Joshua Blum
@13thhr.bsky.social
Author & illustrator of The Thirteenth Hour, an 80s fairytale. Retro80s & Synthwave artist. Toymaker. The Rocketeer lives!
Making musical soundtracks for parts of my books help helped me add ways of expressing things I couldn’t quite express in words! This is the main theme for The Thirteenth Hour. #pianopractice joshuablum.bandcamp.com
October 19, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Making musical soundtracks for parts of my books help helped me add ways of expressing things I couldn’t quite express in words! This is the main theme for The Thirteenth Hour. #pianopractice joshuablum.bandcamp.com
The Ice Giant! This is a track to accompany a section of a podcast playthrough @pixelgrotto.bsky.social & I did of the game he helped create, Mappa Mundi where the main character encounters a supernatural being. Tried to evoke the feel of wonder thru the sound effects & synths.
October 6, 2025 at 2:34 AM
The Ice Giant! This is a track to accompany a section of a podcast playthrough @pixelgrotto.bsky.social & I did of the game he helped create, Mappa Mundi where the main character encounters a supernatural being. Tried to evoke the feel of wonder thru the sound effects & synths.
We all want our first time to be special. The story of the first cassette tape I ever bought. Mid 90s? Finding stuff in general was a lot harder - you am just of hoped for the best and had to be okay with disappointment. But sometimes … sometimes, the gods shone on you and it all worked out.
September 25, 2025 at 10:23 PM
We all want our first time to be special. The story of the first cassette tape I ever bought. Mid 90s? Finding stuff in general was a lot harder - you am just of hoped for the best and had to be okay with disappointment. But sometimes … sometimes, the gods shone on you and it all worked out.
Reposted by Joshua Blum
Mockup of a zone-based battle system inspired by 16-bit RPGs, using sprites made by @13thhr.bsky.social. For a homebrew TTRPG system I've been drafting for us to play around with. (The systems we've previously used have been good but haven't 100% fit our purposes, so why not make our own?)
September 12, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Mockup of a zone-based battle system inspired by 16-bit RPGs, using sprites made by @13thhr.bsky.social. For a homebrew TTRPG system I've been drafting for us to play around with. (The systems we've previously used have been good but haven't 100% fit our purposes, so why not make our own?)
Bev rocking out! Made in the action figure animating app Nauk Nauk. I’m not someone who is super against or for AI, but things like this are one of the few uses of AI I can get behind. 🎸 @leathompson.bsky.social #howardtheduck www.nauknauk.io/post/POSTc39...
September 6, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Bev rocking out! Made in the action figure animating app Nauk Nauk. I’m not someone who is super against or for AI, but things like this are one of the few uses of AI I can get behind. 🎸 @leathompson.bsky.social #howardtheduck www.nauknauk.io/post/POSTc39...
Aurora's Theme - I imagined that each time she appeared in The Thirteenth Hour, you could hear her theme playing. A similar thing was done on the Legend soundtrack by Tangerine Dream, where they wrote a distinctive unicorn theme that plays pretty much most times that the unicorns appear. #synthfam
September 2, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Aurora's Theme - I imagined that each time she appeared in The Thirteenth Hour, you could hear her theme playing. A similar thing was done on the Legend soundtrack by Tangerine Dream, where they wrote a distinctive unicorn theme that plays pretty much most times that the unicorns appear. #synthfam
Sometimes I get asked why I wrote musical soundtracks to my books, and the truth is, there are just some things words can’t convey - thankfully, music can fill in the the gaps. 🎶 #authorlife
August 25, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Sometimes I get asked why I wrote musical soundtracks to my books, and the truth is, there are just some things words can’t convey - thankfully, music can fill in the the gaps. 🎶 #authorlife
Throwback Thursday! One of the reasons I went with a translucent purple cassette shell for my latest album was because the first was in translucent blue 💙 joshuablum.bandcamp.com/album/long-a... #synthfam #retro80s
August 22, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Throwback Thursday! One of the reasons I went with a translucent purple cassette shell for my latest album was because the first was in translucent blue 💙 joshuablum.bandcamp.com/album/long-a... #synthfam #retro80s
Guess what arrived in the mail yesterday? Cassette tapes of Once Upon a Dream! Getting these babies made this summer was a massive undertaking but totally worth it! I love the translucent purple shell we went with. Grab one while they’re available! joshuablum.bandcamp.com/album/once-u...
August 14, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Guess what arrived in the mail yesterday? Cassette tapes of Once Upon a Dream! Getting these babies made this summer was a massive undertaking but totally worth it! I love the translucent purple shell we went with. Grab one while they’re available! joshuablum.bandcamp.com/album/once-u...
