Nico de Transilvania

13/08/2024

I am happy to share with you some great news! Our project has received Arts Council England funding and I will be the Creative Director and main Producer of this project.

It’s going to be an ambitious multimedia project, something that I’ve dreamed up during lockdown, whilst spending a month in Ebernoe common nature reserve here in Sussex. Some friends visited me during that month and encouraged me to start recording the sounds of this landscape, including David Alexander Yeoman, who sadly passed away a year later. 💔 David and I started doing some recordings and compositions during that month, which will now be brought to life and become part of the bigger project, which aims to tell the story of Sussex landscape, from the land to the sea.

There are so many amazing artists, composers, filmmakers, researchers, conservations and local people that are part of this project and I feel extremely honoured to be working with them all.

The project will take place next year, meanwhile, we are in pre-production mode. More updates to come soon. 🙏🏽

Pictures taken in February 2021 near Petworth.
dunford.travel .earth

14/07/2024

Honoured to be presenting the poster for the multi-award winning project, INTERBEING to Dr. David Thomas, Director of the Endangered Landscapes and Seascapes Programme.

I recently went to see our project on display at the David Attenborough Building home to Cambridge Conservation Initiative , alongside artwork from other artists in residence from across Europe. Our goal was to explore the relationship between music/art and landscape restoration.

INTERBEING won the prize for best project in 2022-2023 and it’s set in the Carpathian Mountains, Romania where Forests Without Frontiers - the NGO I set up 5 years ago - works in partnership with Conservation Carpathia to help restore the degraded landscape where the album & film was recorded. It captures the sounds, songs, stories, and culture of forest communities, highlighting the connection between people, nature and heritage.

You can now watch the film for free on WaterBear Network or on my channel here: https://shorturl.at/vzEQT and listen to the album on all global platforms. Limited number of sustainably pressed vinyls are available on my website or FWF’s website.

Thank you to everyone who made this possible & AFCN for match funding it.

The next artist residency funded by will take place in Bulgaria where I will be co-creating a next short album with Ivan Shopov & a short film with Monolit Studio, & . The setting will be the Rhodopes Mountains home to endangered Egyptian vultures, Imperial eagles, Sousliks and its where .bg works to protect and restore the landscape.

Nicoleta Carpineanu

01/06/2024

Goodbye my dear home Eaton Court… you have been so good to me for these last 6 years. I’ve composed two albums whilst being here and made two short films, did lots of streamed gigs via lockdown, and 4 mixes, set up an NGO and all the dancing and cooking that happened here!

I will miss you Kemptown village and all the people that made my life so wonderful and the dogs of course! And the seafront view.

I’m ready for the next chapter though, which is in Hove! And starting new albums and films and many more dinner parties and dancing. My decks are coming with me 🎵 🎧 See you there!

19/04/2024

NATURE! How I Love you. ❤️🌱🌳

You have always been my number 1 healer and source of inspiration. And it makes me so happy to see that more and more people want to protect and celebrate you. ✨🙏🏽

This has been my mission for many years now, working as a DJ, film producer and as a music producer - recording and filming both of my albums in Nature and giving the profits back to the NGO I set up - we did so much already!

This week we had some good news in the music industry and finally NATURE is recognised as a co-author and an artist via .earth - I feel that Nature is the ultimate artist, and the source of inspiration to many of us. I look forward to seeing how this project unravels and well done to and their involvement in making this happen and all the artists involved like and and - Go listen to the playlist on Spotify called feat.NATURE .

You can also listen to both of my albums on all streaming platforms or purchase the limited edition albums via the shop on website: https://tinyurl.com/bdh3h8zu and give back to Nature. There are other artworks from artists like , and - all profits are going back to the environmental projects we support and help develop. 🙏🏽

Big gratitude to everyone that is doing this important work!

17/03/2024

This year started in style! Been so busy doing things that I haven’t had much time to write about it. But, I’m intending to change that.

First stop was Romania where I was joined by dear friend Jane Dunford , who loves an adventure! I felt lucky to start the new year in my homeland, in the Carpathian Mountains at Peștera, with a gig on NYE at Akasha Retreat where I’ve met such great people. And yes, we did dance - a tradițional romanian dance that involves kissing at midnight. We also experienced the Goat dance, which is traditionally performed on New Year’s Day, quite specific for this part of the world and we’ve burned our new years wishes on the fire, to give them extra potency!

