Science and Art intertwine as we tune into the transformative power of fungi and celebrate more-than-human worlds.
Tarun Nayar / Modern Biology is a ‘mushroom musician’ who creates soundscapes from the bioelectric changes in plants and mushrooms. He’s performed with mushrooms and modular synths throughout the world, from festivals to botanic gardens to ecological centers, and with his Mushroom Church tour he’s touching down in cities far and wide to invite some of his favorite mycologists, ecologists, poets and musicians to celebrate the plant and fungal kingdoms as a means to inspire hope and resilience in our human communities.
Expect a short scientific talk, poetry and musical performances, culminating in a live plant and mushroom music experience by Modern Biology in which listeners are encouraged to ‘try on’ plant and fungal consciousness, and expand their awareness to these more-than-human worlds. Also expect great sound, projection mapping, and guests including Noah The Naturalist and Brenna Cheyney in this evening’s gorgeous and historic church that has previously hosted concerts from Laraaji and Malcolm Cecil.
Tarun is hosting this gathering in partnership with the Fungi Foundation, a fantastic organization dedicated to exploring and documenting the world's fungi to educate about their existence and promote public policies in order to protect them and their habitats.
As Living Earth, we’re simply enthusiastic supporters & sometimes collaborators of Tarun! To celebrate his return to LA he has offered a 15% discount on tickets to Living Earth members (DM us if you haven’t received your code), and you might even catch one of our resident naturalists onstage during the night.
Modern Biology has brought 'plant music' to the masses. Originally educated as a biologist, veteran musician Tarun Nayar brings his passion for nature and sound together in an ambient project that is organismic, immediate, uplifting, and deeply contextual. He uses modular synthesis, home built synthesizers and other analog equipment to improvise with the natural vibrations of a certain place and time - via plant bioelectricity, latent electromagnetic radiation, and even the earth’s resonant hum. Trained from childhood in Indian classical music, he uses the system of Indian raga to mold his musical choices for time of day and season. His performances are an effort to bring the listener into the present moment through vibration, space, and connection.
His work has been viewed over 100 million times and amassed him over 1 million followers on social media, has been featured by The Guardian, BBC, Genius, Vice, The Verge, LA Times and Times of India among others, and one of his ambient works opens the new album, Moonchild Era, by Punjabi star Diljit Dosanjh. His recent albums have received editorial support on Spotify’s Music for Plants, Deep Listening, and Lava Lamp playlists. Recent performances include the Museum of Contemporary Art (LA), Art Basel (Miami), The Nobel Prize Museum (Stockholm) and the New York Botanical Garden.
Tarun is passionate about protecting wild places and has committed the lion's share of the proceeds of this project to supporting the natural world.