Just as a picture is often worth a thousand words, so are sounds and music. Soundscapes are incredibly visually evocative, taking us to places that words sometimes cannot. I specifically tried to emulate this philosophy with my contributions to The Outlaw Ocean Music Project. One of my favorite parts of composing my tracks was getting the chance to scroll through the vast digital archive from Ian’s reporting — watching and listening, and ultimately trying to make sense of the stories contained in each file. 

Normally my creative process revolves around creating music that reflects my current frame of mind. But having access to so many digital resources that helped give weight to the journey of The Outlaw Ocean, I had to shift my approach and try to direct each component to help the songs convey the message of Ian’s book. It was a captivating task. There is no barrier when it comes to music — I feel like it’s a universal language that each and every individual can be fluent in. Adding a soundtrack of sorts to journalism heightens the senses of the audience, ultimately creating a more immersive experience that allows them to associate certain sounds and moods to a particular thing.

Robert Farrugia