I got to reconnect with old friends Charlie Ottley & in Șirnea, which is becoming quite a new travel destination due to their presence there and their vision for the area. Go watch their new series and learn about the country.

And met Angela and Valerie in Magura village, which has most breath taking views and hosts a music and art festival every summer. Here everyone gets to wear traditional costumes. I wore one too, featured in this picture and Jane looked like she always wore one! I loved seeing so many traditional costumes in one place and hear the stories of the people that live here and work hard to preserve the area.

I look forward to going back, as I was truly inspired by the area and the stories of this place.

Thank you for having us Irina 🙏🏽
With Nicoleta Carpineanu

🇹🇩

08/03/2024

La mulți ani for women’s day ❤️- Come get your sisters! / Hai după surori ❤️

Nico de Transilvania, Monooka · Song · 2019

20/02/2024

If you wish to join our mission at Forests Without Frontiers of “Bringing nature back to life and people back to nature, using the power of music and art” - please go to our website and support our important work by becoming a regular donor and one of the Voices of the Forest! https://www.forestswithoutfrontiers.org/support-us

Music and art are at the heart of what we do. Our work focuses on harnessing the power of music and art to support and finance the restoration and protection of nature while engaging local communities in the process.

We’re currently working on projects in the UK and Bulgaria where we’re partnering with local musicians, artists, children and elders to record songs, poetry and stories inspired by the landscapes. Read more on our website about our recent artist residency in Romania, our new Bulgarian artist residency with Ivan Shopov and the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB), or our Enchanting Forest project in Sussex, UK where we’re working with several conservation partners.

If you’d like to support our work, please donate today and become a Voice of the Forest.

📷 Marius Șumlea

15/01/2024

Romanian Hora to welcome you in the new year from The Royal Ballet School 🙏🏽❤️

08/01/2024

🙏🏽🐦🎶🌳

08/01/2024

New year and a new exciting project announcement!

Today is the start of our new artist residency in Bulgaria where I will be working in collaboration with in the Rhodopes mountains. These mountains are home to some of the most endangered bird species and we aim to help tell the story of this landscape and of the conservation project .bg who aims to protect them and preserve their habitat.

This week we will explore the area and meet local folk singers and musicians, and hear about how local communities connect with the landscape, wildlife and their natural heritage.

Looking forward to developing this project whilst engaging the team from and the multi-media team that helped me produce and deliver the Interbeing project.

And a big thank you to the continued funding from ’s Endangered Landscape and Seascape programme for this artist residency. Read more about it at link in .

29/12/2023

Currently preparing for my New Year’s Eve DJ set in the Carpathian Mountains . I am so glad to start the new year in my homeland in the mountains that I love and work to preserve.

Back in 2019 I stayed at this beautiful place for a yoga retreat with my dear friend Jane Dunford and I sent a message to the world about the organisation that I was setting up Forests Without Frontiers. We have achieved a lot since then!

4 years later we are both going back to start the new year in these very mountains and with me playing (for at least four hours) for all the guests that also love this place and mountains. If you are in the area, in Pestera, there are very few places left for the event here: https://www.akasharetreat.com/

And thank you for inviting me and for donating 3% from the ticket sales to Forests Without Frontiers. This is how music and art continues to restore and protect nature.

Looking forward to being back there and hopefully doing some yoga too with Jane ✨🏔️🎶


Nicoleta Carpineanu

28/12/2023

I am excited to share with you Vol.8 from Muzică Without Frontiers series. This is my year 2023 mix, and as I am releasing it on the verge of the new year, I am calling it New Beginnings.

The whole mix has the nature soundscape from my latest album Interbeing running through it, as nature is the backdrop to all of my compositions these days. If you listen close enough, you will hear the wolf howling in one of the brake downs!

Starting with a powerful Persian chant, it will take you on a global journey through Turkey, Africa, Romania (ofcourse!), South America, India and the UK! Finishing with a beautiful song from Nessi Gomes called All Related, I wanted to enhance the message that I try to transmit with my music - and that is one of peace and unity, as music can bring us together, beyond frontiers.

Enjoy dancing to it and may it open your hearts and your minds!

