Maïa Barouh is a French-Japanese singer and flautist known for blending Japanese folk music, particularly the Ainu traditions from the Hokkaido region, with electronic, pop, and rap, creating a unique fusion of traditional and contemporary sounds. Her music is rooted in classical training and features both French and Japanese lyrics. She is known for using her flute in innovative ways, serving as both a melodic and percussive instrument to craft intricate, genre-defying soundscapes.

Her latest single, “La Forêt,” explores the relationship between humans and nature, emphasising the urgency of environmental preservation. The music video, produced in collaboration with Everland, features Ainu singer Yoko Tomikawa and incorporates the Shishi Odori, or Deer Dance—a traditional folk ritual from Tono, Japan—enhanced by masks and the rhythmic beats of taiko drums and flutes.

The lyrics lament the loss of a childhood forest, capturing a deep bond with nature through lines like, “My blood runs in your roots, your sap in my veins.” The song powerfully conveys the consequences of environmental loss and the need to protect our connection to nature.

You can listen to the song and find more info HERE