By Jocelle Koh, NOTEP
Thai DJ and environmentalist NOTEP has this uncanny ability to create narratives around our natural environments through music curation and her textural soundscapes. As someone who understands the subtle nuances of what it means both to admire the beauty but acknowledge the fragility of our ecosystems and the impact of human interactions on these systems, we were curious to know what songs inspire her continued advocacy for environmental change. Through the stories through the eyes of humans, soundscapes mimicking various worlds within our systems, from the underwater world to streams, rivers and traditional cultural elements, we see a connection that extends beyond the superficial that grounds NOTEP and also humanity in our relationship with nature.
Track 01: Forever Twin Hearts Part 1 – YAAN: I chose this for how it preserves and reimagines traditional Thai instrumentation through collaboration, keeping cultural ecosystems alive.
Track 02: Chi no Kaze – Ichiko Aoba: Her music feels like pure nature in sonic form, reminding me of the quiet intelligence and spirit of the earth.
Track 03: Cycles – ((( o ))): This track mirrors the repeating rhythms of nature, echoing the cycles we often forget we’re part of.
Track 04: Painted Lady – Salin: I’m drawn to how it holds both fragility and strength, like the resilience of ecosystems under pressure.
Track 05: Mekhong Ballad – COLA REN: This piece connects deeply to the Mekong River, carrying the emotional and environmental weight of a river that sustains so many lives.
Track 06: Birds of Borneo – Yumiko Morioka: As a pioneer of environmental music, her work captures the essence of place, and hearing it live felt like stepping into a living ecosystem.
Track 07: Puddle Underwater – Salamanda: It evokes a microscopic world of water, inviting us to listen closely to nature’s often overlooked details.
Track 08: Cascade – David Eden & H. Takahashi: This track flows like a natural stream, blending organic textures that feel both grounding and expansive.
Track 09: Sesayup Serunai dan Hati Berlabuh – Bottlesmoker & Joongla: I love how it bridges traditional Indonesian sounds with electronic elements, creating a dialogue between heritage and future landscapes.
Track 10: Radio – NOTEP: This piece reflects my own inner transmission, blending human emotion with natural frequencies as a way to reconnect and realign.
