> Just as a completely random example, you could go out, record noises your environment (even if it's just with the smartphone), grab interesting parts, chop them up, process them and turn them into unique new instruments.

I'm not sure if you already knew this, but this is actually a thing already - it's been called "Botanica" and there are a bunch of cool tracks floating around.

Sample track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0QCBPnJz5w

Obligatory Ben Levin video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-mK82gLkWE