ESCAPE the CLOUDS

Steampunk Music and Media

[officialescapetheclouds]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHzbVZSAAmk)

[officialescapetheclouds]

Got a new digital 8 track recorder / sampler / DAW interface. So tiny, it fits in my uke case.

[officialescapetheclouds]

Dogwood--lead vocalist of the Nathaniel Johnstone Band and a fine uke-ist--showing off one of the Ukulele "Happy Place" shirts I designed! She's an amazing singer and performer. Want a shirt too? They're available here: http://teespring.com/ukulelehappyplace

[officialescapetheclouds]

Only ONE day left on my Ukulele "Happy Place" T-shirt fundraiser!

With its go-anywhere, make-music-anywhere character, the ukulele can bring joy wherever its player takes it. Share your love for this versatile little wonder with this original shirt design.If you're looking for the perfect gift for your uke-playing friends and family, these shirts will ship in time for the holidays! About the artist:  As Escape the Clouds, I tell stories through unique steampunk music, and my live performances make heavy use of a baritone ukulele.  I've released three albums and two EPs. Wherever I go, I take a ukulele with me, ready for when inspiration strikes. My latest instrumental EP, in fact, was written and recorded entirely with ukuleles:  http://www.escapetheclouds.com/index.php/music?release=4 Why I need your support:Proceeds from this original shirt design will help fund the production of my fourth Escape the Clouds album, to be released in 2015. I do all of the writing, recording, video production, and mixing myself, but once it's done, there are certain inescapable costs.  * First run of CD printing ($250)* Professional audio mastering ($300) * Marketing--Flyers, social media, etc. ($100+) * New wireless setup for live performances ($200) Thank you so much for supporting independent music!  Check out my work at:  http://www.escapetheclouds.com/

One part celebration of the go-anywhere character of the ukulele. One part fundraiser for my fourth album. Please share at will!

And here's a full size version of the image:

[officialescapetheclouds]

Fundraiser! New Ukulele T-Shirt Design

With its go-anywhere, make-music-anywhere character, the ukulele can bring joy wherever its player takes it. Share your love for this versatile little wonder with this original shirt design.

P.S. If you're looking for the perfect gift for your uke-playing friends and family, these shirts will ship in time for the holidays!

About the Artist: 

As Escape the Clouds, I tell stories through unique steampunk music, and my live performances make heavy use of a baritone ukulele. Wherever I go, I take a ukulele with me, ready for when inspiration strikes. 

Why I Need Your Support:

Proceeds from this original shirt design will help fund the production of my fourth Escape the Clouds album, to be released in 2015. I do all of the writing, recording, video production, and mixing myself, but once it's done, there are certain inescapable costs. 

First run of CD printing ($250)

Professional audio mastering ($300)

Marketing--Flyers, social media, etc. ($100+)

New wireless setup for live performances ($200)

Thank you so much for supporting independent music!  Please check out my work at:  http://www.escapetheclouds.com/

Mark Rossmore Escape the Clouds

[officialescapetheclouds]

New 'stache swag: Escape the Clouds USB drives loaded with all five Escape the Clouds releases, music videos, and original fiction!

[officialescapetheclouds]

Thoughts on the Awesomeness that is Dragon Con

I was talking with someone who went to his first Dragon Con last weekend. My wife and I have been going since 2008. After not attending any panels and only a couple events over the entire four day weekend, he seemed to have nothing but complaints. Too many people. Not enough "big reveal" stuff like SDCC. Not enough corporate presence from game and film companies. Not enough that appealed to his specific tastes.

My feeling is that he totally missed the point of the event. It's not about companies selling their wares. That's why E3 and SDCC exist. Dragon Con is about community and people being brought together for the love of their particular fandoms and to party with like-minded people. It's about discovering new interests (it's where I discovered steampunk) and learning new ways to be creative (it's what got me into writing again). It's about getting to know new people, who over the years, begin to feel like family.

You get out what you put into it. This year, I attended panels on the ins and outs of 3D printing hosted by master printers; writing a story in an hour; and a roundtable discussion by a group of musicians that I admire. My wife learned origami and attended the Pluto New Horizons probe panel. We both then saw Sir Patrick Stewart live; attended a "Liberty or Bigotry" panel on the Hobby Lobby decision hosted by a secular lobbyist; a discussion of the Lovecraft Cthulhu Mythos by a group of bestselling authors; and lastly, two hilarious adults-only panels on sex, deviance, and "hysteria" in the Victorian era. I then rocked out at multiple concerts that night.

Oh, and all that? That was just on Friday.

I leave Dragon Con every year motivated to write, make music, and create new things. I love it, and I wouldn't change much about it. Going "corporate" would kill its free spirited ways.

Here are some additional thoughts on this by one of the celebrity panel hosts this year: http://www.blastr.com/2014-9-3/dragon-con-nerd-community-where-fans-are-celebs

[officialescapetheclouds]

What a great time this year at Dragon Con. It's always good to see old friends and new friends.

[officialescapetheclouds]

I will be at Dragon Con this weekend. If you see me and my steampunk ukulele, please say hi! Expect plenty of video and photos in the days ahead! I'm eager to see all of the great bands playing: Nathaniel Johnstone Band, The Cog is Dead, Ghosts Project, Unwoman, Gin Rebellion, and more!

[officialescapetheclouds]

Pre-Dragon Con battery charging party. I. Must. Have. POWER.

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Flying is so wonderful. I can't wait til my little one is old enough to go flying with me. She's already yelling "Avion!" whenever she even hears an airplane.

[officialescapetheclouds]

Working on my first Arduino project, a little steam gauge thing to mount on my uke for Dragon con.

[officialescapetheclouds]

The time-travelling trio is thrilled to be playing a main stage show at Dragon Con this Saturday. Unfortunately, Dragon Con doesn't cover transportation to and from the convention, so they're offering piles of gifts if you help them get underway!

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Coding. Wiring. Soldering. Cutting. Making a new prop.

[officialescapetheclouds]

I'm so scatterbrained when it comes to instruments, as the local ukulele group I play in on Saturdays can attest. Two weeks ago, I played bass. Last week, I did live finger drumming on my MPC (as shown). This week, I'll be playing uke alternating with synth and wavedrum (you just can't cover Bowie's "Space Oddity" without a little spacey synth!) I'm all over the place, what can I say?

[officialescapetheclouds]

[officialescapetheclouds]

My new Escape the Clouds site has been launched! Come on in and explore! http://www.escapetheclouds.com/index.php