I wish people would read this book not only for the spectacular storytelling, but also for understanding how deeply and how far the issues plaguing the oceans extend. The Outlaw Ocean educated me about so many foul things that go on at sea without any of us knowing, as well as the various people and organizations fighting these injustices. 

Music is abstract by nature and does not necessarily portray anything, but I would say, in the context of this project, music plays a great role in alerting the public to these issues. This kind of journalism and this project at large are important because they help people more deeply understand the problem at hand, which can serve as the foundation for change. 

I tried to make songs that portrayed my poetic outlook of the ocean. I am fascinated by how the sea is a sort of neutral spectator to all the terrible things happening — an entity that both gives and takes away — and I sought to capture that by incorporating many of Ian’s field recordings. It feels honest to have these isolated sound clips surrounded with my music.

Rand Aldo