Ichiko Aoba releases new single ‘air’ to support biodiversity

Japanese artist Ichiko Aoba has released a new single titled ‘air’, a collaboration with composer Taro Umebayashi. Recorded at Studio Richter Mahr in the Cotswolds, the track incorporates dawn field recordings of birdsong and the surrounding landscape to integrate the natural world into its composition.

The release is part of the Sounds Right global music initiative, led by the Museum for the United Nations – UN Live and the environmental charity EarthPercent. The project has established ‘NATURE’ as a credited artist on major streaming platforms, ensuring that royalties generated from participating tracks are directed toward biodiversity conservation projects.

Aoba’s involvement is linked to her personal observations of environmental issues, such as coral reef damage and plastic pollution on Hateruma in Japan’s Ryukyu Archipelago. The single’s release coincides with New York Climate Week 2026.