Hypnomancer
cinematic song writer
As a wordsmith my curiosity and passion for blending diverse musical genres provides an ideal way to explore songwriting as a vehicle for cinematic storytelling. I approach each song as its own world, uniquely set in time, locale and emotional tone. From the wired anxiety of an unfolding political intrigue to the fumbled lines of a chance romantic tryst, a moment of prayer, a rant, or an alien encounter on a back country road. The creative scope of these sonic dramas has been greatly expanded by the advent of generative AI, which enables my poetic story telling gifts to quite literally drive musical expression. Generative AI sound-making tools allow for quicker production timelines, lower recording costs and a greater choice of musical setting. More importantly, this emergent technology liberates the songwriter to imagine far beyond the confines of a singular iconic voice to become the multitude we are!
Find many more songs here, from blistering rock to adventurous forays across foreign lands and desolate sci-fi soundscapes. soundcloud.com/iotronik
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Hypnomancer, (aka David Stout) is a musical shape shifter exploring the world of hybrid sound cultures blending a wide array of genres including folk, ambient, noise, world fusion, country, jazz, trip-hop, IDM, future-bass, shoegaze, glam, abstract electronics, minimalism and contemporary classical music. His compositions, songs, and scores are produced with a variety of instrumental approaches including, modular synthesizers, custom soft synths, field recordings, folk instruments, generative AI and session instrumentalists. David received his MFA in Film-Video & Music from the California Institute of the Arts followed by an active professional career as both a professor and celebrated performance director specializing in leading diverse creative teams and teaching effective skills for collaboration across the arts. He is among a growing number of multi-disciplinary artists exploring the power and potential of new media.
Learn more at davidstout.net
Forecasting Emptiness
It all begins with an idea.
Forecasting Emptiness
The poignancy of loss and the inability to hide from the shame and omnipresent judgement of others.
Poignant, Wistful, Literate, Melancholy, Introspective, Relationships, Ballad, Folk, Cinematic, Choral, Acoustic Guitar, Dramatic, Singer-Songwriter
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She slipped in this way
Footprints at the door
Some others will say
Some others will sayNo callers today
No cars on the streets
Some others will say
Some others will sayCold nights ahead
Forecasting EMPTINESS
Alone in this bed
Forecasts of EMPTINESS
Heading this wayShe slipped out again
No key for the door
Some others will say
Some others will sayNo silver is set
No blankets or sheets
Some others will say
and others will sayCold nights ahead
Forecasting EMPTINESS
Alone in this bed
Forecasts of EMPTINESSHeading this way
Forecasts of emptiness
The Lucky Ones
It all begins with an idea.
The Lucky Ones
A drum and bass ballad chronicles the confessions of a duplicitous political operative caught in the turmoil of an unfolding coup. We are not quite certain of the magnitude of their crimes or just what side this partisan was on.
EDM, Drum and Bass, Thriller, Political Intrigue, Electronic, Storytelling, Betrayal, Spycore
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Oh, you lucky ones, arrived today
To play this forward, back, replay
Our lucky ones, arrived, today
The leaning forward guards in greyI have counseled and misled them
I have cheated and I’ve lied
Everything for love of country
I am here and I survivedand, those shouting ones, who ran away
YOU play this forward, back, replay
without the guns, or teeth to stay
and meet the forward guards in greyI have courted and betrayed them
I deleted and denied
Everything, for myth of country
We are here, and he survivedOh, you lucky ones, arrived today
Let’s play this forward, back, replay
To chart a path and hide the way
for leading forward guards in grey
Never
It all begins with an idea.
Never
Pensive cinematic trip hop fuels this interior dialogue of betrayal and abandonment. Rumors of an illicit affair, a clandestine meeting, an incidence of espionage, or maybe it is all an invention of her heightened imagination?
Soundtrack, Betrayal, Romantic, Relationships, Psycho-Drama, Strings, Distress, Cinematic, Atmospheric
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is that you?
I know we said, let’s take this somewhere else, instead,
is that you?
I thought I heard but can’t remember,
maybe missing, maybe later
is that you?I know we said, let’s take this somewhere else, instead,
is that you?
I thought I heard but can’t remember,
maybe missing, maybe later
is that you?ta ta ta ta ta ta
talk to me, say you never
ta ta ta ta ta ta
talk to me, say we never, never …is that you?
where is the key, I left another in my sweater,
is that you?
