As a musician, I used to inspire myself through travel — the discovery of new territories, smells and landscapes. Because of the pandemic, the last few months have been very difficult for me. When Ian gave me the opportunity to be part of this project, I didn’t hesitate to jump in and break away from my usual patterns. So every morning, for about a month, I woke up incredibly early to allow myself to think and ruminate about the songs I wanted to create. I think you can really open your mind to inspiration during that time right before dawn, when it’s still dark outside, and connect your thoughts with the frequencies of that specific day.

Each song on the album — with the sounds of waves, dolphins and such — takes you right into the narrative of The Outlaw Ocean. It’s a new way to experience reading this incredible work of journalism. Telling a story through music, and making a listener live in the mood of that moment, helps heighten the impact felt when consuming this material. I have always been convinced that music can function in place of the things you can’t articulate. At times, there were tracks that seemed to be composed on autopilot. I just let my emotions run through them. The emotion that comes from a note or frequency can’t be replaced by a voice.

Qubiko