Photo for illustration purposes only: AFP

When You Want More Than Just Loud Beats

Let’s be honest - if you’ve ever felt out of place at festivals like Coachella, you’re not alone. Maybe the music sounds more like noise than soul.

Maybe you're craving something... more. Something rooted. Something spiritual. Something that gives you goosebumps - not because the bass dropped, but because you felt the Earth respond.

That’s exactly what I found at the Rainforest World Music Festival in Kuching, Sarawak - a three-day celebration of global rhythms, sacred forests, and soulful connections.

Immersed in Nature and Craft

The first thing you’ll notice is the location - this isn’t your usual open-field fest. Tucked within the lush Sarawak Cultural Village, with Mount Santubong towering above and ancient rainforest all around, it feels like stepping into a living, breathing spirit world.

Photo: Serena Loh

And the marketplace? Oh, it’s not just shopping - it’s a cultural exchange.

Tents lined the village walkways, each bursting with handmade goods from across Borneo and beyond. Think Indigenous beadwork, hand-forged bronze and copper jewellery, and natural beauty products featuring local stars like Sarawak’s iconic black pepper.

One of my favourite finds? A healing tea made from midin leaves, a wild fern beloved in local cuisine. And I couldn’t resist grabbing an arm band from Peru - because yes, this festival attracts creators from around the globe.

A Culinary Love Letter to Sarawak

Let’s talk food—because Rainforest Fest takes feasting seriously.

There was ayam pansuh, a traditional Bidayuh dish where chicken is cooked inside bamboo, infusing it with earthy, smoky flavour. Next up? Itun sip, a lesser-known but deeply loved leaf used to wrap rice, similar to banana leaf but uniquely Sarawakian.

Photo: Serena Loh

Now, the desserts. Oh, the desserts.

Ever tasted gelato made with Dabai nuts? You can only find them in this part of the world, and they deliver this rich, buttery flavour that lingers like a dream.

Then came the pineapple black pepper sorbet—a sweet, spicy, and tangy burst of sunshine in a cup. On a sweltering afternoon, it was pure tropical alchemy.

Rhythms That Reach the Soul

By nightfall, the jungle lit up—both literally and emotionally.

The music that fills this festival isn’t your standard setlist. It’s ancestral, global, and deeply transformational. Picture this: tribal chants blending with modern synths, bamboo flutes harmonising with electric guitars, yodelling echoing into the night sky.

Photo: Serena Loh

Every beat felt like it came from the earth itself.

The crowd? Uninhibited. Joyful. Grounded. People weren’t dancing for show—they were moving as if something ancient was waking up inside them.

For me, the standout performance came from Otyken, a folk-pop group from Siberia. Their mix of shamanic vocals, tribal drums, and mesmerising visuals made it feel like the forest itself was performing with them.

This year’s theme, “Connections: One Earth, One Love,” wasn’t just a slogan—it was the essence of every performance, every conversation, every shared meal under the stars.

Why You Need to Be Here in 2026

I came to Kuching curious. I left transformed.

The Rainforest World Music Festival isn’t just about music. It’s about reconnecting—with nature, with culture, and with yourself. In a world that feels increasingly disconnected, this festival is a sacred pause.

Photo: Serena Loh

Next year will bring new bands, new experiences, and more stories waiting to be told under the rainforest canopy.

So if you’re craving more than just another party, if you’re yearning to feel the earth through rhythm, to be part of something bigger, older, and beautifully alive.. make your way to Sarawak. Disconnect to reconnect.