the same. They all want to get close and share something — a little moment with me.

Have there been any specific stories that really stand out? Any favorite moments?

Recently, I had the opportunity to sing for rhinos, which was pretty awesome. They’re very impressive, and they turned out to be the sweetest and very kind in their body language. So that was fun. I even got to pet them, which was pretty special. But I would say the most special and surprising thing was the okapi. The okapis are very wild, so I was basically told, “You can try, but there’s no way it’s going to get close to you.” And turns out, the minute I started playing music, he came right up against me to listen to it.

Was acoustic music an intentional choice based on how animals respond to sound? Or has that always been your personal style?

It’s true that it turned out great, because I believe that if I was amplified, or if I was playing something different, it probably wouldn’t work as well. But I’ve always loved acoustic music. I’m a big fan of The Lumineers and Mumford & Sons, so I’ve always loved playing my acoustic guitar anyway. It’s perfect that animals seem to enjoy it as well.

Almost as exciting as playing for the animals … We hear you were once on stage with Green Day!

Yes! I used to love rock and punk rock as well (and I had a phase where I would play more electric). Green Day has some great acoustic songs, and I got to play one with them, which was awesome.

Do you let the animals guide what you’re playing, or do you go in knowing what you’re going to play in advance?

It’s not for the animals per se; it’s more for my human audience that I try to choose a different song every time. I feel like it would get boring very fast if I were to always play the same song. I don’t think animals care — they just like the vibrations and a soothing sound. But I try to play at least three or four songs for them. The goal isn’t just to make a video, it’s also to share something with them and everyone else. So I try to stay a minimum of 30 minutes to an hour with each animal that I meet.

What do you hope that people watching the videos learn from watching you interact with the animals?

If I can show how sensitive animals are through those videos, maybe people will think twice about their own choices. Unfortunately, they are very abused, and it’s a shame. But I don’t want to tell people what to do; I feel like it can be very counterproductive. So I just put out my videos, and people can take what they want from it.

Do you think that animals appreciate music the same way humans do, or do you feel it’s more about energy and presence and trust?

I think discovering something new for them is very important. A lot of the animals I meet can be quite bored in their pens. They stay there all day. And even having a new activity to do can be important for them. So it’s not always about just the music. It’s also about entertainment and enrichment, which they use a lot in the zoos and sanctuaries I’ve visited.

You just mentioned zoos and sanctuaries. How do you choose where to go and play?

I pretty much go where people invite me. Whenever someone wants me to sing for the animals and I’m free, I do it. Sanctuaries are my favorite for obvious reasons. But I also like playing at zoos. The videos in zoos get a lot of exposure, so it allows me to share with so many people from organizations that are dear to my heart. So I feel like it’s a positive thing.

Many, if not most, of your videos are of you singing to animals in English. Do you sing to them in French as well?

I recently put out my new single, which is French — I make French pop music. I started singing it for them, and it’s funny because it has a very soothing impact on them. They start falling asleep whenever I sing that song. If it were a human audience, maybe I would take it badly, but with them, it’s cute!

Have you ever had any animal encounters that have made you nervous?

I mentioned the rhinos earlier, and that’s the most nervous I’ve ever been. I usually spend a minimum of 30 minutes with the animals, but on the first day with the rhinos, after 10 minutes, we were so scared that we decided to just pack up and go. It was me and my mom, because my mom films all my videos. But we came back the next day, and we stayed much longer that time around.

What would people be most surprised to learn about your music and the animals you play for?

I’m thinking about pigs, because I’ve had the opportunity to sing for them a lot recently. It’s surprising how they’re so much like dogs in so many ways. And I found out they’re even more intelligent than dogs. I even saw them do tricks. You tell them to go back, and they will — move away a bit, stuff like that. And they can be very receptive and sensitive to music. So, I would say that was surprising.

What’s next for you?

Well, I’m going to keep doing this because it’s something I enjoy a lot. I enjoy shooting the videos; I even enjoy working on them afterwards. Hopefully, I will have a couple of new singles coming out soon. I also had the idea to invite artists who share my passion for animals to come and sing for them with me. So, I’m going to do that in the next few months.

Are there any animals you’ve not yet played for that you really want to?

Honestly, not really. I’ve been lucky enough to do so many of them! I always used to say that elephants were my dream animal to play for, and I had the opportunity to do that recently. I would like to do it on the other side of the fence someday. I know there are sanctuaries in Thailand and Africa where you can be up against them. That would be great, because they always seem to reach out to me, and if I could reach back, that would be nice.

Do you have any animals of your own?

No. I always wanted pets growing up, and maybe that’s why I’m trying to meet so many of them now.

Watch all of the animal concerts Plumes has performed on his Instagram channel, found here.