14 May 2026, 11:55 AM
I’ve always been fascinated with the intersections between music and nature, especially as someone who’s dabbled in all sorts of musical instruments over the years.
Spotify has tons of music + nature playlists, and every single one is an absolute gem. Here are some of my favorites:
Sometimes, I prefer listening to nature sounds alone, and Spotify is a treasure trove of that, too. I love Birds in the Forest, Night Rain, and Gentle Waves, among so many others.
Aside from Spotify, there’s also YouTube. My favorite sub-category is musicians who make music while they’re in the great outdoors—it’s exactly what I imagine when I juxtapose nature and music. There’s something so spellbinding about it; something so… pure and human. It’s like getting in touch with our deepest, most natural instincts. Make music; get lost in the melody and be one with your instrument. Be in nature; feel the wind caressing your skin. Hear the birds sing back and the leaves rustling.
I play these videos in the background while I’m doing something else, and I love that each time I look up, I’m graced with a glimpse of a stunning landscape.
Malte Marten Music has been my go-to channel lately. Life has been hectic, to say the least, and sometimes I just don’t want to bombard my brain with yet another onslaught of words. His music is so healing and magical—there’s just something about handpan music that speaks to my soul on a profound level.
And since I’ve been in my mountain era (not to mention that I’ve always adored instrumental guitar music), I found this guitar meditations video particularly endearing.
It’s on my bucket list to play an instrument while in nature.
One day.
Maybe it’s time to get back to the lyre or kalimba?