Happy New Year to you all and please share it.

Picture credit Răzvan Leucea from my last gig in Romania Făgăraș Fest wearing my butterfly dress designed by Adrian Oianu. Thank you Abstract Source for your help with this mix. with Nicoleta Carpineanu

I am excited to share with you Vol.8 from Muzica Without Frontiers series. This is my year 2023 mix, and as I am releasing it on the verge of the new year, I am calling it New Beginnings. The whole

12/12/2023

Interbeing short film has just won the best documentary at the 17th edition of Short Stop International Film Festival . Well done to the whole team and especially to Razvan Leucea & Alexandru Claudiu Maxim . This is the second prize for the project and truly, it belongs to everyone involved. Especially Silvia Dan, the octogenarian that touched our hearts and filled them with songs and stories ! 🙏🏽🎶🌳

With Nicoleta Carpineanu Marius Bugeac Marius Șumlea Abstract Source David Alexander Yeoman

01/12/2023

La mulți ani România! - Happy birthday România!

My love for you is forever present and wherever I am in the world you are in my heart and in my roots.

The way I like to celebrate you is through helping regenerate your forests that have been destroyed, preserving our heritage and celebrating our elders and engaging the youth. Also it has been my mission for a long time to educate the world in our traditions, music, food and the beauty of our country.

I have also chosen to be an ambassador for the Făgăraș Mountains and promote its vision of creating the largest natural park in Europe via , this is our national treasure and its our responsibility to protect it in the best way we can and the wildlife and communities that live there.

If you go online you can listen or purchase both of my albums which feature Romanian folklore. Those albums also give back to projects that help regenerate Romania.

All pictures are taken by from our last trip for to the Fagaras mountains planting trees, visiting Silvia Dan on her 80th birthday and - the ancient beech trees and the tall fern forest of Nucsoara with the young team from .global

Grateful to our ancestors for fighting for our freedom and a Romania united!

24/11/2023

RIP dear Rona Hartner ❤️❤️❤️

Rona,

chaque matin je boirai un verre d'eau pour toi et quand arrive la nuit, chaque nuit, je boirai un verre de vin blanc pour toi.

Tu me manques déjà.

Tu as été très proche des gens, des malheureux, des mendiants, des pauvres et à chaque fois qu'on se voyait tu sortais de ta poche quelque chose que tu prenais d'un grand hôtel quand on était en tournée et tu l'offrais à un mendiant.

Tu étais généreuse, on ne t'oubliera pas comme ça.

Quand je passerai à côté de Sainte Rita, la patronne des pauvres, je m'arrêterai le temps qu'il faut pour penser à toi.

J'embrasse tous ceux qui la connaissent et qui l'aiment.

23/11/2023

5 years ago today I launched my first album at Romanian Cultural Institute in London. An important venue for us Romanians in the UK and an important moment in my life and my career. It was the start of my music production career, the record label Muzică Without Frontiers and of the concept for Forests Without Frontiers charity.

We danced together the global on the song with the same name that features Mahala Rai Banda that is meant to inspire a feeling of unity via the circle dance that unites us all, beyond frontiers.

My life changed forever in that moment and so has my mission in life - Through music and art to restore nature and communities. I am so grateful to be in service to this mission and have some fun along the way. And to all the people that joined me along the way, especially the artists that helped make it happen and the musicians featured on it. And a big thank you to the people that booked me to play the tunes FORM Space and Avanpost RG cu Bogdan Serban for promoting the project and the music.

Please go listen to Be One which is globally distributed by and find out more about the project in the short film we’ve made about it with Ben Cole https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hjdh4YhHWuY

Without this album, Forests Without Frontiers would’ve never happened, and I would’ve never met Silvia Dan who is featured on my latest album Interbeing.

Also, via my website you can get the Be One album pressed on vinyl and the last few CDs and posters of the artwork via Finlay Cowan

All profits go back to help restore nature and communities via Forests Without Frontiers

Big shout out to the co-producers of the album Abstract Source and Evil Tom 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 couldn’t do this without them.

10/11/2023

Whilst in Romania, we have been celebrating Silvia’s 80th in a special way. We visited a monastery from 14th century called Corbii de piatră. A place she always wanted to visit, not far from her house. It was such a special experience to visit this sacred place with her.

