Biography

Eco-jazz for the planet and biodiversity. The music composed for the successful stage production Silentopia, which combined science and art, will be released as an album performed by the group Symbiocene.

Anni Elif, Pauli Lyytinen, Paavo Malmberg and Jarmo Saari come together as a dynamic collective, merging their worldviews into a mesmerizing blend of jazz, ambient, chamber and world music.

The album delves into the complex emotions surrounding climate change and biodiversity loss. A key source of inspiration is environmental philosopher Glenn Albrecht’s concept of the “Symbiocene” – a state of mutual interdependence and shared vulnerability, proposed as a counterbalance and alternative to the current “Age of Humans” (the Anthropocene). Through soulful, genre-defying music, the ensemble illuminates a way of life grounded in connection, capturing the essence of Symbiocene philosophy.

The album captivates the listener from the very beginning and unfolds slowly — telling a story and creating an experience akin to a ritual of letting go of our current way of life. The quartet blends the lush, earthy tones of cello, harmonium, and saxophone with electronic elements, taking the listener on an expressive and awakening journey. Mirroring the arc of the stage production, the album delivers on its promise by unleashing a wave of emotion that feels almost therapeutic, inviting deep reflection.

The quartet, known as the “Ant Band” in choreographer Ninni Perko’s and Dance Theatre Sivuun Ensemble’s stage production Silentopia, offers fresh perspectives on navigating the emotional terrain of the environmental crisis and biodiversity loss — with a strong message of hope and agency, while honoring the memory of extinct species. The production was created in collaboration with partners such as April Jazz, Espoo Theatre, and Dance House Helsinki.

The members of Symbiocene have a strong background in creating significant, often experimental and award-winning music across albums, festivals, tours, theatre stages, and film. They are also known for their work in groups such as Elifantree, Jarmo Saari Republic, Yona, and Pauli Lyytinen Solo.

Tracklist

1. Awakening
2. Species Shame
3. Earthgrief
4. Despairing Separation
5. Overwhelm Rhapsody
6. Chorale For Lost Species
7. Gathering
8. Zen Coltrane
9. Inauguration
10. Elegy For Extinction
11. Liminal Light
12. Communitas
13. Mandala of Interdependence
14. Eutierria
15. Symbiocene