A female “Jack” the Ripper…. Vengeful airship pirates…. Survivors and revolutionaries…. A horny hitman…. The devil himself….
These are just some of the memorable characters that populate the vivid lyrics and soundscapes of Escape the Clouds’ dark, narrative songs. Performing as Escape the Clouds, Mark Rossmore paints rich steampunk stories in tracks distilled from ideas either historical or fictional–and many times both! His music twists together influences from world, industrial, and electronic music into an altogether new palette of sounds and rhythms.
Based out of Fort Myers, FL, Escape the Clouds has crafted four albums and three EPs, and is currently working on his next full length album. He has also created soundtracks for a variety of steampunk radio segments and videos. Escape the Clouds has performed live at conventions and events throughout the Southeastern United States.
A female “Jack” the Ripper…. Vengeful airship pirates…. Survivors and revolutionaries…. A horny hitman…. The devil himself….
These are just some of the memorable characters that populate the vivid lyrics and soundscapes of Escape the Clouds’ dark, narrative songs.
As Escape the Clouds, Mark Rossmore paints rich stories through songs distilled from ideas either historical or fictional–and many times both! His music twists together influences from world, industrial, and electronic music into an altogether new palette of sounds and rhythms.
Based out of Fort Myers, FL, Escape the Clouds has crafted four albums and three EPs, and is currently working on his next full length album. He has performed live at conventions and events throughout the Southeastern United States.
As Escape the Clouds, Mark Rossmore paints rich stories through songs distilled from ideas either historical or fictional–and many times both! His music twists together influences from world, industrial, and electronic music into an altogether new palette of sounds and rhythms.
Based out of Fort Myers, FL, Escape the Clouds has crafted four albums and three EPs, and is currently working on his next full length album. He has performed live at conventions and events throughout the Southeastern United States.
Beyond Music
Author: Mark has over 100 fiction and nonfiction pieces in print. His steampunk and horror short fiction, essays, and novellas have been included in multiple anthologies such as Steampunk Tales, The Best of Everyday Fiction, Realms of the Undead, Steampunk for Simpletons, and Penny Dread Tales.
Panelist: Mark has been a panelist on steampunk music, film, history, and creativity at Dragon Con, Steampunk World’s Fair, and Pensacon.
Video Creator: To compliment his own music, he’s produced multiple original music videos, each of which he created entirely on his own.
Artist: Mark has a background in the fine arts, and enjoys creating original drawings and digital art. He has also created an entire line of homemade steampunk designs, from musical airships to wearables.
Quotes from the press
“10 out of 10 Zeppelins.”
– Marcus Gilman, Daily Steampunk, Until the End Review
“Nothing else I’m showing has the ‘visual poem’ feel you’ve achieved.”
– Stephen Couchman, Steampunk Film Festival
“You really do make unique and excellent music.”
– Eben Howard, KGLT Radio
“Escape the Clouds, a steampunk music project headed by Mark Rossmore, has created a very varied, danceable, rather electronic album. Three good things in one go. Even if electronic music is not your cup of tea, Circumnavigator is well worth a listen. Every song tells a story and all stories combine to create a picture of Escape the Clouds’ version of a steampunked earth. “
– Marcus Gilman, Daily Steampunk, Circumnavigator Review
“I love your site, its vibe and copy and story.”
– Cherie Priest, Author of Boneshaker and Dreadnought, TheClockworkCentury.com
“I absolutely loved the album.”
– Ben Steed, Pegasia Music
“The music’s wonderful. All beautifully atmospheric.”
– Nikki Magennis, Editor, Steamlust, Bring the Rain Review
“9 out of 10 Zeppelins. Escape the Clouds has again delivered an excellent (semi-) longplayer. Music to dream to and perfect to listen to on a plane, or simply for dreaming about flying one.”
– Marcus Gilman, Daily Steampunk, Moments | Travels EP Review
“Circumnavigator is awesome!”
