Tarun Nayar

Modern Biology

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 videos have been viewed over 100 million times and amassed him over 1 million followers online, and he has been featured by The Guardian, LA Times, BBC, Genius, Vice, The Verge, and DJ Mag among others. His recent albums have received editorial support on Spotify’s Music for Plants, Deep Listening, and Lava Lamp playlists. Recent live performances include Art Basel (Miami), MOCA (Los Angeles), New York Botanical Garden, and the Vancouver Art Gallery. Tarun’s ‘Field Trip’ project is an effort to reconnect listeners to the natural environment, especially in urban settings. Audiences assemble in a public park, forage, and then listen to music improvised from the bioelectric impulses of collected plants and mushrooms. Recent field trips include New York City, San Francisco, San Diego, Vancouver, and Toronto. In the fall of 2023 Modern Biology opens the Nobel Prize Museum’s Fungi Exhibition in Stockholm.

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.