Kenyan musicians Bien and Blinky Bill are among a new wave of artistes using their music to champion conservation, joining a world-first initiative that allows nature itself to be credited as a recording artiste.
The global platform, Sounds Right, launched FEAT. NATURE, enabling musicians across the globe to officially feature natural sounds in their tracks, with royalties split 50:50 between the artiste and NATURE to fund community-led conservation projects.
Since NATURE’s debut on streaming platforms last year, over 26 million listeners across 181 countries have contributed $400,000 to protect ecosystems in the Amazon and Congo Basin.
“We’re giving artistes a simple and impactful way to credit NATURE in their music helping restore nature’s presence in popular culture while directing new royalties to frontline conservation,” said Gabriel Smales, Global Programme Director for Sounds Right – UN Live.
Bien and Blinky Bill are among seven African artistes in this latest wave, releasing tracks inspired by the Congo Basin’s rich soundscapes.
“New music out today Kata Matin ft @nature_theartist a remake of a Luo gospel song that makes me happy. 50% of the streaming royalties off this song go to conservation works in the Congo Basin. I used sounds of the Cicada from there so if you listen intently you will,” said Blinky Bill
Their work follows the footsteps of international acts such as Hozier, Ellie Goulding, and Bomba Estereo, who have previously collaborated with NATURE.
The initiative coincides with growing concern over humanity’s disconnect from nature, with studies showing a 60% decline in people’s cultural connection to the natural world since the 1800s.
Sounds Right hopes that weaving natural sounds back into music can reverse this trend while supporting frontline conservation.
Ahead of COP30 in Brazil, 14 new releases from Latin America and Africa celebrated ecosystems from the Amazon to the Congo Basin.
Beninese-American actor Djimon Hounsou also features on ‘Running Water,’ blending poetry and river sounds into a reflection on humanity’s bond with nature.
Sounds Right is further expanding its reach through partnerships with global artistes including Brazil’s DJ Alok, who will release music with NATURE in 2026.
“Nature has always played an essential role in music, and the time has come for it to be recognised for that,” said Alok.
Led by the Museum for the United Nations – UN Live, the initiative is a unique collaboration between global artistes, sound recordists, producers, creatives, and environmental groups, putting music at the heart of a global conversation about nature’s conservation and restoration.