When I was a kid I remember the day Mark Foo died. This revolutionary big wave surfer never came up after riding his wave in. It was as if this liquid mountain was his chariot to the world beyond. He was riding in his passion and will always live on in the hall of greats. As a kid I grew up surfing on the east end of Long Island. Montauk is the place that I consider my birthplace–where I learned who I was. Spiritual is how I felt the day I heard Mark Foo died doing what he loved. I didn’t think about his beliefs, his status, or his bank account. I thought about a man who was in one moment living out his purpose and then the next literally ceased to exist. He was a hero to me and that is because fear could not follow him where he was going. I like the idea of living without that fear.

I remember the first time I truly connected with rock music. Cameron Crowe’s soundtrack for his film “Singles” (clip below) came out and it featured songs from Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Alice in Chains and more. It became my bible and the very next day I formed my band Stage. I was 13 or 14 at the time and from that early age I saw the power of film and music. Having songs go hand and hand with a visual had me so inspired.

I made a video for this song (Right Now) in the beginning of 2009. With my band and the help of the NYU cheerleading squad, I made an early little viral video as I was still putting the finishing touches on my upcoming album, 11:59. This song really inspired the idea behind the album. What does it mean? Simply, it means to live in the moment. Since we were young we have heard this romantic idea of carpe diem, seize the day… but do we truly ever stop and think about what that moment is to us ?

As challenging a year as this has been, we here at KSPACE.TV proudly celebrate what was achieved this year and feel optimistic and energized by what’s to come. It’s been a banner year for great musical and sports moments and we cherish these and the spirit of artists and athletes as they carry us over into the new year. One such artist who lives, breathes and celebrates this positive and awesome spirit is our December special guest artist Ryan Star who joins us over the next couple weeks with his ‘09 roundups and what’s to come in his world …..