Compilation

Global

Tragedy of the Commons

AmbientElectronic

Behind the Music

On the simplest level, The Outlaw Ocean Music Project is an innovative and collaborative attempt to make art from journalism. It’s also a bunch of other things. First, in bringing all these musicians together, it's a sort of international flash mob, a global act of solidarity, and a chance to disseminate this reporting further. Second, this is also an experiment in translation across mediums, where we move narratives, issues and emotions from words and emotions into sound and music. Third, the project is a form of guerilla marketing and product placement, where the product being placed is journalism that gets implanted into gorgeous, captivating and dramatic music. Lastly, the project is an attempt to access people who might not otherwise pay attention to this reporting, and to get their attention in a more visceral and less direct way than, say, a long-winded book or a newspaper series. 

Thus, it only makes sense for The Outlaw Ocean Music Project to release an album featuring music from 15 artists in nine countries. These artists each put forward their incredible talents, which have been compiled into one album, “The Tragedy of the Commons.” The result is an incredibly diverse and dynamic listening experience that tells the story of The Outlaw Ocean from the global perspective, capturing the true essence of this music project. 

Credits:
Alex Dronan
AYAN
chomachi
Da Fingaz
David John Brady
Die Stadt
Invisible Monsters
Jabbu
jives and Divorce Court
Nau Leone
Rather Than Silence
Sam Lux
Seekat
Shaunna Heckman



Compilation
About Compilation

This album is a special collection of artists who decided to come together as a group to share The Outlaw Ocean Music Project's message. The compilation includes artists from nine different countries including Bangladesh, Finland, and New Zealand, that range in style from classical to techno.

Winner of the 2021 Scripps Howard Award for Excellence in Innovation in Journalism

The Journalism behind the Music

All music in this project is based on The Outlaw Ocean, a New York Times Best-Selling book by Ian Urbina that chronicles lawlessness at sea around the world. This reporting touches on a diversity of abuses ranging from illegal and overfishing, arms trafficking at sea, human slavery, gun running, intentional dumping, murder of stowaways, thievery of ships and other topics.

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