– Lady Dragonwing, Bellydancer, Circumnavigator Review
Collaborations
Mark is thrilled to have collaborated with some remarkably talented artists within the global steampunk community.
Unwoman
"Lady in Waiting" from Until the End
Eli August
"Into the Light" from Until the End
Victor Sierra
"Arguments and Facts" from The Manchurian Pass
Compilations
Escape the Clouds’ music has been featured in all of the following compilations.
Interviews
Over the years, Escape the Clouds has been interviewed by a myriad of sites, podcasts, publishers, and agencies, on a number of subjects, including music, storytelling, writing, and aviation.
ArtServe Video Interview: Artist Spotlight
Escape the Clouds performs a selection of his songs, and discusses the meaning and history behind them.
ArtServe Video Interview: Beats in a Bag
Mark Rossmore talks about the equipment he uses to write and perform music, and composes a new theme song for ArtServe live on the air!
The Red Penny Papers
“Our last interview from the anniversary issue of The Red Penny Papers comes from steampunk storyteller and songwriter, Mark Rossmore. If you all haven’t read his dark steampunk offering from this fall yet, now’s a great time to introduce yourself to ‘Iron Jack’.”
Christina Collectively
“I was introduced to writer and musician Mark Rossmore from Escape The Clouds who primarily works in the steampunk subgenre. His work is currently nominated for Best Short Story for ‘Iron Jack,’ Best Music Video for ‘Every Storm has an End,’ and Best Solo Musician at Steampunkchronicle.com.”
Fed. Aviation Administration
“Mark Rossmore was a musician, Web designer, videographer and pilot before he became an air traffic controller. Now he is all of above and an author to boot – and he incorporates his passion for aviation into his creative side pursuits.”
Behind the Steam
“A little while ago we talked with Mark Rossmore, the multi-talented frontman of Escape the Clouds, who shared his fascinating views and experiences with steampunk and music.
Need an instrumentalist, singer, videographer, writer – or even pilot? Mark is your man! Yes, that’s him piloting the small plane and filming the video entirely himself in Escape the Clouds’ music video ‘Until the End.'”
Talk of the Tavern
“Travis and the others have created a pub-like atmosphere where everybody knows your name, or something like that. Join Matthew’ Correllbow’ Correll, Gabrielle Riel, Gandersnitch the Goblin, Ed Summers, Beth ‘Resident Squirrel’ Jankowski, Mark Rossmore (Writer of the Talk Of the Tavern theme song!) and others as we celebrate the growth of our favorite Monday night hangout!”
Ratchet Retrocast
“Grab your towel, throw on a bathrobe and DON’T PANIC! Sit back as we take a tour down Douglas Adams famed work Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Joining with us on this episode is legendary Captain Anthony LeGrange of the Airship Archon live from Ohio! Strangeway and Q grab Tony and hitch a ride to the restaurant at the end of the universe! Come along and thanks for all the fish!”
Some odds and ends
Musical Influences
Amongst the artists and works Escape the Clouds finds most influential are: Nine Inch Nails, Yoko Kanno, Cirque du Soleil, Stabbing Westward, Juno Reactor, and Asian Dub Foundation. His love for the spoken word format found its genesis in Golden Palominos’ Dead Inside, Nicole Blackman’s poetry and performances, and Alan Wilder’s Recoil project.
Instruments Used
Instruments featured on Escape the Clouds recordings include:
Strings: Electric Guitar, 5-String Bass, Acoustic Baritone Ukulele, Electric Baritone Ukulele, Soprano Acoustic-Elec Ukulele, 4-String Ubass, Electric Violin
Percussion: Turkish Darbuka, Zils, Djembe, Frame Drum, Native American Buckskin Drum, Native American Bone Shaker, Bongos, Guiro, Talking Drum, Melodica, Tongue Drum.
Other: Software Synthesizers, Native American Flute, Melodica, and Found Objects of Various and Nefarious Natures.