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Produced in partnership with forest conservation specialists Everland, La Forêt is the culmination of Barouh's artistic exploration of forests as central to human survival. It features collaborations with artists from the Ainu community - the First Nation Peoples of Japan - and traditional Japanese folkloric rituals that celebrate the forest and its wildlife.
As we remember the knowledge and places Indigenous peoples have long protected, we must also recognize that the fate of our world depends on preserving these vital ecosystems.
"I set out to show how deeply intertwined we as people are with the forests. Nature can survive without us but when the trees feel thirst, so do we. When the trees burn, so do we. And if forests fall, so will we," says Maïa Barouh. "Through this truth, I hope La Forêt inspires a moment of reflection on our relationship with nature, our choices and our responsibilities as consumers and voters. Perhaps it can even help us reconnect with a part of ourselves we often lose in the rush of life."
By blending modern 'pop' and traditional Japanese folk music recorded with only wooden instruments, Barouh creates a rhythmic and natural soundscape to accompany her original poetry performed in French and Japanese. With lyrics that range from the lightness inspired by Barouh's childhood experiences in the forests of rural France to the urgent and fatal consequences of deforestation, La Forêt charts the story of humanity's complex and often destructive relationship with the natural world.
Throughout La Forêt, Barouh pays tribute to Indigenous and traditional communities and their land management practices that have preserved forests for generations. The music features musicians and influences from the Ainu community - an Indigenous community who primarily inhabit the island of Hokkaido - and have suffered colonialism, oppression and displacement, like many Indigenous communities around the world.
The video was filmed in Tono, Iwate Prefecture in collaboration with traditional performers from the region, and includes a performance of shishi odori or 'deer dance'. This ancient performance art, which originated four centuries ago, evolved from a hunters' ritual honoring the spirits of animals into an expression of respect for all living beings. The dancers wear intricate masks depicting creatures like deer, lions and dragons. These sacred creatures often overpower the human dancers to symbolize nature's power.
Everland, which represents community-led forest conservation projects in the Global South, was keen to join forces with Maïa and her community partners to amplify their message in the belief that art can drive meaningful environmental and social change.
"I'm so proud to share La Forêt with the world. Maïa's work is beautiful and it carries a serious message," says Everland's Gerald Prolman, Executive Producer of La Forêt. "Every year about 10 million hectares of forest, an area the size of Portugal, are destroyed. This destruction not only fuels climate change but also threatens the livelihoods of Indigenous and forest-dependent communities. We must stop ruining our world and instead come together to protect these irreplaceable ecosystems before it's too late. The good news is that conservation works, and with global support for community-led projects, we can stop deforestation and provide a pathway for some of the world's most disenfranchised people to meet their needs and build a better life."
Notes to editors
Watch La Forêt: everland.earth/news/la-foret/
Media contact: Will Richard | [email protected]
About Maïa Barouh
Maïa Barouh is a French-Japanese singer, flautist, songwriter and producer. Her sound-world is a unique mix of traditional Japanese singing, electro, pop, rap, tribal grooves with lyrics in French and Japanese. Described as a "punk shaman" by the German press, Maïa effortlessly blends elements from her musical heritage with contemporary sounds to create a distinctive marriage of both cultures.
About Everland
Everland represents the world's largest portfolio of high-impact, community-led forest conservation projects, uniting forest communities and corporations to protect some of our planet's most crucial and irreplaceable ecosystems.