by Dheepa R. Maturi
I’ve heard that, sometimes, you have to write the story you want to read. And I wanted to read a hopeful climate thriller about stopping an environmental disaster before it happens, not surviving it after the fact. In 108: an Eco-Thriller, Bayla learns she has an ancient ability that can avert a global ecological collapse—if she’s strong enough to use it.
The songs that inspired me as I was writing are upbeat and uplifting, many with acoustic notes from guitar, banjo, even whistling. And I love their accompanying videos, full of natural landscapes, community dancing, and indigenous imagery. For this playlist, I tried to track the arc of the book’s plot, mixing those tunes with songs that made me imagine a woman finding her personal power. I hope it inspires you, too!
Bloom by Paper Kites
I thought “Bloom” was a perfect beginning to this playlist because its video features a woman wandering the forest alone, seeking friendship, asking “Can I be close to you?” I imagined Bayla as that woman, longing for connection, yet so resistant to reaching out to others. And I loved that the video closes with the image of a tree, which embodies the message that no one exists in isolation—underneath, there’s a vast web of interconnections with the world. Will Bayla realize that? Can she bloom?
Send Me On My Way by Rusted Root
This song felt like a perfect match to the beginning of Bayla’s journey, when she’s not yet ready to answer her call to action. Just like the actor in the video, she must cross a threshold, pass through a doorway. When she does, she finds a guide she didn’t expect. I love the idea that we are all held and guided, if we choose to see it, and that when we leap, our wings will appear.
Follow The Sun by Xavier Rudd
All the natural imagery in this song’s lyrics and video—ocean, desert, forest, wildlife—shows the sheer beauty and wonder of our environment. This is the heart of 108! I particularly loved the references to indigenous cultures and rituals, all grounded in the natural world and in tune with its rhythms. These lines resonated deeply with me, given all that’s happening in the world right now: “When you feel this crazy society / Headin’ to the strand / Take a straw to the nearest waters / And remember your place.”
Woodland by Paper Kites
Back to Paper Kites! This song features a tension between a terrible threat looming and the necessity of remembering what is good and true right now—the sun, the autumn days, the woodlands. Even in the face of an existential climate crisis, we mustn’t forget to witness the existing beauty and wonder of the natural world.
Human by The Killers
What does it mean to be human? We have this tremendous capacity to think, to consider our actions, to thrive. By the same token, we have tremendous power to impact the natural world and all its landscapes and species. This makes us responsible for them. It makes us their stewards. For me, this song is about striving to be the best possible version of ourselves.
It’s Amazing by Jem
As Bayla begins to understand her potential, she’s tortured by self-doubt and self-criticism. She has no one—no mother figure, no true friend—to encourage her. But over time, she discovers an inner voice that tells her, “It’s amazing, all that you can do.” And of course, the fate of the world is in her hands, so the voice also tells her, “Now it’s up to you.” Time to dig in, Bayla!
Solar Power by Lorde
The loooong buildup to the chorus in this song reflects Bayla’s equally long journey to accept her capabilities and calling and power. When she finally does, there is such a feeling of relief and release . . . and joy. As the women in the video come together in ritual, yoga, and dance, it makes me think of women’s voices, long suppressed but now on the rise. “Come on and let the bliss begin.”
Unpack Your Heart by Phillip Phillips
This song was actually playing in my head as I wrote the final chapter! When the chorus explodes, it feels like a grand, cinematic uplift. Bayla’s joy at the end of her journey, as well as her relief in being seen, heard, and valued are reflected in the song’s lovely mandate: When you “bring all you are,” you will find acceptance—from yourself.
Dheepa R. Maturi is a New York–born, Midwest-raised Indian-American writer who explores the intersection of identity, culture, and ecology, especially through hope in the face of ecological grief. She has been nominated twice for the Pushcart Prize, and her essays and poetry have appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies. She lives with her family in the Indianapolis area.
While working the night shift at a San Francisco news agency, Bayla Jeevan has a shocking out-of-body experience. Her consciousness is transported deep into an Indian forest, where she witnesses a noxious liquid spreading through the soil. At the same time, she receives a message from her father, presumed dead for fifteen years, warning her of imminent danger. Coincidence? Unlikely.
Halfway around the world, agrochemical corporation ZedChem—led by billionaire Krakun Zed—tests its latest innovation, a product heralded as the solution to topsoil erosion. But the data reveals something else entirely.
As Bayla sets out looking for answers, she learns more about her past—and her family’s connection to a secret organization with ancient roots, and to Zed himself. Will Bayla be able to stop the corporation from devastating the planet before global agriculture and human existence are ruined forever?