Today (7/29) would’ve been Dave Stevens’ birthday. Dave was the creator of the #Rocketeer, an indie comic that later became a Disney film. Dave passed away in 2008 from leukemia, but his spirit lives on with every remaining Gee Bee and stick of Beeman’s chewed. My attempt at the James Horner score:
July 30, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Today (7/29) would’ve been Dave Stevens’ birthday. Dave was the creator of the #Rocketeer, an indie comic that later became a Disney film. Dave passed away in 2008 from leukemia, but his spirit lives on with every remaining Gee Bee and stick of Beeman’s chewed. My attempt at the James Horner score:
When I set out to make a soundtrack for my fantasy novel, The Thirteenth Hour, I wanted to pay homage to the source: 80s & early 90s sci-fi/fantasy films + new wave music. It took a while, but that’s what I did - 2 LPs of cinematic synth & new wave ballads! joshuablum.bandcamp.com/merch/once-u...
July 22, 2025 at 7:29 PM
When I set out to make a soundtrack for my fantasy novel, The Thirteenth Hour, I wanted to pay homage to the source: 80s & early 90s sci-fi/fantasy films + new wave music. It took a while, but that’s what I did - 2 LPs of cinematic synth & new wave ballads! joshuablum.bandcamp.com/merch/once-u...
Just received the demo tape for the Once Upon a Dream cassettes. Coming soon to joshuablum.bandcamp.com! Playing this on a vintage Sharp WQ-572 tape player my mom salvaged from the garbage when I was a kid :)
#vintagevibes #vintagetapeplayer #vintagecassettedeck #synthwave #cinematicsynth
#vintagevibes #vintagetapeplayer #vintagecassettedeck #synthwave #cinematicsynth
July 21, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Just received the demo tape for the Once Upon a Dream cassettes. Coming soon to joshuablum.bandcamp.com! Playing this on a vintage Sharp WQ-572 tape player my mom salvaged from the garbage when I was a kid :)
#vintagevibes #vintagetapeplayer #vintagecassettedeck #synthwave #cinematicsynth
#vintagevibes #vintagetapeplayer #vintagecassettedeck #synthwave #cinematicsynth
Once Upon a Dream CDs just arrived! joshuablum.bandcamp.com/album/once-u... For the full experience, try finding an old school CD player to listen on. Bonus points if you try to jog with one of these things! 😂
#vintagevibes #synthwave #cinematicsynth #synthfam
#vintagevibes #synthwave #cinematicsynth #synthfam
July 17, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Once Upon a Dream CDs just arrived! joshuablum.bandcamp.com/album/once-u... For the full experience, try finding an old school CD player to listen on. Bonus points if you try to jog with one of these things! 😂
#vintagevibes #synthwave #cinematicsynth #synthfam
#vintagevibes #synthwave #cinematicsynth #synthfam
@pixelgrotto & I are recently watched Manhunter, from 1986, a prequel of sorts to The Silence of the Lambs films. I went in with no expectations, but this is quite an entertaining, stylish 80s movie - good one to check out if you are into 80s horror or vintage synth! open.spotify.com/episode/0fml...
July 8, 2025 at 2:25 AM
@pixelgrotto & I are recently watched Manhunter, from 1986, a prequel of sorts to The Silence of the Lambs films. I went in with no expectations, but this is quite an entertaining, stylish 80s movie - good one to check out if you are into 80s horror or vintage synth! open.spotify.com/episode/0fml...
Reposted by Joshua Blum
How gorgeous is this ttrpg by @threesailsstudios.bsky.social ?
Mappa Mundi is actually first thing I have ever backed in kickstarter, and it definately seems and feels well worth it!
This seems to have a great attitude towards nature and adventure.
Can't wait to get some chronicles rolling!
Mappa Mundi is actually first thing I have ever backed in kickstarter, and it definately seems and feels well worth it!
This seems to have a great attitude towards nature and adventure.
Can't wait to get some chronicles rolling!
July 6, 2025 at 12:13 PM
How gorgeous is this ttrpg by @threesailsstudios.bsky.social ?
Mappa Mundi is actually first thing I have ever backed in kickstarter, and it definately seems and feels well worth it!
This seems to have a great attitude towards nature and adventure.
Can't wait to get some chronicles rolling!
Mappa Mundi is actually first thing I have ever backed in kickstarter, and it definately seems and feels well worth it!
This seems to have a great attitude towards nature and adventure.
Can't wait to get some chronicles rolling!
