While reading The Outlaw Ocean I was struck the most by the chapter “Waste Away,” which sparked memories of my childhood growing up at a ski resort. In my short lifetime, I watched as glaciers and ecosystems I was previously surrounded by disappeared and collapsed for the sake of economic advancement for businesses. Reading The Outlaw Ocean reminded me that what I saw happening in the mountains during my childhood is happening all over the world, and we are all guilty for their occurrences. 

The topics explored in The Outlaw Ocean are ever-evolving stories, and it’s important for the public to pay attention to them, in whatever way possible. Music is incredibly accessible. I actually discovered The Outlaw Ocean while listening to another album inspired by the book, which proves the impact of this project as well as how complementary artforms can be. Utilizing associated mediums is a great way to stay connected to an issue, and Ian provides a breadth of options.

When I composed my album, I sought to capture three things — violence, hope and the notion of a message lost. I imagine this last feeling is one Ian, as well as the other characters in The Outlaw Ocean, have often felt in the midst of all the noise happening in the world. Despite the mayhem, I wanted to finish my album on an uplifting note, as if the sun is rising over a better world on a new day.

Alpine Universe