Townsville-based cellist, composer, and environmental advocate Rike Wolf has collaborated with marine life to produce Ocean Song, a composition blending cello, didgeridoo, and whale calls.
Released on Sunday, 16 February to mark World Whale Day, the piece serves as both a tribute to the ocean and a call for conservation.
The 10-minute track features Rike Wolf's cello alongside didgeridoo performed by William Mabo of Mer (Murray) Island.
It also incorporates the sounds of Humpback whales recorded in Townsville waters.
Wolf said the track is designed to take listeners into the depths of the marine world, blending natural ocean rhythms with the expressive tones of the cello and the grounding resonance of the didgeridoo.
"Music is a powerful medium that can evoke strong emotions, and I believe it can act as a catalyst for change," she said.
"It's incredibly powerful to know that many of the calls featured in the track come from whales that swam right past us.
"It's unbearable to imagine a world where they don't exist."
Mabo, who has worked within North Queensland's cultural space for more than a decade, said he was motivated to collaborate with Wolf because of her approach to her work.
"I've come to deeply appreciate individuals who approach their path with the same integrity and grounding as the Traditional Owners and Elders I collaborate with," he said.
"Rike embodies this ethos, and I'm enthusiastic about supporting her vision, even if it diverges from my own preferred image or portrayal.
"I believe there's much for both of us to learn and understand on this shared journey."
Supported by a group of volunteers who provided a boat and recording equipment, Wolf captured the Humpback songs using a hydrophone last August in waters between Cape Cleveland and Magnetic Island during the annual whale migration.
Other whale species, including the critically endangered Pacific Northwest Orca, the endangered Pygmy Blue Whale, and the near-threatened Antarctic Minke Whale, are also featured.
Their calls were provided by AIMS whale specialist Miles Parsons.
She notes Ocean Song not only celebrates marine life and the Great Barrier Reef, but also addresses the harmful impact of human activities, particularly seismic blasting, which affects whale communication and navigation.
"Whales are not only majestic and intelligent but play a crucial role in marine ecosystems," she said.
"They help capture carbon from our atmosphere and support oxygen production by sustaining phytoplankton, which thrives in areas where whales are present.
"This project is a plea to protect the oceans and the biodiversity we all rely on."
The release of Ocean Song was supported by the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF), a partnership between Townsville City Council and the Queensland Government aimed at fostering local artistic projects.
Ocean Song is now available for streaming and purchase on Bandcamp.
Following the release, Rike Wolf and William Mabo will present HOME, an immersive audio-visual performance at Dancenorth in Townsville on Saturday, 22 February, at 7pm.
The event will feature a combination of live music and visual projections, aiming to foster a deeper connection with nature.
The performance will blend cello, didgeridoo, and natural ocean sounds in a tribute to Earth's ecosystems and endangered species.
"HOME is a sonic invitation to fall in love with the natural world, to see its beauty, importance, and fragility, and to recognise our role in preserving it," Wolf said.
Tickets for HOME are available now.