(UP)Rising Sonz! is no easy phenomenon to explain. Recently, it has become a book, but even in that form it becomes something more — a collection of connections made with images and ideas.

Created by Mark Felt and TRACE contributer, Scott Kinsey, (UP)Rising Sonz! feels like the lifebook of a micromovement or a mad roadtrip undertaken by ’soul skaters’ who travel through (sub)cultural and lingual borders by skating, experimenting with styles, making art and tagging up their urban global playgrounds.

In reality, UPRising Sonz! started as a simple creative endeavor to connect up with Japanese skaters, travel and kick around on a strong DIY tip.

We caught up with Scott to check in with his own thoughts on what (UP)Rising Sonz! is all about, what exactly a ‘Soul Skater’ is and what’s up with global youth subcultures.

Check out the book here.

TRACE: In your own words, what is (UP)Rising Sonz!?

Scott Kinsey: (UP)Rising Sonz! communicates so many things on so many different levels to each of us that was involved in its creation. We set out to create a project in which we could first and foremost, be creative and
we wanted to work with our friends to incorporate all the things that make us happy in life. The point of all this was to get lost in the moment…Lost in the art of it all with friends and family and share our experience and our art. (UP)Rising Sonz! is our window into the lifestyle of our friends and family. It is creativity, it is skateboarding, it is art, it is a lifestyle.

T: How does skating connect generations?
SK: Skating seems to connect people from all over the world, young and old. There is something that skaters share in terms of what inspires them and makes them happy. It is also a rush of creativity, freedom and adrenaline. With skateboarding you follow your own path and and yet your inspired by others and you are always being creative. It is that feel of freedom and the energy of creativity that never leave your soul. That is what creates a universal bond.

T: What is a ‘Soul Skater’?
SK: A Soul Skater is someone who is connected and driven by that feeling in your soul to continue to create, innovate, evolve, influence and revolutionize their life and the lives of others around them, on or off the skateboard.

T: What is style?
SK: Style is something that comes from ones soul. It is being comfortable with your surroundings and being able to seamlessly interact with your environment as one. It is in a sense good design, in terms of self expression…it is timeless, beautiful, inspiring and a natural form of ones artistic individuality.

T: Who are the global youth?
SK: That is hard question to to answer as it seems that they are constantly evolving and re-inventing themselves. They are the next generation of creators and innovators and I love watching them evolve.