I thought I knew your name, I called
you didn’t, ever answer
is that you?I know we said, let’s make this one time even better,
is that you?
I heard this sound but that’s real long that I can’t remember,
is that you?
maybe lost it, losing us together
is that you?ta ta ta ta ta ta
talk to me, say you never
ta ta ta ta ta ta
talk to me, say we never, never …
Wild Skies
It all begins with an idea.
Wild Skies
A gothic country ballad with a hint of techno recounts the inability to save someone who cannot see their own plight or admit surrender to the well-meaning care from others.
Ballad, Poetic, Cinematic, Soundtrack, Songwriter, Country, Gothic-Country, Country-Rock, Electronic, Ambient, Shoegaze
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There was that awkward pause in her parting phrase,
going down this road before the world was paved.
That silent ah--awards an early grave,
is our bridge too far for those we want to, saveWhen all the time was just another shifting load,
on the shoulders of three brothers down the road.
All hesitating and unevenness displayed,
on the bridge too far for those we want to, save awayOhh, the wild skies are not safe shelter in the storm
But their beauty is a fury we all know
Down from heaven, into heaven we all go,
from these fields of dust and clay where we were grown.When your sister, or some mother sits alone
In a cell made out of cardboard for a home
In a nest of all the troubles she can claim
the bridge too far for those who won’t be savedOhh, the wild skies are not safe shelter in the storm
But their beauty is a fury we all know
Down from heaven, into heaven we all go,
from these fields of dust and clay where we were grown.Ohh, the wild skies are not safe shelter in the storm
But their beauty is a fury we all know
Down from heaven, into heaven we all go,
from these fields of dust and clay where we were grown
A Crossing
It all begins with an idea.
A Crossing
An acoustic folk song unfolds as journal entries made by those fleeing a dangerous life-threatening conflict, invasion or industrial disaster. The chorus is a damning lament against those who would choose chaos over peace.
Ballad, Poignant, Melancholy, Protest, Folk, Cinematic, Introspective, Acoustic Guitar, Singer-Songwriter, Political
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we turned face
at the crossing
tumbled back
toward a town
we fled
before that morning
when the metal rains
fell to the groundwe strayed through
brush and brambles
off the roads
away from crowds
we slept
by day in ditches
inching and uncertain
following the soundwhen you’re summoned by a savior
who disdains all those we love
will you follow blind and willing
will you kiss the empty glove
will you bellow, bleed and kill then
will you shoot the white wing dove?we chanced there
at the river
a shivering child
in tear-stained gown
we fed
her full at morning
and repaired
her golden crownwe turned to face
the current
no falling back
no standing down
we braved
despite the warning,
drones were swarming
gathering in cloudswhen you’re summoned by a savior
who disdains all those we love
will you follow blind and willing
will you kiss the empty glove
will you bellow, bleed and kill then
will you shoot the white wing dove?
Beyond the Size of Me
It all begins with an idea.
Beyond the Size of Me
Set within a fusion of contemporary electronic styles, a nomadic cyborg woman searches through her synthetic memories to discover herself as an indigenous girl looking toward a resplendent future. A time where her ancestor’s world will be gloriously revived to thrive again.
Trip-Hop, IDM, Ambient, Singer-Songwriter, Avantgarde, Experimental, Glitch-Hop, Future Bass, Folktronica, Cloud-Trap, Pop
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all the seasons lost
deer people calling all
toward the shining peak
we see, we see, I see
beyond the size of me
our destiny – unsealedlight was stolen
Sweet smoke leans in
Leans in to our eyes
Sweet tears
Are the tears of our fathers
All those fathers
Who climbed this way,
Way, way back
climbed this way before usway, way, way back
before the sun
that bore us, before the moon
illumined
she wept
into this songtheir sweet smoke sways and circles
my ember heart.
Our trilling tears are iridescent
When remembered
Lives recalledWhen remembered
Lives recalled
all the seasons lost
toward the shining peak
we see, we see, I see
beyond the size of me
our destiny – unsealedbe yours, doesn’t fall
we see, I see
beyond
beyond the size of me
our destiny
Voltage in the Wire
It all begins with an idea.
Voltage in the Wire
Jazz inflected groove with a nod to music of the Middle East gives a dark and unflinching look at human frailty and the consequence of our choices.
