News and Stories

In a collaboration that’s as wild as it is wonderful, PLAY Audio Agency has teamed up with the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden to turn the sound of lettuce—and the famous Fiona the hippo—into a one-of-a-kind musical masterpiece.

The creative partnership is part of PLAY’s acclaimed PLAY IT series, where the agency transforms everyday sounds into unexpected works of art. This time, the subject is hydroponically grown lettuce, cultivated on Zoo grounds. Every week, the Zoo yields more than 1,000 heads of lettuce in hydroponic containers to help feed its animal residents, from giraffes to the Zoo’s biggest star, Fiona.

Once the lettuce leaves the hydroponic containers, it travels to the Zoo’s in-house grocery store and kitchen – the Commissary, where keepers weigh, pack, load and deliver to the animal habitats around the Zoo.  A full-time nutritionist ensures that each animal gets a balanced diet by considering species and individual needs.

PLAY Audio captured the sonic journey of this leafy green, from the gentle hum of grow lights and the satisfying rustle of harvested lettuce to the hearty chomp of hippos enjoying a fresh snack. All of these elements were recorded and sampled to compose a vibrant, rhythmic piece of original music that gives voice to the care, precision, and creativity behind the Zoo’s daily operations.

“The PLAY Audio crew showed up looking like a scene out of Ghostbusters—jumpsuits, recording gear, microphones strapped to their backs—and immediately got to work,” said Chad Yelton, Cincinnati Zoo Vice President of Marketing.  “They did an incredible job capturing the unique sounds of our Zoo, from hydroponic lettuce rustling to the satisfying crunch of Fiona’s bite. It’s a wild and creative way to bring our critical behind-the-scenes work to life.”

The Zoo’s Commissary team works 365 days a year preparing and delivering specialized diets, including the homegrown lettuce, to animals all over the 80-acre campus. You can hear their work, and the resulting chomps, in this music.

“We at Play Audio Agency are incredibly excited and honored to collaborate with the Cincinnati Zoo on this unique project. As a local company, we have immense civic pride for the Zoo and its vital role in our community. It has been a truly remarkable experience to work with the zoo staff and alongside the animals to capture the authentic sounds of their world, transforming them into a creative expression that celebrates the Zoo’s incredible environment and its commitment to animal care.”

Listen to the full PLAY IT track and watch the behind-the-scenes video now at:

(Tall Version)  https://playaudioagency.box.com/s/wp1dqm983dfizbjv5qd29yl8wjgugcxn

(Wide Version)  https://playaudioagency.box.com/s/lvm2r36nvk84nosgojzz1e1j8yrkz9s2