NATURE
On the latest anniversary of Earth Day, the original Creator made a remarkable debut on Spotify, officially reclaiming the right to be recognized as a full-fledged artist. Have you ever considered how many times you hear the sounds of nature in your favorite songs? These subtle melodies can now finally generate royalties that will support the mission of reconnecting us, human beings, with our Earth.
The sounds of birds, water, trees, and fire represent the earliest music ever made in our atmosphere—the seed of inspiration for every human artist who has ever walked the Earth. These natural sounds have influenced and inspired our ancestors for millions of years, shaping generations of storytellers and undergoing countless scientific and spiritual studies and reinterpretations. Over the course of millions of years, we have come to realize that neglecting Nature in our creative processes is akin to denying our own roots. This disconnection not only separates us from ourselves and our surroundings but also from the very Soul of it all—the mysterious force that drives all creative endeavors and is continually sought by artists to inspire their work.
Some musicians have recently recognized the need to generate income through their music to support our ecosystem, challenging the notion that true progress in a three-dimensional society does not come from art. Once again, the most powerful force has proven to be an idea, similar to those embraced by creators such as Brian Eno and Nile Rodgers. These early proponents, along with artists like Aurora, Ellie Goulding, or BTS, have incorporated natural elements into their music, reimagining both old and new songs to highlight the beauty of natural instruments.
This initiative, curated by the Museum for the United Nations, aims to contribute to global ecosystem conservation by generating revenue through musical royalties (calculated based on the number of streams). Each song featuring nature sounds is included in Spotify's Nature playlists. Iconic tracks featured include David Bowie and Brian Eno’s 1995 collaboration “Get Real”, remixed by Eno to feature wild animal sounds and rainfall, as well as the updated version of “Brightest Blue” by Ellie Goulding, which incorporates the sounds of wind, water, and native birds from Colombia’s Páramo region.
According to Forbes, this project "may generate more than $40 million for conservation in the next four years. It also hopes to reach more than 600 million individual listeners in that period." The funds will support organizations working in regions such as India, Indo-Burma, Myanmar, the Philippines, the Atlantic Forest, the Tropical Andes, Madagascar, the Indian Ocean Islands, and Sundaland. As of April 30, Nature as an artist has already attracted an impressive 2.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify. This is not surprising: Nature, whose sounds are a source of therapy, wisdom, and knowledge, is finally receiving the recognition she deserves. Once again, music proves to be a bridge between ourselves and a hopeful reality.
