Local Doccie Shines Light on Whale Song and Ancestral Connections to the Sea

Photo Credit: Daron Chatz

Filmmaker Daron Chatz follows a fascinating collaboration between two local musicians and a marine biologist as they explore a connection with humpback whales through song.

Plettenberg Bay, South Africa (17 December 2025) – When Plett-based Marine Biologist Alejandra Vargas first dropped a hydrophone into the ocean, she was instantly moved by what she heard and felt. It was visceral. Close to the heart.

In the ocean, sound waves travel faster and further than they do in the air. Water is a great conductor, making the resonant sounds of humpback whales a particularly interesting channel that we are able to tune into, thanks to specialised equipment.

Their sound can travel thousands of kilometres. Interestingly, studies have shown that the species actually displays a form of culture through song. Male humpback whales sing a repetitive, stereotyped, socially learnt and culturally transmitted display that slowly evolves each year, as it travels across populations and oceans.

The transmission and vocal culture of whale song is fascinating, and in comparison, so is our human connection to music. So what happens when our songs meet?

Working with Dr Vargas, local musicians Vuyo Katsha and James Van Minnen have already experimented in those realms. In a series of collaborations, the trio head out to sea to record whale song and improvise music around it.

South African filmmaker, photographer and director Daron Chatz captured the experience through an incredible short documentary titled Ancient Voices.

After hitting the water with Vargas to record and capture whale song, James and Vuyo set up in an ancient cave on a private property along the coastline (a home to many thousands of years in human habitation history) where they play their improvised music back into the waters. In this manner, forming a special collaboration as unique as it is captivating.

Through the lens of this entirely unique experience, the ten-minute film tells a deep and significant story about the transportive powers of music and the fascinating history behind our African ancestors and their spiritual connections to the ocean.

“I was inspired by the process that Vuyo, James and Alejandra were entering into on a practical level. On a deeper level, I’m inspired to explore stories of meaning, stories that connect us to ourselves, to each other and to nature.” shares Chatz.

Daron says one of the many mind-boggling experiences while filming the documentary was hearing whale song in person for the very first time.

“The vibration and frequency of these whale songs touch me on a heart level. It is like hearing communication and teachings that transcend linear time and this physical reality. It’s like medicine for the soul.”

Beyond celebrating the wonder of whale song and the transformative powers of music, the documentary also highlights the important plight of protecting our oceans and the many fascinating forms of life that we are constantly still learning about.