Ecoize's EcoCelebrity EcoInterivew with  Ocean,
one of our EcoCelebs.
In case you're from another universe and haven't heard Ocean's music yet, go to Ocean's site and find out more about her after reading this thoughtful interview.
Ocean's voice is entrnacing and we think she embodies what our site stands for - for mermaids, of course - Ocean's a surfer, a vegan because she loves animals, and an active environentalist and animal protector. We also love her style !
We asked Ocean to be our spokesperson and to contribute some of her beautiful artwork to our site, and we're thrilled that she's agreed to become involved with EcoMermaid !
Enjoy our interview with Ocean - Then Visit Ocean's Ocean - More Ocean's Blog

EcoCelebrity EcoInterview with Ocean


EcoMermaid Staff

First of all, I speak for all of us at EcoMermaid who absolutely love your music ! We were intrigued that your debut cd was entitled, 'Mermaid Music',and that
you, too, are involved with ecological concerns.

Would you tell us more about what led you to name your cd ?

Ocean

I guess we all are obsessed with some variation of the idea of the mermaid,
and I, too, feel the link between the mermaid and environment The reason the
cd is called,'Mermaid Music',is because the songs in that collection are all
about passion and longing, whether of the body or the soul. There is o­ne song
on in - 'Siren Song'- which is directly linked to this idea, and which tells
a story of a mermaid and a sailor. The CD encompasses many styles, and is eclectic
in sound.

EcoMermaid Staff

I really love it! And when I first heard ,'Siren Song',on the radio, I was struck
with how you had found a new way to tell this very archaic tale.

Ocean

Thanks. My mermaid story brought out the ambiguity and, I hope, some of the
haunting qualities and otherwordliness of those tales- kind of a horror story
with romance as its' end, no matter how it goes.

I like the primeval idea of the mermaid, and it seemed to fit with the exotic
melody in the song.

EcoMermaid Staff

How did you get the name, Ocean ?

Ocean

My parents are surfers, and I was actually born in the ocean ! And it seemed
to fit, according to my Dad, who said I have sea-colored, aqua eyes. We always
lived at the beach, and I still do. I could swim before I could walk, and I
feel very at home in the sea. Of course, I surf and even our rescued dogs do!

EcoMermaid Staff

That's so nice that you've rescued dogs too!

Ocean

Oh, yes. I rescue all kinds of animals, and that includes pets, domestic animals
as well as wildlife, and I keep as many as possible. I wouldn't think of buying
a pet at a pet store, or from a breeder, when so many are in trouble and might
be put down at shelters. I have six dogs, four cats, and two birds, all rescued,
- but o­nly the doggies surf!-and I've fostered more and found homes for them.
With wildlife, I save them, then transport them to where they'll be tended,
mended, taken care of, and if possible, then released back into the area where
they'd been living before. It's a wonderful thing, being able to see them return
to their wild homes!

EcoMermaid Staff

We're posting o­ne of your articles o­n wildlife rescue under our section, WildlifeFix,
which is under MerAnimals. Most of us here at EcoMermaid also have adopted needy
pets, and we feel they are the very best ! We'd all like to learn how to do
wildlife rescue too, and I'm sure our readers will enjoy reading about your
adventures in saving lives.

Ocean

Everyone can do it! There are ways which every person o­n Earth, I mean, o­n Sea-
I love how you've renamed the planet for who she really is !- can help to save
lives, and doing animal rescue is very fulfilling.

EcoMermaid Staff

Ocean, do you think that being named for the ocean has given you a feeling of
kinship with it?

Ocean

Most definitely - like, I feel that I should help protect the ocean, and all
the planet. I really do walk along the beaches and not o­nly search for injured
wildlife, but I pick up any trash I find. It's so sad to see that some people
don't feel that same concern for keeping the beaches and wild areas beautiful.
That's o­ne reason I was happy to accept your invitation to act as your spokesperson
for EcoMermaid. You have the same goals as I do!

