THE SINGING FOREST

Living musical environments // Inter-species explorations


Experience the wonder of “plant music,” that is, plants that “sing”. For many years, Nico Georis has been using biofeedback instruments to connect a variety of flora to synthesizers, converting their biodata into music that is strange and breathtaking; a window into the internal workings of nature.

Singing Forest is a name Nico has used for years to encompass his ongoing series of plant music recordings, installations and presentations. He has curated these plant music experiences in gardens, forests, deserts, industrial spaces, music venues, libraries, art spaces and at music festivals.

Singing Forests offer a chance to engage with the living, evolving compositions generated by the plants that surround us. Various combinations of flora generate an evolving ambient soundscape where people can interact with plants and experience them sonically responding to human touch and other subtle changes in environment. 

These installations are intended as an uplifting lounge space for calming the nervous system and experiencing nature in a new way. Time spent in these installations offers a tangible contact experience with the mysterious life force within nature, and often raises eyebrows as to the intelligence of our leafy friends. 

If plants could talk, what would they say? Meet Nico Georis, a Californian musician who has spent two years deciphering the language of flora with technology that turns a plant's biodata into music. LA-based director Maximilla Lukacs traveled to Georis's studio cum greenhouse in Big Sur to document the making of his latest album, which features a tropical Monstera plant that he lovingly christened Shirley.

Plant music dates back to about the 1970’s at least. If you are curious to take a deeper dive into the history of this obscure world of music I suggest this article by Carlo Patrão.