Thirteenth Hour theme lullaby style - this was the first Thirteenth Hour piece I wrote years ago and its riffs are found in various places in Long Ago Not So Far Away and Once Upon a Dream. The latter is now live! You can listen at joshuablum.bandcamp.com 🎶 #retro80s #midnightpiano #synthfam
July 2, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Thirteenth Hour theme lullaby style - this was the first Thirteenth Hour piece I wrote years ago and its riffs are found in various places in Long Ago Not So Far Away and Once Upon a Dream. The latter is now live! You can listen at joshuablum.bandcamp.com 🎶 #retro80s #midnightpiano #synthfam
Thirteenth Hour Medley lullaby - playing some quiet midnight riffs from Long Ago Not So Far Away and Once Upon a Dream strung together. The latter is now live! 🎶 joshuablum.bandcamp.com/album/once-u... #retro80s #midnightpiano #synthfam
July 2, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Thirteenth Hour Medley lullaby - playing some quiet midnight riffs from Long Ago Not So Far Away and Once Upon a Dream strung together. The latter is now live! 🎶 joshuablum.bandcamp.com/album/once-u... #retro80s #midnightpiano #synthfam
Really fun discussion! Also on Spotify and most other major podcast platforms open.spotify.com/episode/0BZo...
June 19, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Really fun discussion! Also on Spotify and most other major podcast platforms open.spotify.com/episode/0BZo...
Rainy day window vibes. Once Upon a Dream is a standalone cinematic / melodic / new wave synth album written to accompany the 80s film inspired novel, The Thirteenth Hour. Out now, streaming on joshuablum.bandcamp.com/album/once-u... #synthpop #synthfam #pixelartist
June 17, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Rainy day window vibes. Once Upon a Dream is a standalone cinematic / melodic / new wave synth album written to accompany the 80s film inspired novel, The Thirteenth Hour. Out now, streaming on joshuablum.bandcamp.com/album/once-u... #synthpop #synthfam #pixelartist
Dad Day sale this weekend!
6/14-6/16
25% off anything at
joshuablum.bandcamp.com
Use code
whoisurdaddy&whatdoeshedo
at checkout! #synthfam
6/14-6/16
25% off anything at
joshuablum.bandcamp.com
Use code
whoisurdaddy&whatdoeshedo
at checkout! #synthfam
June 14, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Dad Day sale this weekend!
6/14-6/16
25% off anything at
joshuablum.bandcamp.com
Use code
whoisurdaddy&whatdoeshedo
at checkout! #synthfam
6/14-6/16
25% off anything at
joshuablum.bandcamp.com
Use code
whoisurdaddy&whatdoeshedo
at checkout! #synthfam
Release day! Once Upon a Dream is out now! 7 years, 19 tracks (20 on Bandcamp), not sure how many hours on production … but would do it again in a heartbeat. It’s been a fun ride! #melodicsynth #synthfam joshuablum.bandcamp.com/album/once-u...
June 13, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Release day! Once Upon a Dream is out now! 7 years, 19 tracks (20 on Bandcamp), not sure how many hours on production … but would do it again in a heartbeat. It’s been a fun ride! #melodicsynth #synthfam joshuablum.bandcamp.com/album/once-u...
See you tonight! Chill tunes, free prizes, cool people - to quote Oddball from Kelly’s Heroes, wth all these positive waves, how can you go wrong??? 😂 joshuablum.bandcamp.com/merch/once-u...
June 9, 2025 at 7:20 PM
See you tonight! Chill tunes, free prizes, cool people - to quote Oddball from Kelly’s Heroes, wth all these positive waves, how can you go wrong??? 😂 joshuablum.bandcamp.com/merch/once-u...
Recently watched the 2024 Kraven the Hunter movie. Don’t know much about the comic characters but contrary to the 💩 reviews, found it quite entertaining. @pixelgrotto.bsky.social had the action figure as a kid, & Kraven was the ultimate jobber for whatever adventure we dreamt up!
June 9, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Recently watched the 2024 Kraven the Hunter movie. Don’t know much about the comic characters but contrary to the 💩 reviews, found it quite entertaining. @pixelgrotto.bsky.social had the action figure as a kid, & Kraven was the ultimate jobber for whatever adventure we dreamt up!
Hey #synthfam, wanted to invite y’all to a Bandcamp listen party for Once Upon a Dream, a melodic / cinematic / synthpop album I wrote to accompany an 80s film inspired fantasy novel I wrote, The Thirteenth Hour - 6/9/25 at 5 PM EST! joshuablum.bandcamp.com/merch/once-u...
June 6, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Hey #synthfam, wanted to invite y’all to a Bandcamp listen party for Once Upon a Dream, a melodic / cinematic / synthpop album I wrote to accompany an 80s film inspired fantasy novel I wrote, The Thirteenth Hour - 6/9/25 at 5 PM EST! joshuablum.bandcamp.com/merch/once-u...