Singer Rara Sekar Finds Inspiration in Nature, Urges Return to Simple Living

OXFORD, England (AP) — Rara Sekar shut her eyes in meditation following a performance where she sang about beams of light piercing the mist, reminiscent of a political prisoner’s demise over sixty years ago.

The song, which recalls a period of political turmoil in Indonesia, has become a symbol for the singer who has focused on encouraging people to be creative in responding to the climate crisis in Indonesia, her homeland.

"The Prisoner's Song" serves as "a great source of solace," Sekar stated to The Associated Press following her performance at the Skoll World Forum on Thursday. This forum is a yearly gathering centered around concepts aimed at addressing challenges such as climate change, healthcare, and human rights. "Whenever I feel disheartened during my work in climate advocacy or any other form of activism, singing this song helps me immensely,” she added.

Sekar’s initiative promoting environmental health in Indonesia centers around embracing "a low-waste lifestyle." This approach encompasses gathering edible plants from forests and sharing meals at community gatherings. From 2022 through 2023, Sekar arranged bike tours across the island of Java, regions affected by severe erosion and floods damaging houses. She stated these events aimed to highlight how connecting with nature can be uplifting for residents.

I make sure to contribute positively to nature in all my actions," she stated. "It’s not only about the music I create but also about my lifestyle.

An extensive tropical island chain spanning the equator, Indonesia boasts the planet’s third-largest expanse of rainforest, teeming with biodiversity such as orangutans and elephants. However, the country grapples with significant ecological damage, along with an array of severe climate-related issues like floods and landslides occurring more frequently in recent times.

Indonesia continually ranks among the top global sources of heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to the combustion of fossil fuels like coal, alongside deforestation and the ignition of wetland areas known as peatlands.

From 1950 onwards, over 74 million hectares (approximately 285,715 square miles) of Indonesia’s rainforests—covering an expanse double that of Germany—have been cleared, damaged, or destroyed due to activities like logging, burning, and land conversion for palm oil production, paper and rubber farming, as well as mining and other commercial ventures, reports Global Forest Watch.

At Skoll, held in Oxford, England, Sekar presented "Kabut Putih." She was performing with Found Sound Nation, a New York-based collective dedicated to fostering community engagement via musical activities.

"Kabut Putih," also known as "White Fog," was penned in 1971 by Zubaidah Nuntjik, an Indonesian woman thought to have passed away following her release from a detention camp. In 2024, Sekar put out a version of this song, collaborating with individuals including family members of those affected and surviving victims of the 1965 massacres that primarily aimed at alleged members of the Communist Party of Indonesia.

Sekar, known professionally as Hara, mentioned that the essence of the song provided her with "the strength to stay hopeful" while working as a climate activist.

Many of my compositions draw inspiration from nature," she stated. "I suppose I aim to integrate methods for enlightening people regarding climate change, via my tour.

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