Coinciding with the celebration of Earth Day 2025, Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) is launching Life Music, the first album of natural sounds presented with partners from nature for nature and back to nature. Life Music contains 10 nature sounds recorded from various YKAN working areas, such as Papua, Sulawesi, and Kalimantan.
Director of Utilization of Environmental Services and Conservation Areas, Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE), Ministry of Forestry, Nandang Prihadi expressed his appreciation for the initiative to launch the Life Music Album to further raise public awareness of the importance of environmental conservation. According to him, music is a universal medium that can touch hearts and encourage people to take action.
“The launch of this album is a very relevant moment with Earth Day, reminding us all of our shared responsibility to preserve nature for future generations,” said Nandang in a press conference in Jakarta, on Wednesday (23/4).
In line with Nandang, YKAN Executive Director Herlina Hartanto said that the launch of the Life Music Suara Alam album was also to remind the public of the immense benefits of nature for the survival of humans and other living things. Herlina cited the example of forest ecosystems, which provide food, shelter, clean water, and medicines, especially for local communities. Forests also play an important role in regulating micro and global climate, absorbing and storing carbon, and reducing extreme events such as floods, landslides, and tsunamis.
“Nature also gives us one extraordinary gift, which we often don't realize or appreciate, which is the beauty of natural sounds. The sounds of nature, such as the singing and chirping of birds, can bring us happiness. The sound of crashing waves or rain can give us tranquility. If nature is destroyed, this gift will be lost. Can we imagine living amid a desolate nature, without these sounds? Through this Life Music album, we invite the public to protect nature and appreciate the special gift that nature has given us,” Herlina said.
Meanwhile, YKAN Supervisor and senior journalist Endy Bayuni said on the same occasion that it was time for nature conservation efforts to be included in public discussions, including as an important agenda for media coverage. Therefore, he welcomed the presence of Life Music, which is considered to be a way to involve the public in environmental conservation activities. “When more and more people are talking about environmental conservation efforts, then hopefully they will be moved to get involved. 'Life Music' can be one of the paving the way,” Endy said.
Life Music Album Inspiration
YKAN Communications Director Priscilla Christin explained that the idea for Life Music was proposed by Moonfalks, who was inspired by the beautiful sounds that nature produces and that anyone can enjoy freely. “Just like musicians, nature also deserves to receive royalties from the sounds it produces and we enjoy. This first nature sound album is expected to be enjoyed by the public, and make the public appreciate nature even more,” said Priscilla.
Priscilla explained that currently the Life Music album can be accessed by the public through various digital music channels such as Spotify and YouTube. By listening to this sound, the public participates in giving royalties to the musician, namely nature. The royalties received will support the conservation programs that YKAN runs with partners in land and sea areas in various places in Indonesia, including in Papua and Kalimantan, for the preservation of Indonesia's nature.
Some of the nature sounds available in the Life Music album include The Sound of Raja Ampat, Chimes of Wangi Beach, Whispers of Lake Nyadeng, Harmony of Wehea Forest, Cenderawasih Bird of Paradise at Raja Ampat, and others including The Sound of Rain in Merasa. These sounds of nature come from various places where YKAN works with partners to protect nature.
One of these places is Kampung Merasa, which is an indigenous Dayak village in Berau Regency. Irmaya Banaweng, a cocoa farmer from Kampung Merasa who was present at the event, said that the people in his village have for generations lived side by side in harmony with nature.
“Nature and the forest give us everything. We also grow cocoa. The quality is good because nature is still preserved. The fermented cocoa we produce is well known, and has even passed the national selection for Cocoa of Excellence in Paris, France,” said Irmaya.
Renowned domestic jazz musician NonaRia also provided support for the presence of Life Music and hopes that this album can be enjoyed by people from all walks of life. The collaboration with partners in the Life Music campaign is also part of the realization of the spirit of collaboration in the conservation mission to realize a sustainable Indonesia.
To access the Life Music Suara Alam Album, listeners can directly type the keyword 'Suara Alam Nusantara' on Spotify or YouTube. Life Music will also be available to listen to through the Nature Booth, a simple installation placed in several crowded spots in Jakarta throughout 2025. The locations of the Nature Booths can be found on YKAN's social media accounts. In addition, in some places, there will be tent cards that can be scanned to access this music album directly.
Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) is a scientific-based non-profit organization that has been present in Indonesia since 2014. With the mission of protecting lands and waters as life support systems, we provide innovative solutions to realize the harmony of nature and humans through effective natural resource management, prioritizing a non-confrontational approach, and building a network of partnerships with all stakeholders for a sustainable Indonesia. For more information, visit ykan.or.id.