EcoMermaid Staff

I know you're currently working o­n a new cd. Would you tell us something about
it ?

Ocean

Yes. It is simply called, 'Ocean', because the record company i'm with now wanted it to be more of an introductory CD to my more mainstream work that they first o­ne was,and, to me, that title stands for the ocean as well as for my name, because this CD has a oceanic rhythms, and is in a style I call sort of an 'island', sound. It's more accessible than my first CD and has some smooth, samba-type tunes in it and it's exotic and melodic, like much of my music tends to be. It's more like mainstream, and everyone seems to love
it.

EcoMermaid Staff

You remind me of Sade in some songs, but you still have your own distinct and
unique voice. You have a great range and i love the tone of your singing. Did
you study music? You write brilliant songs too.

Ocean

No, no special training, and I play by ear. I've traveled a lot, and that contributes
to my love of music and especially of exotic music.

EcoMermaid Staff

I really like the quotes we used o­n our homepage from some of your articles,
and we are so happy that you are allowing us to use some of your writings at
EcoMermaid. You truly are multi-talented, and I have read your poetry, which
is also great, and your artwork is stunning as well. We think you're the closest
thing to a real mermaid we've seen, because you surf and spend time saving lives
at the ocean and help the planet in everything you do. Did you think of being
a mermaid when you were little?

Ocean

I think every little kid does, especially o­nes who are raised at the beach.
I used to think there really were mermaids and mermen in the sea, and fairies
in the flowers. Now I realize we need to become like mermaids ourselves and
swim together to save the planet, as you'd say. I think that's o­ne of the coolest
aspects of EcoMermaid, and I'm really glad to be a part of it.

EcoMermaid Staff

Do you have any plans of other ways you would like to protect animals?

Ocean

Actually, I have several- o­ne is a cd I am in pre-production o­n which has songs
honoring various animal groups, like I have o­ne for horses, which has a moving,
lovely melody, and o­ne for wolves, and so o­n. I also have plans for my Concerts
for Animals, which will raise money and awareness for them. I'm inviting all
vegan and vegetarian and eco-minded musicians to join us in these, and I want
to have booths with material telling about how people can help, and booths with
samples of vegan dishes and recipes there and petitions for people to sign,etc.
I'd like for them to be annual, or even more often. I also donate part of every
cd sale of my music and prints of my artwork, or whatever I do, to animal advocacy
groups and campaigns.

EcoMermaid Staff

That is so brilliant! We at our site will help to publicize your concerts, and
in any way we can. It's very cool that you have established the links from veganism
to public health to being child-free to saving the planet. I read about your
views at FamousVeggie.com, among their celebrity interviews.

Ocean

Yes, in most interviews I mention saving the animals and the world, which really
is o­ne and the same thing. I love music and the arts, and I easily find time
to devote to saving all I love in the world too. Sometimes it's as easy as just
sending emails, which I do weekly from the Peta.org website and from other great
sites, and sometimes it's letter-writing o­n political issues which affect animals
and the environment, and also, of course, donating time and money. I make time
to save animals. And wherever I am if I see an animal in need, I stop whatever
I'm doing because saving a life always takes precedence over anything else.

EcoMermaid Staff

We hope that more celebrities will take a stance as you've done, and speak out
for those who can't. It's amazing to me that someone as talented and as busy
as you are is also so unselfish and un-self-absorbed ! this is the essence of
true MerSpirit, and let me say for all of the staff at EcoMermaid that we're
so glad to have you swimming in our own ocean, Ocean, and that you are true
mermaid ! Thank you for this interview and thank you for consenting to act as
our spokesperson !

Ocean

I look forward to it, and congratulations o­n your launch !

Ecoize has asked Ocean to write a blog for us, she said yes and we've called it
Ocean's Ocean.


We're so excited that Ocean has agreed to take some time from music every few days and write for us, we'd like to take this opportunity to say Thanks, Ocean, from all of us at Ecoize, for making such a great contribution to saving our planet!