The Tune into Nature Music Prize aims to celebrate nature and we’ve been listening to entries since early January. The winners have now been announced and they and shortlist the have been featured on BBC Radio and in The Guardian. You can listen to the show on catch-up or try the playlist.
We regularly hear about the climate and biodiversity crises, but fostering hope and forging a new bond with nature is part of the solution. The entrants of the Tune into Nature Music Prize exemplify this, offering music that not only celebrates but also inspires hope through our connection with the natural world.
The competition welcomed entries from musicians and singer/songwriters aged 18-30 whose original work demonstrates a true collaboration with nature including sounds of the natural world. Two entrants, of very different styles, wowed the judges so much that they awarded the prize jointly.
Two entrants, of very different styles, wowed the judges so much that they awarded the prize jointly.
The first winning track, Dawn by Josephine Illingworth, 23, offered total engagement in the sound world of the mountain.
Josephine said “Dawn, Aurora is a piece made from sounds I collected over several weeks of sleeping alone in mountain huts across the Dolomites. Its lyrics are taken from entries left in the guestbooks of these huts by past visitors. It is a tapestry of the memories and experiences taking place across the mountains, and a call for us to see life and movement in things we may think are silent. I am so honoured to be chosen for the Tune Into Nature prize, and I hope that you can listen to the song, and that perhaps it touches you in some way”
The second winning track, Nightingale by Wildforms, aka Dan Cippico, turned mesmeric bird song into a brilliant drum n bass track.
Dan said “I’m excited that the interplay of nature and music is being celebrated by a prize such as this, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity it’s provided for my music – especially to be heard by such an established panel. My track is based upon a Nightingale that I recorded singing in the UK last Spring. It was my first time hearing the bird, and I was instantly inspired by its song, which to me, evoked the Jungle and Drum & Bass music genres that were a major influence on my musical upbringing.”
Nine other artists were shortlisted for the Prize, including a range of genres from Hip Hop, Rock and Pop to Jazz, Folk and Classical, showing the universal appeal and relevance of nature as a source of inspiration and connection. Here’s a playlist of their and the winners’ tracks.
The BBC has supported the shortlisting and judging process with expertise from their music teams and presenters. The final tracks were previewed across BBC Radio networks, including Radio 1, 6 Music and Radio 3, which has devoted a special edition of Unclassified to featuring the winners and shortlisted artists, with further airplay planned on Radio 2 and BBC Introducing shows.
Elizabeth Alker, presenter of Radio 3’s new music show Unclassified, said: “Unclassified is a show for artists who work across genres so I’ve really enjoyed being a judge for this prize which welcomes acts from a range of different disciplines. The future of the planet affects us all and it’s been a privilege to hear talented young composers make work which celebrates and advocates for the natural world. Our special ‘Tune Into Nature’ episode of Unclassified is a showcase of all the shortlisted acts and each one deserves to be heard on BBC Radio 3”.
Alongside backing from the University of Derby’s Nature Connectedness Research Group, the competition is backed by a collaboration of recognised environmental-loving organisations including Yorkshire Sculpture Park, The Conservation Foundation, EarthPercent and Sounds Right.
