AY Young
on Music for Impact and Plugging in to the Regeneration Anthem
Plug in to the Regeneration Anthem!
“We can change the world! Is that a lie they told us?
We can change the world!
Well, shine a light back on them
We can change the world!
We’ve got to come together now!”
Two friends, 🔌 AY Young and Paul Hawken, decided to combine their passion for music and regeneration into this beautiful song that makes people’s hearts beat in the rhythm of the SDGs.
As a child, 🔌 AY started writing poetry. The environment he grew up in was rough, infused with gang violence and drug activity. But it is also the place that taught him to put his fears and thoughts into lyrics. He realized he could create something meaningful for other people: “I’m a firm believer in the idea that hard work pays off, so I dedicated myself to the craft of performing rap music. My love for music is what led me to become a climate activist!”
“Born to groove and driven to improve”, 🔌 AY isn't just making waves in the music industry, but creating a tidal wave of positive change. A musician and artist recognized as one of the 17 United Nations Youth Leaders for Sustainable Development Goals and named one of the top 70 environmentalists in the world, he dreams of helping the world plug in to sustainability, making every beat count towards a healthier, kinder planet. An inspiring speaker at COP28 UAE and NYC Climate Week, he sees each of his public appearances as an opportunity to educate, engage, and empower, turning listeners into activists.
🔌 AY aims to electrify both hearts and minds. As a producer, singer, and songwriter, he disrupted the music scene with over 900 concerts powered entirely by renewable energy through his pioneering initiative, the Battery Tour . This grassroots initiative illuminates stages across the globe with energy sourced from solar-powered boxes, bringing reliable electricity to underpowered villages, enabling education, improving health, and fostering economic growth in disadvantaged communities.
Envisioning the power and reach of music as edutainment, 🔌 AY is producing the world’s first sustainable album, Project17, that contains 17 songs, 1 per each SDG, recorded in partnership with the best artists in the world in a carbon-neutral way: “My music is about hope, inspiration, and authenticity. I love creating big crowd anthems and sticky choruses that keep people motivated. My performance is all about energy and connection. I love engaging with the audience and making everyone feel they’re a part of the show.”
His biggest wish for his audience is to take away a feeling that they can do anything they set their mind to: "I just want to make them feel energized and powered up to reach their own goals.” Read 🔌 AY Young’s answers for Inspirators and plug in to the SDGs!
Thank you, 🔌 AY, for being an SDG Musician!
#INSPIRATORS QUESTIONNAIRE
Name: AY Young
Company / Institution: Battery Tour
Title: CEO/Founder of Battery Tour; Musician; UN Youth Leader for the SDGs
Website: https://www.aymusik.com/
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aymusik/
Country of origin: USA
Country you currently live in: USA
Your definition of Regeneration: It is all about giving back to the planet what we take. Regeneration means creating a world where we live in harmony with nature, restoring what’s been lost, and making sure we leave things better than we found them.
Main business challenge you face: Balancing the scale of global impact while keeping the heart and soul of grassroots movements alive.
Main driver that keeps you going: The belief that music can power change, and the responsibility to make sure the world is better for the next generation.
The trait you are most proud of in yourself: My relentless drive to make a difference.
The trait you most value in others: Passion to create positive change.
Passions & little things that bring you joy: Writing music that speaks to the soul, seeing communities light up with renewable energy and those moments when people come together for a cause bigger than themselves.
The Inspirators who determined you to take the regenerative path: The UN Sustainable Development Goals gave me the roadmap! But every person I’ve met who is fighting for a sustainable future keeps me on the path.
A starting point for companies or professionals that are beginning the regeneration journey: Start by asking yourself - “How can we give more than we take?” Then, take real steps to make that happen.
Most used and abused clichés in sustainability that bother you: “We’re going green” when it’s just for show. Real change takes more than a slogan.
An honest piece of advice for young people who lose hope: Don’t underestimate the power of one voice. Your passion and persistence can change the world, one step at a time.
Books that had a great impact on you / Must-Reads for any regenerative professional:
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. It’s simple, but it hits home.
Movies / Documentaries you would watch all over again:
Down to Earth with Zac Efron - it's all about real solutions.
An Inconvenient Truth. A classic that still matters.
Music that makes you (and your heart) sing: The songs from Project17, because they’re not just music, they’re messages of hope and action.
Places you traveled to that left a mark on you: The villages in Africa where we brought solar power while bringing powerful music. Seeing the impact firsthand changes you.
Global Regenerative Voices you recommend us to follow:
Paul Hawken
Julia Jackson
Jarvis Smith from mygreenpod
Ellie Goulding
Christiana Figueres
They are people who are truly pushing the needle!
Trends in Regeneration we should keep an eye on: The shift towards circular economies and the rise of regenerative agriculture.
Events we should attend / Best places for networking (online or offline): UN Climate Change Conference, London Climate Week. These are events where the world’s changemakers gather.
Impactful and relevant Sustainable Development or Regeneration courses or certifications: UN SDG Academy, LEED Certification. Both give you the tools to make a difference.
Reasons to feel optimistic about our future in 2030: The energy and innovation I see in young people and new technologies give me hope.
Reasons to feel pessimistic about our future in 2030: The resistance to change from those who hold power and fear losing it.
Regenerative Leadership qualities much needed today: Vision, empathy, and the ability to rally people around a common goal.
The quote that inspires you:
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” (Mahatma Gandhi)
Your quote that will inspire us:
