John M Davis
banner
jdsampo.bsky.social
John M Davis
@jdsampo.bsky.social
Musician, composer, garlic grower, and occasional swordsman.
He/him, happily monogamous. Co-host at Time is Right podcast.
Music is the poetry of the air - Richter

johnmdavismusic.com
https://johnmdavis.bandcamp.com/
timeisright.fm
Pinned
When I record an album I build up a virtual "band" and use it for the whole thing. My next album 'Fisher King' is no exception.
Some of the material for 'Fisher King' hasn't made the cut but I love this little guy. Here's the "band" having a laugh between more serious work ☺️

youtu.be/MDV8bLvvDVo
A Fool's Errand
YouTube video by John M Davis
youtu.be
Reposted by John M Davis
Evil apples for everyone!
Thanks @talkscaredpod.bsky.social for the great recommendation of Black River Orchard by @chuckwendig.bsky.social. Fantastic novel, loved it. Gotta find some of these apples now & gotta read more of his books.
November 16, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Today’s studio session I updated the blog, ignored all responsibilities with respect to ‘Fisher King’, and started on some new music. Oh boy…
Oh and ran a backup. That was a tad overdue 😳
November 15, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Now that 'Fisher King' is in that weird, liminal, space between "composed" and "released", I found myself musing on how to know when an album, or indeed any work of art, is "finished".

johnmdavismusic.com/2025/11/15/h...
How do You Know When an Album is Done?
Paul Valéry: A work is never completed, but merely abandoned. I disagree with above quote. I guess it depends on how you look at your art and how you balance the difference between process and prod…
johnmdavismusic.com
November 15, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Reposted by John M Davis
Quick Update with a shout out to @florgoth.bsky.social and a very good song by @untidymusic.com
www.sometimesanderson.com/news/gigs%2C...
Gigs, Gigs and Music | sometimes-anderson
www.sometimesanderson.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Reading about some rich dickheads in MA trying to block access to a public beach made me think of this tune. I love these guys, so much subversive fun 🎶

youtu.be/VlE1pw-Dh8A?...
Ghostland Observatory - "Rich Man" [Live from Austin, TX]
YouTube video by Live From Austin TX
youtu.be
November 15, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Reposted by John M Davis
Adding the “Oh!” to Omnisphere
#musicianresources #musiciantips #musiciantips #technology
Adding the "Oh!" to Omnisphere
Stan Stewart - @muz4now
muz4now.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:06 AM
What could possibly go wrong?
November 13, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Reposted by John M Davis
Sometimes, when I’m really struggling to find anything in this current moment that isn’t about intentional cruelty and limitless greed, I think about the fact that there is music in the world right now that didn’t exist a week ago, or a day ago. Right now, even now, someone is making new music.
November 13, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Reposted by John M Davis
Mantis is the #whistpr word of the day today!

Post them if you've got them!

#MantisPosting
November 12, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Reposted by John M Davis
The #mantis path to self-actualization:

Sever on instinct
the head from your bad lover
then origami unfold
steel-like layers, serrated edges,
into sentient grass.
Spend the sunny hours praying.
Be at peace
with the consummation of your rage,
a knife in heaven.

#whistpr
November 12, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Stan @muz4now.com Stewart has released a new EP today! Stan’s OICU takes you through 4 ethereal, ambient tracks composed over 1 week using the sounds of only 1 software synthesizer. Despite these restrictions the music is full and complex. Check it out! 👍

playmusic.muz4now.com/album/o-i-c-u
O I C U, by Stan Stewart (aka @muz4now)
4 track album
playmusic.muz4now.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Reposted by John M Davis
They stand in the cold as long as they can bear, teeth clenched against mortality but eyes content as bees in #lavender. Bodies hover closer, hint at overlap. It would be so nice to just hold each other, to feel the buzz of eager conversation thread happy-heavy around synchronizing hearts.

#whistpr
November 11, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Reposted by John M Davis
The tower

#art
November 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Albums need artwork so today’s studio session was spent in the digital dark room which, conveniently enough, isn’t dark at all.
a stuffed animal with a long beak is sitting at a table in a dark room
Alt: Gonzo the Muppet working in his darkroom.
media.tenor.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Any morning you wake up to new Stan Stewart music is a good day. That day is tomorrow, but still ☺️
I just finished 4 tracks for an EP in one week. That’s compose, perform, arrange, mix, master and upload. Available tomorrow (Tuesday) only on Bandcamp and Mirlo.
I’ll also post about it on my blog since this is a bit of a “concept” EP. Thanks to @jdsampo.bsky.social for the inspiration.
November 10, 2025 at 2:16 PM
What if the content of Spotify’s “for you” playlists were influenced more by big money than your actual listening habits? Hint: they are
November 9, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Reposted by John M Davis
Behind skin & bone, the last day of Pompeii flickers like a drive-in feature on every nerve.

Someone is facing me. Someone is speaking.

I smile. I blink. I #sip my water. I nod. I breathe like it's surgery & pray they can't hear the roar.

Everything is ash.

Still I smile. I blink. I...

#whistpr
November 9, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Reposted by John M Davis
Editing tip: if you're having trouble getting villain motivations across without a monologue, try

~Protagonists find clues throughout the book and put things together on their own
~They overhear others discussing pieces of the plan
~Subtext/implication is your best friend
~✨️Some people just suck✨️
November 8, 2025 at 9:32 PM
November 8, 2025 at 10:19 PM
I like writing intros and outros. My music slinks up to your door then stays at the party talking incessantly and eating all your food. On the way out it pauses in the doorway, still chatting, while letting all the heat out of your house.
November 8, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Reposted by John M Davis
loose tendrils
and butterfly blues
speakeasy morning
no smugglers here
only red coldness
subsiding in stillness
light catchers all the same

#inkMine #poet #writerslife
November 8, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Started reading an article on “How to Remember Everything You Read”. I realized it was like six, dense, pages. No way I’m going to remember all this.
November 8, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Reposted by John M Davis
The world is both burning & blooming.
November 7, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Reposted by John M Davis
I don't suppose anyone here is overly familiar with Adobe Fonts licensing, but here goes 😅

Is it permitted within the license to send photoshop files with active fonts to clients who have commissioned work from you?
November 7, 2025 at 6:54 PM