IKLIM gathers musicians to amplify conversations around the climate crisis
In a remarkable gathering of talent and purpose, 15 musicians and bands from across Indonesia met in Bali earlier this month to show their commitment in addressing the climate crisis. Prominent Indonesian acts such as alternative indie legends Efek Rumah Kaca, singer and producer Petra Sihombing, all female metal band Voice of Baceprot (VOB), and many more participated in artist climate training organized by IKLIM (The Indonesian Climate Communications, Arts, and Music Lab), an initiative that Kopernik has supported since early 2023. During the four-day workshop, participating musicians were provided with information and data about the climate crisis from climate and environmental experts as well as exploring the creative process and the role that artists can play in addressing the climate crisis.
For the last 10 years, Kopernik has been actively collaborating with artists, musicians, and the creative sector to address social and environmental challenges. Building on this work, we formed the IKLIM initiative and supported the establishment of Music Declares Emergency (MDE) Indonesia in early 2023 – making it the first Asian chapter of the global MDE movement. The initiatives aim to amplify the climate conversation and inspire action on climate issues through the powerful medium of music.
This year marks the second year of IKLIM. In the first year, we gathered 13 musicians in Bali for a similar workshop focusing on music and climate. After the workshop, each musician produced a song, which was then released as a compilation album ‘sonic/panic.’ Gede Robi, one of the initiators of this initiative, emphasizes the critical role musicians play in mainstreaming climate issues in society, an important step towards policy and regulatory reform. “Our synergy through music aims to shape public opinion concerning the climate crisis," said Robi.
This year, IKLIM is collaborating with another 15 musicians from diverse genres such as rock, metal, pop, hip-hop, folk, and psychedelia. The musicians were selected through an open call conducted earlier this year, and come from across Indonesia, namely Papua, West Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, Bali, and from different parts of Java.
Artist Climate Training at the Kopernik office.
The participating musicians this year are Asteriska, Bsar, Daniel Rumbekwan, Bachoxs, Down For Life, Efek Rumah Kaca, Jangar, Las!, MatterMos, Petra Sihombing, Poker Mustache, Rhosy Snap, The Vondallz, Voice of Baceprot, and Wake Up Iris.
Vania Marisca from the duo Wake Up Iris, expressed her excitement about participating in this year's IKLIM workshop. “We learned a lot about the climate crisis, and almost all of the information was data-related. As musicians, we see it as an opportunity to creatively process this information and convey it to a broader audience,” she said.
Asteriska and Petra Sihombing planting trees to offset their carbon emissions.
The workshop concluded with tree-planting in the Gianyar area, to offset the carbon emissions generated by the musicians’ travel and activities while in Bali. Over the next couple of months, the musicians will be busy creating songs connected to the climate crisis. This work is expected to be released at the end of 2024.
By harnessing the influence of popular culture, music, and the arts, the IKLIM initiative can amplify the climate crisis conversation, advocate for a more sustainable future, and inspire people to take action to protect the planet.
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Follow Music Declares Emergency’s Instagram Account @musicdeclares_indonesia for the latest updates on this initiative.