Here she sang a sacred song for Holly Mary. One that she sang for me the first time we met. The monastery was filled by her voice which opened our hearts with its power.

I recommend going to visit this place, an important sacred place for Romanian people (and not only), full of history. I’m super happy that I have learned about it myself.

We then celebrated her at .ro joined by her son Silviu, with home made cake by the head chef. We also got matching ‘cojoace’ - sheep skin made waist coats that are traditional in my home county -Sãlaj.

Silvia said that she never celebrated her birthday before. I am so glad I was able to make this trip and make Silvia very happy. I love this lady. We have changed each others life for sure. ❤️

Thank you to for catching these moments on his camera and .ro for hosting us.

20/10/2023

You can read the latest blog written by Jane Dunford for Forests Without Frontiers about Interbeing live show here: https://www.forestswithoutfrontiers.org/news/interbeing-live

Bringing Interbeing show to life and having Silvia join us on stage it was a dream come true, one that I thought nearly impossible. The idea was born in this landscape and to perform it in this setting to local people, taking Interbeing back to its roots, it was an honour. Art and music are powerful tools to bring people together and inspire them to get involved in protecting the natural world and inspire positive action.

Here is what Jane wrote: ‘Silvia, who had never travelled this far from her home in Nucsoara village, said being involved in the project had been life-changing. “I’d never seen anywhere so beautiful, it’s like I’ve entered heaven,” she says of the journey through mountains and forests to get to the festival site. “I wanted to come, to bring the story of the land and it’s songs and keep them alive. I didn’t feel nervous to sing, though I’ve only sung in church before, God gives me strength. I’m only asking for help for the forests – they need saving. We have to do what we can and act now.” And that’s the main message from Interbeing – we need to act to save these beautiful landscapes and music is a powerful tool for spreading the word. ‘

Also, you can watch there the short video filmed by and edited by .

And get the sustainabily pressed vinyl from our match fundraising campaign here: https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/p/enchanting-forest-sussex. Limited numbers available.

Thank you Jane and the whole team for being part of it, and thank you Făgăraș Fest for inviting us.

📷 Razvan Leucea

27/09/2023

Heading to Cambridge for my talk this evening about my latest project Interbeing at David Attenborough building, home to Cambridge Conservation Initiative.

Looking forward to my conversation with Heather Ackroyd from discussing the importance of music and arts in landscape restoration and preservation.

Feeling honoured to be invited to present my work and talk about this important subject, as well as promote my country and the work of that we support through our campaigns at .

Picture taken by at during our artist residency in 2021.

25/09/2023

This Wednesday I will be doing a talk & present my latest project Interbeing at David Attenborough building, home to Cambridge Conservation Initiative. Followed by a conversation with Heather Ackroyd from Ackroyd and Harvey discussing the importance of music and arts in landscape restoration.

Feeling honoured to be invited to show my work and talk about this important subject as well as promote my country and the work of Conservation Carpathia that we support through our campaigns at Forests Without Frontiers .

If you wish to attend, there are a few places available so please send me a private message.



With Nicoleta Carpineanu

24/09/2023

Excited to announce our new fundraising campaign via for project here in Sussex. All donations will be tripled!!! via community fund.

Go check our page here: https://shorturl.at/gHLM5 and please donate and share within your communities. £5 (£15 for us) will get you my latest mix - Muzicã Without Frontiers Vol.8. Also, you can get the new Enchanting Forest single - Lady of the Forest composed and performered by our dear departed friend of the Forest or a limited edition print of drawing ‘Towards Rottingdean’ and a specially designed T-shirt by for the FWF.

Help us reach our goal and continue this important work of weaving in Nature Restoration with Nurturing Communities and Inspire positive action. 🙏🏽🎶🌱

09/09/2023

• The Crow Flies •

A must see exhibition from Stanley Donwood and Thom Yorke at Tin Man Art galley in London, only for 2 more days. Go see it! I had the honour to be there at the preview.

Inspired by maps - particularly old maps, will take you on a beautiful journey of colour and mystery. As described it: ‘It’s like the sun is coming up in many of the paintings. A positive feeling in terms of colour and hope, an invitation to contemplate in these difficult times, and reminds us to connect with our inner self.’

