Nature’s natural music has long captivated the human spirit with its inherent ability to evoke a profound emotional response. This blend of natural acoustics and musical composition has been a cornerstone of auditory experiences since the dawn of time, as human beings evolved in a way that allows all of our senses to tune in to the world around us as much for survival as we did for pleasure.
Historically, incorporating nature’s beauty and raw power in music has deepened the music’s emotional impact. Hinako Omori, a revered music producer, explores this unique symbiosis, stating in a recent interview with her:
“I always love spending time in nature and… I Imagine myself as like a pair of ears in an environment.” – Hinako Omori
Her work, deeply inspired by her experiences in natural settings, underlines the potent connection between nature and human emotions. Now that our original article, made in partnership with Ableton Loop, has been online for a week now, I wanted to take a bit of extra time to meditate on everything that she’s said and put her thoughts into new words, allowing us to explore her life’s work through a different lens.
Integrating Nature Sounds in Modern Music Production
Incorporating nature sounds into modern music is a journey of balance and creativity. Capturing the authenticity of nature while blending it seamlessly with musical elements requires skill and sensitivity, as a heavy-handed approach will be far from palatable to modern audiences who have come to expect a specific sonic palate from the commercial music dominating their TikTok Feeds. Omori recalls her experience at Real World Studios,
“So, it was there at Real World Studios in Box. It’s [a town] near Bath in the UK. It’s Peter Gabrielles studio and it’s literally in a forest.” – Omori
The setting provided a rich backdrop for her album, where the sounds of the surrounding forest became an integral part of her music, shaping the record’s sonics and guiding her inspiration throughout the entire creation of the music itself. She elaborates on her creative process,
“All of this nature sounds or the field recordings and the album are from the surrounding areas.” – Omori
This approach exemplifies how Omori intertwines the raw beauty of nature with her musical compositions, creating an immersive and dynamic experience.
Omori’s first album “a journey..” is a reflection of her deep connection with nature, is a testament to this unique approach. The album, recorded in a studio in a forest, features a mesmerizing blend of natural sounds and music, tastefully produced and masterfully curated. The serene setting, with a stream flowing around the studio and nature visible through floor-to-ceiling windows, became a source of inspiration and the unseen and unheard instrument that acts as the album lead from start to finish.
The album, resonating with the tranquility of its environment, showcases her skill in capturing the essence of nature in her music.
The Expert’s Personal Journey with Nature Sounds
Hinako Omori’s journey with nature sounds in music began with a deep appreciation for natural environments. This journey, filled with exploration and discovery, has seen her techniques evolve, capturing the essence of nature in her music. It’s no coincidence that the natural world around us is in a constant state of flux, a parallel that cannot be ignored when drawn between the movement of the wind or the rushing of a create and the creative process itself.
Her profound connection with nature and her mindfulness of its fragility is evident in her works, as she states,
“There are studies that show that if you look at a photo of nature, like a forest, it really has a very positive effect on our well-being. . . [But] there’s like a loss of biodiversity, air pollution as you described, climate migration, it does feel like we’re living in a bit of a crisis right now ” – Omori
This fragility, at least to me, makes the natural world just as mutable as a creator’s muse. There’s a famous saying that you never step into the same stream twice, and while that quote speaks to the fact that the stream is different each time you step into it, it also suggests that WE change as well. The ‘you’ today will be a different ‘you’ tomorrow. Just as I can’t step into the same stream today as I will tomorrow, I know that when I open Ableton tomorrow, I will be a different creative person than if I were to stop writing this paragraph and open my DAW today instead.
Nature Sounds and Their Future in Music
Looking ahead, the role of nature in music is set to evolve in new and exciting ways. With technological advancements, capturing and integrating these sounds into music is becoming more nuanced, sometimes to a fault. Microphones and AI are improving at removing imperfections is the listening environment and in the recordings, making us wonder if these blemishless recordings will take away some of the magic of the gritty and imperfect beauty of the forest, streams, and trails surrounding us.
Omori is optimistic about the role of nature sounds in conveying powerful messages about environmental awareness and sustainability. Reflecting on her experiences, she shares,
“It’s like the most peaceful place I think I’ve ever, had the honor of making something in.” She concludes with a sense of hope and responsibility, “Biodiversity for me is reducing the effect of what we’re doing to nature and nature’s happiness.” – Omori
The future of nature-inspired music promises a fusion of art and message. As technology advances, so does the potential for these sounds to be used innovatively to create beautiful music and raise awareness about the importance of preserving our natural world. Hinako Omori’s work is a beacon in this movement, showcasing how music can be a powerful tool for environmental advocacy and connection.
The fusion of music and nature sounds extends beyond artistic expression; it symbolizes our profound connection with the environment. Hinako Omori’s insights and experiences highlight this union, showcasing its power to move, heal, and inspire. As we navigate an era marked by environmental challenges, her work serves as a reminder of our intrinsic bond with the natural world and the potential of music to echo this connection.
Keep up with Hinako Omori on Instagram and Bandcamp and her website.
Real World Studios photos by York Tillyer.
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
