Hypnomancer

cinematic songwriter

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. These vivid narratives include a wide range of characters and accounts 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 stories 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

  • Hypnomancer (aka David Stout) is a musical shape shifter exploring the world of hybrid sound cultures blending a wide array of genres from folk, rock, country, jazz, and global fusion to widely divergent electronic styles, abstract soundscapes, 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 a professor and celebrated performance director leading diverse interdisciplinary production 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 and emerging media.

    Learn more at davidstout.net

EDM, Drum and Bass, Thriller, Political Intrigue, Electronic, Storytelling, Betrayal, Spycore David Stout EDM, Drum and Bass, Thriller, Political Intrigue, Electronic, Storytelling, Betrayal, Spycore David Stout

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 sides this partisan was on.

EDM, Drum and Bass, Thriller, Political Intrigue, Electronic, Storytelling, Betrayal, Spycore

  • Oh, you lucky ones, arrived today
    To play this forward, back, replay
    Our lucky ones, arrived, today
    The leaning forward guards in grey

    I have counseled and misled them
    I have cheated and I’ve lied
    Everything for love of country
    I am here and I survived

    and, 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 grey

    I have courted and betrayed them
    I deleted and denied
    Everything, for myth of country
    We are here, and he survived

    Oh, 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

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Ballad, Poetic, Cinematic, Soundtrack, Songwriter, Country, Gothic-Country, Country-Rock, Electronic, Ambient, Shoegaze David Stout Ballad, Poetic, Cinematic, Soundtrack, Songwriter, Country, Gothic-Country, Country-Rock, Electronic, Ambient, Shoegaze David Stout

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

  • 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, save

    When 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 away

    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.

    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 saved

    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.

    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


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Soundtrack, Reel, Folk, Tarot, Electronic, Folktronica, Celtic, Classical, Fiddle, Mystical, Period-Drama David Stout Soundtrack, Reel, Folk, Tarot, Electronic, Folktronica, Celtic, Classical, Fiddle, Mystical, Period-Drama David Stout

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

  • burst through the door
    all welcome smiles
    across the floor
    and in the aisles
    the circle spinning
    on the dial

    and wrap your arms
    around another
    meet his eyes now
    greet another
    the circle spinning
    on the dial

    Here 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

    now watch them soar
    all blissful smiles
    rise off the floor
    leap from the aisles
    the circle spinning
    on the dial

    and wrap your arms
    around another
    meet her eyes now
    be the other
    the circle spinning
    on the dial

    Here 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

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Ecstatic, Sprituality, Minimalism, Singer-Songwriter, Electronic, New Age, Breathwork, Positive-Vibe David Stout Ecstatic, Sprituality, Minimalism, Singer-Songwriter, Electronic, New Age, Breathwork, Positive-Vibe David Stout

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

  • Bring In
    a deeper peace
    Exhale
    lay down the weight
    Breath in
    all you see
    and out again
    now deep release

    Be in
    the soaring grace
    Breath out
    the brilliant air
    Inhale
    a vital life
    now out again
    expanding peace

    We’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 name

    Embrace
    be in your skin
    Exhale
    to your toes and down
    Breath in
    to fill the world
    and out again
    to bless the ground

    Be in
    the soaring grace
    Breath out
    the brilliant air
    Inhale
    a vital life
    now out again
    expanding peace

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