“It’s quite upsetting to him personally and emotionally, as one could imagine,” Hornstein said of the impact on Ut.

"It's having something that emotionally resonates. That could be a lyric. It could be the way that the instrumental lands."

In the coming days, KI became a locus of support, both practically and emotionally.

“A lot of composers are still recovering from everything, financially and emotionally,” he said.

The group argued the animals had a right to freedom because they were emotionally complex and intelligent animals.