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.

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...

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

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...

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...

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

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

@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...

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!

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

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

Dad Day sale this weekend! 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...

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!

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...

@marvel83.bsky.social been listening on repeat for the past hour! 🎹. Good stuff :)

Get your big box set now! It’s a big beaut. Real throw back to the days when you’d buy a game and get lots of physical “feelies”. Especially in today’s world, where a lot of entertainment is digital only and it’s harder to know if there were humans involved! Pure human created - this! 🧬

Nightsky stargazing 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. Coming 6/13/25 - joshuablum.bandcamp.com/album/once-u...

Made a new #pixelart animation to accompany one of the songs from my upcoming album. Was initially thinking it would be one of those meditative-sunset-walking-on-the-beach deals; ended up more a midnight hike against torrential winds but that prob fits the song better lol youtu.be/Z9VgILr1TDc?...

If you need a break from a stressful day (or night), here’s an answer! The night sky with its wonders never fails. youtu.be/2S0p3jKRTBo?...

I’m planning a release party for a LP coming out mid June. Never done one of these before. I live in the country (lots of cows; not much synth) so not sure how viable it is but would like to give it a go. I’ve heard you shouldn’t play live at your party - this seems odd to me. Is this BS? #synthfam

This wk on The Thirteenth Hour podcast, please welcome Scott Holcomb, aka Hideo Takamini in 1986’s Spacecamp! Great fun reminiscing about camp, the film, and being a half Asian male in the 80s. @hideotakamini.bsky.social @leathompson.bsky.social open.spotify.com/episode/0faW...

Typing out the lyrics to the title track of Once Upon a Dream. Man, didn’t realize I never actually typed these out. Hand wrote them years ago & now have no clue what I did in some parts because I was writing fast so the muse wouldn’t leave so it was scribbles … 😂 #songwriterproblems #synthmusic

Happy Earth Day, everyone. Our home planet is número uno. Her protection and preservation should always be at the very top of the priorities of all priorities. Without Her, were absolutely nothing. And anyone who makes efforts in destroying Her for selfish gains is an enemy.

Yup @newyorker.com

Wise words from the master. If you are new (or familiar) with Synthwave and it's adjacent genres, check out this thread to get you started and find your #synthfam! #synthwave #retrowave #chipwave #outrun #chillsynth #horrorsynth #datawave #spacesynth #darksynth #vaporwave #thiswave #thatwave

One of the tracks from Once Upon a Dream, an upcoming LP of Thirteenth Hour music. I was inspired by a lot of the 80s new wave bands from the UK and Europe that were pumping out synthpop tunes that often got remixed and distributed on 12” records. joshuablum.bandcamp.com

Many yrs ago, I bought my father in law an Xbox on eBay so he could play football games. After he passed away, his wife returned it, & I’ve hung on to it, even though it was broken more often than not. Today, got it working again. Popped in Halo. Guess what I name I apparently chose for my guy 😂

If you missed your chance to back the crowdfunding, you can still pre-order Mappa Mundi!

@thestateofsynth.com hey guys, just discovered the show! How does one listen live?

Was remembering the NES classic Ironsword (Wizards & Warriors II) last night and how its aesthetic of 'armoured knight fighting super hard levels and enemies everywhere' makes it very close to modern Dark Souls. Might start a Souls playthrough and name my guy Kuros in honor of this thought

Aurora’s Theme from on the upcoming LP of Thirteenth Hour music, Once Upon a Dream. I wanted her theme to have a more tentative and melancholy part & another that is bolder and more forceful. #synthpop

Playing a little clip of a track called Aurora’s theme from an upcoming album of Thirteenth Hour music. Wanted each character to have their own theme, kind of like in Peter and the Wolf, albeit in synth.

Shout-out to the break-dancer in the NES port of Paperboy, who had so many frames cut from his animation that he just looks like he's struggling to get his pants on instead.

Cliff as a waiter is one of my fav scenes in The Rocketeer film. This week on ep 502 of The Thirteenth Hour podcast, I’m reading Peter David’s novelization, where Cliff does exactly that - sneak into the South Seas Club & try to pass as a waiter 😂 open.spotify.com/episode/4lhN...

The current state of things, basically

This wk on the pod, @pixelgrotto.bsky.social & I are watching the 1992 movie, Army of Darkness. I always thought it was hilarious Ash had all this junk in his car, including a chem 101 textbook. “We can take ‘em … with science!” Great line, esp these days! open.spotify.com/episode/3cw2...

Oh yeah, forgot to share this from my Japan trip. Did not expect to find a gashapon of the Rocketeer of all things.