There’s a question that has been posed by many for years—what level of obligation do we have to help those marginalized and exploited among us? What responsibility do we have to consider all the implications of seemingly benign actions? After reading The Outlaw Ocean, these queries are more relevant than ever. Ian’s book puts forth no easy answers, no single entity to blame and no simple solutions, which is something I deeply appreciate. These stories don’t serve any single agenda. Rather, they are a test of our empathy and willingness to wrestle with these topics and challenge our views of morality and responsibility. Ultimately, I hope people take them time to consider their actions and the role they play in perpetuating these issues, in turn leading to collective global action.

When I was first approached about this project, I anticipated my music to be somber and contemplative. However, as I read, I noticed different feelings arising—anger, frustration, and urgency. I wanted my songs to convey these emotions, while also feeling intricate, calculated and controlled. I also wanted my contributions to feel unique to Ian’s book. I tried to tie in many textures from Ian’s field recordings, re-sampling and re-structuring them to be crucial parts of the song. Normally, the “sound of the ocean” is thought of as peaceful and relaxing. I wanted to challenge that perception with my music, just as Ian does with his reporting.

Nathan Kawanishi