Alston Koch, the Sri Lankan-born singer who rose to international fame before settling in Australia, has long balanced his music career with a determined voice for environmental advocacy. Long before climate action became a global headline, Koch released his song Can We Take This Climate Change in 2008, a track written for a United Nations WTO presentation in London. Speaking with The Island, Koch shared that his inspiration came from watching the gradual disappearance of the butterflies, birds, and fruit trees he remembered from his childhood, signs he believed were early warnings of a changing planet.
Geoffrey Lipman of the International Council of Tourism Partners later presented the song in Copenhagen at the ‘Live the Deal Climate Change’ conference. Serving as a Goodwill Ambassador, Koch became one of the few Asian-born entertainers to use his platform to speak directly to world leaders about environmental responsibility. Barbara Follett, the Minister of State for Great Britain at the time, certified the track as a “gift in song to the world suffering due to climate change.”
Koch’s environmental advocacy did not stop there. In 2020, he was invited by Rosalia Arteaga, former president and vice president of Ecuador, to speak at the ‘Excellencia Educativa’ campaign, where he addressed the effects of plastic waste and rising temperatures. He traveled through the Amazon and Andes regions, using both his words and his music to engage young audiences with climate awareness. He also wrote and performed A Symphony for Change for World Environment Day in Mexico.
While his contributions towards the environment have gained much recognition, Koch’s musical career has been equally, if not more, celebrated. Known for his disco-era success, he earned Gold and Platinum awards for recording for RCA, EMI, and Sony. His early hit Disco Lady won Best New Talent at the 1979 International Disc Jockey Association Awards and established his reputation as a leading entertainer. He later formed his band Dark Tan in Australia, performing across Asia and the Pacific and gaining the title Asia’s King of Pop from regional media.
Koch has also expanded his influence beyond music, earning much praise for his role in According to Matthew, which earned him an Oscar consideration and a sell-out run in Sri Lanka. In 2019, he collected multiple honors, including Global Entertainer of the Year, Sri Lankan of the Year, and the Best Actor award at the SIGNIS Film Awards in Colombo. The same year, he was also appointed brand ambassador for the Rotary Club of Sri Lanka. In 2025, he was appointed as the Commonwealth Union Envoy to Australia and the Pacific Region.
Koch’s involvement with climate activism began as early as 1991, when he raised the issue before members of the British Parliament, and was part of mainstream conversation. His song releases tied to environmental campaigns have since received support from organizations aiming to combine culture and ecological education. In Ecuador, he performed a song written specifically for the occasion and was later honored by the Rotary Club of Ecuador for his service to South American communities.
His discography spans more than four decades, with 21 singles and 4 albums under major record labels including Sony, BMG, and EMI. He reached number 2 with his album Don’t Funk With Me and was acknowledged by ARIA as The Funkmaster in 2012. His career includes performances at major events, including a live show under the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the Stars & Stripes Concert in 1976.
Koch once said his refusal to follow conventional rules is what made his music distinctive. Starting with the Jet Liners in Sri Lanka in the 1960s, his path led to collaborations with global musicians such as Elton John and Neil Diamond. Koch describes himself first and foremost as an entertainer; his commitment to resolving climate issues has made him one of the few artists to incorporate environmental activism into mainstream performance.
