00:00, 27 April 2026
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
Jordan Stephens has taken an unconventional step away from the studio and into the wild, unveiling a striking new track, ‘True Doves’, created in direct collaboration with nature itself. The Jordan Stephens project, filmed at RSPB Rainham Marshes, forms the centrepiece of the 2026 Earth Raise campaign led by Big Give.
Produced by Studio BlueGreen as part of their ReRooted music series, the project sees half of the Rizzle Kicks duo quite literally “pass the mic” to the natural world. Armed with a field recorder and notebook, he gathered organic soundscapes from the marshlands on London’s edge, transforming them into a raw and reflective composition performed back among the reeds.
The release coincides with the rebrand of Big Give’s flagship environmental fundraiser to Earth Raise, running from 22nd to 29th April. The campaign aims to raise £10 million for more than 330 charities, with all public donations made via https://donate.biggive.org/earth-raise-2026 matched by a network of champion funders.
At the heart of ReRooted lies a sobering insight: between 1950 and 2011, references to nature in UK chart lyrics fell by 63 per cent. By collaborating with artists like Jordan, who are not traditionally framed as environmental voices, the initiative seeks to reintroduce nature into mainstream culture in a way that feels authentic and culturally relevant.
Jordan described the experience as creatively transformative, noting: “I’ve always felt a strong connection to nature and the way it inspires creativity, but I’d never actually gone out, recorded my own sounds and turned them into a track. This was something completely new and, honestly, something I’d love to do again. Big thanks to Studio BlueGreen and Earth Raise for the experience.”
This was his first time recording sounds directly from nature to build a track. The result is a piece that blurs the line between music and environment, offering listeners something both intimate and expansive.
Studio BlueGreen’s founder Beth Blood emphasised the importance of storytelling in reconnecting people with the natural world, saying: “ At Studio BlueGreen, we want people to encounter nature in their everyday lives, fall in love with it, and ultimately feel compelled to protect it.”
While Big Give’s managing director Alex Day highlighted the project as a reminder that nature should sit firmly at the heart of culture.
The release also signals a broader digital-first direction for Earth Raise, using creative content to turn awareness into tangible action, particularly among younger audiences. It serves as an early glimpse of ambitions for Earth Raise Live 2027, where fundraising and cultural engagement will become even more closely intertwined.
The ‘True Doves’ visualiser is available to watch now on YouTube:
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Big Give. This match-funding charity doubles public donations during campaigns like Earth Raise 2026, helping hundreds of environmental organisations maximise their impact. Learn more here. Learn more here.
RSPB. The UK’s largest nature conservation charity works to protect birds, wildlife and habitats. Discover their work here.
WWF UK. This global conservation charity tackles climate change, protects endangered species and restores habitats, working to build a future where people and nature thrive together. Find out more here.
This positive news article aligns with the UN SDG Climate Action, Partnerships For The Goals.