Don’t forget to go see the downstairs exhibition too, which has a slight different edge, and equally great.

And I’m dittoing on his closing statement - ‘I can’t wait for part two!’ We need more of this in the World.

✨✨✨

P.S. has also made his largest print for Forests Without Frontiers to help restore degraded landscapes in the Carpathian Mountains and now in Great Britain via Art For A Better World. We love that he cares so much about nature and wants to help restore it.

With Nicoleta Carpineanu Jane Dunford

03/09/2023

A week ago I was speaking, DJing and singing at Intothewild festival. A heart opening, hope creating and a coming together of people from all walks of life to be In The Wild, with the trees, with the fire, with one another. People of different religions and backgrounds, artists and academics, healers and entrepreneurs, young and old, dancing and singing together, debating and exploring news ways to help restore and protect our beautiful planet, our ancient traditions and cultures, our communities in innovative and inspiring ways.

I also ended up singing a Romanian song for the closing ceremony. A song that I have inherited from my ancestors, a song about loss and longing but also about healing. This song Săracă Inima mea it’s featured on my latest album .

It truly was an honour to be part of this whole event and spend time with the Forests family from Forests Without Frontiers .

Thank you Deja Hu and Karis Petty for the invite. And keep doing what you are doing. The world needs it!



With Nicoleta Carpineanu Jane Dunford Katy Jenkyns

30/08/2023

Thank you for inviting me and to play a set for . And thank you to everyone who came and danced with us. I love the multi-generational feeling of this festival. Seeing young and old dancing together truly makes me happy. As this was the goal of my music, to create the bridge between generations.

See you next year and go get your early bird tickets via their website.

25/08/2023

Thank you / mulțumesc La noi Journal and Lavinia Gogu for this interview and spreading the word about Forests and Music.

Pictures credit Marius Șumlea

With Forests Without Frontiers Nicoleta Carpineanu

For music producer Nico de Transilvania, the forest is a source of creative inspiration and a space to develop a noble mission: the reforestation of degraded landscapes.

23/08/2023

I’ve always loved birds, and birdwatching has become a new favourite hobby in recent years. Especially after starting to feature nature sounds and bird songs in my mixes and albums.

Today was an exciting day for me as I’ve decided to invest in my first pair of binoculars and start preparing and researching for the two new artistic projects that I will be working on next in Bulgaria and Sussex-UK, both featuring bird songs and produced for nature restoration partners.

A whole new world is opening up to me and I’m extremely excited about it 🎶🦅🐦‍⬛🦆🦉🎶

13/08/2023

Looking forward to playing a DJ set for Forests Without Frontiers at Intothewild festival with my co-producer Abstract Source on 26th August. BIG love to Jules aka Abstract Source for his commitment to this work and for helping me realise my vision with composing music in nature and for the forests.

Also, for putting up with my slight perfectionism, for being such a great team player, and for being so patient with Silvia and the musicians. I am super grateful and I couldn’t have done all of this work without him 🙏🏽. Thanks Julios!

More info about the gig coming soon, meanwhile, get your tickets and be part of my favourite festival here in Sussex.

Pics Marius Șumlea

With Nicoleta Carpineanu Monolit Studio

10/08/2023

Respect Manu Delago 🙏🏽 This is how an artist really walks the talk when it comes to caring for the environment and having a positive impact when it comes to climate change. I’m truly impressed and inspired. Keep doing the good work Manu! 🌳🌎 🎶

10/08/2023

Sound checking for Interbeing live show at Făgăraș Fest when Silvia - 80 years old singer - got on stage with the band for the very first time.

It was quite a challenge trying to explain to her about monitors and how and when to sing. Plus doing a bi-lingual sound check it’s not easy! Thanks to the amazing musicians and also to Silvia for trusting us. Monitors were not great, but we’ve managed! She was amazing - what a star ⭐️🌟!

📷 Jane Dunford

With Nicoleta Carpineanu Abstract Source Paolo Profeti Andrew Stuart-Buttle Music Monolit Studio Dalia Saunders

at

20/07/2023

Cucu at Făgăraș Fest 🙏🏽 with Abstract Source Dalia Saunders Monolit Studio Alexandru Claudiu Maxim Andrew Stuart-Buttle Music Paolo Profeti Nicoleta Carpineanu