The Outlaw Ocean is absolutely breathtaking, right from the first page. Within the last two months, I’ve been captivated twice by the stories and illuminating narrative that shed light on the value of human life. As someone that has lived by the sea for as long as I can remember, the “broad canvas of darker and lighter blues” that is the ocean has always been associated with feelings of familiarity and safety. But while the ocean represents home to me, reading The Outlaw Ocean revealed that’s not the case for many. Behind each of these stories is a real hero or heroine — born into a lawless world — and who has risked everything for a chance at a better life. I feel that many of us have ignored this parallel reality that exists.

I chose to name my album Okeanídes, after the daughters of Oceanus and Tethys — the gods of the seas in Greek mythology. I try to always base my tracks off of places I visit. In the case of this music project, I based my songs off of the location each chapter is set in. 

I feel incredibly honored and grateful to Ian and the Synesthesia crew for letting me be part of this groundbreaking journalism. I hope the book and the beautiful music project behind it will help open the eyes of many people — making them aware of this hidden world of brutality, just as it did with me.

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