Alt Rock, Soundtrack, Songwriter, Spoken Word, Dramatic, Hypnotic, Poetic, Gritty, Trip-Hop, World, Jazz, Noir
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This small man goes bumpin' to the top
where the sad man sits shattered and lost
There were two men in the ring for a night
Neither man had a stomach for the fightThis blonde chick goes bendin’ for some cash
where tha blue girl’s slippin’ roofies down the hatch
both women with a leper’s luck to lose
skippin’, flippin’ in some shiny shiny shoesWhen one turns on the other turns on the other turns
When one takes a swing, takes a drink, takes another never learns
When one turns on the other turns on the other turns
When one takes a swing, takes a drink, takes another never learnsTwo kids wearing daddy’s pistol just for fun
Swipen’ comics, Shootin’ bottles, Chewin’ gum
One trips, loses balance, on the curb
Nails the other, in the silence, not a wordTwo men, cutting corners, carved in steel
Shaking hands, behind our backs, cementing deals
Both, tongue waggers wielding armies, might and fire
Set a scene, where no one will escape the voltage in the wireWhen one turns on the other turns on the other turns
When one takes a swing, takes a drink, takes another never learns
When one turns on the other turns on the other turns
When one takes a swing, takes a shot, takes another never learns
Twin Flame
It all begins with an idea.
Twin Flame
Soaring 70’s era British glam rock with impressionistic lyrics for time travelers. Channeling an uncanny early Bowie vibe, the singer watches from a distance as his old comrades fall in ruin, unable to keep pace with life’s challenges. A tale of alienation, loss and bittersweet illumination.
Anthem, Singer-Songwriter, Poetic, Nostalgic, Glam, Rock, Emotional, Bowiesque, Epic, Introspective
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and those other men left wanting
without wings they cannot fly
though the era they were haunting
left them standing by the sideof the road that glowed in ruin
never reaching far inside
they are frozen left there standing,
when the center starts to slidehere we are a place apart
so near we are to center
here we are a place apart
the port before we enterand those other men left wanting
without wings they cannot fly
in this era we are haunting
wait and watching by and byehere we are a place apart
so near we are to center
here we are a place apart
the port before we enter
here we are a place apart
so near we are to center
here we are a place apart
the port before we enter
Lover’s Reel
It all begins with an idea.
Lover’s Reel
Blending Celtic folk with contemporary pop production, this light and festive celebration is based on drawing archetypal cards from the Tarot. In turn, the priestess, the child, the sun, the wheel, and the lovers all make an appearance in this dancing lover’s reel.
Soundtrack, Reel, Folk, Tarot, Electronic, Folktronica, Celtic, Classical, Fiddle, Mystical, Period-Drama
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burst through the door
all welcome smiles
across the floor
and in the aisles
the circle spinning
on the dialand wrap your arms
around another
meet his eyes now
greet another
the circle spinning
on the dialHere comes the priestess on her drum
Here comes the child
Here comes the Sun
Here comes the one who spins the wheel
Here comes the dancing lover's reelnow watch them soar
all blissful smiles
rise off the floor
leap from the aisles
the circle spinning
on the dialand wrap your arms
around another
meet her eyes now
be the other
the circle spinning
on the dialHere comes the priestess on her drum
Here comes the child
Here comes the Sun
Here comes the one who spins the wheel
Here comes the dancing lover's reel
Breathe
It all begins with an idea.
Breathe
Expansive electronic lyricism asks the listener to fully embrace themselves to live each moment to its fullest potential, triumphant and fully embodied in one’s own skin.
Ecstatic, Sprituality, Minimalism, Singer-Songwriter, Electronic, New Age, Breathwork, Positive-Vibe
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Bring In
a deeper peace
Exhale
lay down the weight
Breath in
all you see
and out again
now deep releaseBe in
the soaring grace
Breath out
the brilliant air
Inhale
a vital life
now out again
expanding peaceWe’re near and always hold you dear
We see what pins and pains
A breath of fire will mend and clear
Our love surrounds your nameEmbrace
be in your skin
Exhale
to your toes and down
Breath in
to fill the world
and out again
to bless the groundBe in
the soaring grace
Breath out
the brilliant air
Inhale
a vital life
now out again
expanding peace