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PODCASTS

“It left the audience feeling truly humbled, while reminding me of the continuing power of birdsong to inspire and move us.”

“An extraordinary musical experience, it opens your ears to nature in a completely new way.”

“It’s a magical exchange between a human and an animal, with each riffing off of the other’s melodies and diving into the collaboration.”

"It’s a live-music experience unlike any other."

“A meditative trek into the mud and moonlight and a communion with nature, Lee’s performances are also designed to extol mindful presence and the power of deep listening.”

“The strangest and most wonderful concert…magical and spontaneous.”

Print & Online

News, Journals, Magazines & Online Features

Press

Maggi Hambling: Nightingale Night

Inspired by a night with SWN, renowned artist Maggi Hambling created a striking new series of paintings capturing the nightingale's song in gold against black grounds. This illuminating exhibition and accompanying book explore the songbird's rich artistic and cultural legacy across thousands of years.

London Review of Books

Mary Wellesley wrote about accompanying Sam on a nighttime walk to hear the nightingales in Sussex for the London Review of Books in June 2024.

The Guardian

The Guardian's Patrick Barkham interviewed Sam about his musical collaborations with Nightingales for a full-page spread in March 2021.

The Washington Post

SWN was host to 40 environmental professionals of colour in 2023. The event was covered by Dhruti Shah for The Washington Post.

Financial Times

Sam discussed his Nightingale duets with Joy Lo Dico for this Financial Times article.

Byline Times

John Mitchinson reflects on a cold April night in Gloucestershire, listening for the increasingly rare song of the Nightingale for the Byline Times.

The Times

What did The Times newspaper have to say about SWN? Katie Gibbons interviewed Sam for this 2017 feature.

BBC Music Magazine

Simon Broughton from BBC Music Magazine joined Sam and cellist Matthew Barley for a magical nighttime encounter, where the musicians duetted with the enchanting song of the Nightingale.

Emergence Magazine

Emergence Magazine's Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee interviewed Sam for this detailed and in-depth feature on SWN.

Evening Standard

A 5-star review of an “experience unlike any other”

The Guardian

An in-depth feature from 2019 written by veteran journalist Robin Denslow

The Irish Times

A review of the book and project from Ireland

BBC Culture

An in-depth feature on Nature and Art from the BBC

The Guardian

Patrick Barkham's superb feature on our WR action in Berkeley Square

No Depression

A write-up by the USA's famous No Depression web magazine

Imagine5

Imagine5, the very stylish Magazine did a wonderful feature on SWN

The Guardian

A splendid environmental piece about birdsong in the charts and SWN

Resurgence Magazine

An op-ed piece Sam wrote for this venerable magazine

Television & Film

Featured

The Nightingale’s Song

In Spring 2023, Emergence Magazine spent time in the Sussex woods with SWN’s Sam Lee for their 40-minute mini-feature film ‘The Nightingale's Song’.

RSPB Live

Sam collaborated with the RSPB to celebrate 100 years of singing with Nightingales at Knepp Rewilding Estate. Livestreamed on 19 May 2024 and featuring Tara Franks.

ITV Breakfast

Wildlife presenter Megan McCubbin joined Sam on a nighttime walk as featured on ITV Breakfast News in 2021.

Gogglebox

Watch the whole SWN experience get ripped apart with the Gogglebox Treatment - prepare to laugh out loud at the whole thing!

BBC Breakfast

Sam brings song and stories to BBC Breakfast as presenter David Sillito spends a damp night in Kent exploring the song of the Nightingale.

NHK Direct Talk

Japan’s national broadcaster visited Sam to film this short documentary in Spring 2021.

Featured

BBC R4 Anniversary Broadcast

Sam marked the 100th anniversary of cellist Beatrice Harrison's duet with a Nightingale in this special broadcast. Featuring cellist Francesca Ter-Berg, violinist Flora Curzon and viola player Laurel Pardue.

BBC R3 Sunday Feature

Writer and musician Kate Kennedy celebrates the 100th anniversary of cellist Beatrice Harrison's live duet with a Nightingale, joined by Sam Lee for BBC Radio.