As I read The Outlaw Ocean I found myself particularly struck by the chapter “Waste Away” and it’s unsettling deconstruction of the cruise ship industry. I think that I always knew in the back of my mind that this was something that negatively impacted the environment, but it was easier not to think about it. But the image of the cruise industry as a floating gentrification machine spewing waste into the water will forever be seared into my mind, along with many of the other stories in this book. By shedding light on the reality of life on the ocean, Ian forced us to reconcile the choices we make every day and how they perpetuate these horrible systems. This is painful but necessary information that we can’t simply ignore. It’s on us to accept this reality, and actively work to demand better.

I tried to encapsulate the true hopelessness that seemed prevalent among those who have suffered the most from this corruption in my music. Art and music can be a way for people to connect more deeply with an issue or topic they might not otherwise encounter. By incorporating sounds and spoken-word into the music I want to place the listener right in the middle of the material to create a truly immersive sonic experience that also makes people see the reality of what happens on the oceans. 

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