We bring together like-minded songwriters and composers, dedicated to the exchange of stories, experiences, and ideas, so that they can inspire one another to achieve creative outcomes beyond what they believe possible.
The Escaping Society is A collective for composers & songwriters + a dedicated space for fans of the band Abandoned Pools
I. House of Abandoned Pools
…the foundation on which this community is built — is a place for connection between artist and listener, and where those who have found something enduring in the music can chronicle a definitive history of Abandoned Pools.
Just as the music has evolved, so too have the lives of those who’ve followed it. What has it meant to you? In what ways has it impacted your life?
We invite you to consider, write, and contribute your insights to the ongoing archive. This space exists not only to preserve a record of Abandoned Pools, but also to build one.
The Abandoned Pools Discussion plan is Free and includes:
- Access to chat and message feed communities
- Voting opportunities and polls
The House of Abandoned Pools plan includes all of the above plus:
- Rare, unreleased, demos and b-sides
- Archival documentary footage & photos
- Track breakdowns and video tutorials of AP songs
- Exclusive updates and previews of work in progress
- Studio live streams and AMAs
- Early access to new releases
- Rare Album Artwork
- Podcasts and interviews
- Guitar tabs for AP songs
II. The conservatory
We bring together like-minded songwriters and composers, dedicated to the exchange of stories, experiences, and ideas, so that they can inspire one another to achieve creative outcomes beyond what they believed possible.
I will serve as the host of The Conservatory, and also as a working composer engaging with fellow songwriters to exchange ideas and sharpen craft. As I continue work on the sixth Abandoned Pools album, you can follow along while I share details of my process and progress. Conversely, I invite you to share your ideas, goals and progress toward how you want the next twelve months to unfold.
In addition, The Conservatory is a place for composers and songwriters to:
- Hone your skills
- Develop and showcase your work
- Seek opportunities for mentorship as well as find talent to develop
- Unlock relationships that could lead to your next opportunity
- Workshops and challenges for songwriting, composition, trailer music, film scoring, etc., including guidance on building a career.
- Enriching activities like book clubs, score study, and song analysis ranging from music theory, production techniques, songwriting, film scoring and more.
- A centralized location for relevant + curated information with a companion newsletter, podcast, and iPhone + Android app.
All designed to be engaging for both aspiring and more seasoned composers and songwriters.
More Information Regarding The Conservatory
the idea
Think back to ten years ago. Do your memories, experiences, and ideas from that time feel a bit more vivid than they do now? There’s a reason for that.
Now recall the most inspired, creative period of your life — the time when you felt most present, most engaged, and full of insight. (And if that time is now, great.) How were you spending your time back then?
Are there ideas today that would have seemed completely outrageous a decade ago? Probably. A lot has changed — some of it for the better, some not so much.
As a songwriter or composer, do you struggle with coming up with ideas, finishing work or feeling blocked?
“our mission is to take back the good and let go of what no longer serves us.”
In a world that clamors endlessly for our attention, we are besieged by noise — an unceasing flood of amoral information that leaves little space for stillness, let alone the imagination. The Escaping Society was born as a quiet rebellion: a haven carved out from the din of algorithms and the frenzy of everyday life. Here, we value boredom and even welcome silence, recognizing them as the fertile soil from which deep thought and true artistry emerge.
the catalyst
In the spring of 2015, I was laid off from my job as a staff composer at an ad music house. I’d been there five years — it was a great run, and I learned a lot. Before that, I spent most of my time in bands: writing songs, recording albums, producing, sometimes touring. I still do all of that minus the touring. But suddenly, I had time on my hands. A lot of it.
So I asked myself: What do I actually want the next twelve months to look like?
I’d spent plenty of time trying to tailor music to the client’s liking. Now I wanted to play — embrace my child-like sense of magic and wonder. To explore ideas without worrying if they were “cool” or marketable. I wasn’t trying to sell anything. I just wanted to tell a story.
What came out of that time ended up being some of the best music I’d ever made — and to my surprise, it found its way into trailers and TV shows. That work helped launch the career I have now as a composer for film and television.
The invitation
Most of us don’t go into music because it’s safe. We do it because there’s something in us that wants to make something significant and lasting. And I think that’s worth taking seriously. Given the current state of the music industry — especially in film and TV — many working composers and songwriters — who I believe can learn a lot from each other — now find themselves in the same position I was in back in 2015.
And that brings us to another important element that leads to the spark of creativity… other people.
So here’s the invitation:
Become a founding member of The Escaping Society. From aspiring and seasoned songwriters to Hollywood composer refugees, above all, we invite you to dream big. Let’s take the next twelve months and beyond to create music that challenges us, excites us, and maybe even changes the course of what we do next.
— Tommy Walter, Host of The Escaping Society
Willed introversion, in fact, is one of the classic implements of creative genius and can be employed as a deliberate device…. It is a deliberate, terrific refusal to respond to anything but the deepest, highest, richest answer to the as-yet-unknown demand of some waiting void within: a kind of total strike, or rejection of the offered terms of life, as a result of which some power of transformation carries the problem to a plane of new magnitudes, where it is suddenly and finally resolved.”
Joseph Campbell, The Hero With a Thousand Faces
What makes The Escaping Society unique:
- A select, supportive and accountable community — free from the distracting, mercurial algorithms of social media and the constant pings of website ads — that helps you stay focused and motivated toward your goals.
- Regular events — to connect, learn, and succeed together.
- A selective membership process to foster a trusted, high-quality network. Members can also nominate others to join.
- Workshops for songwriting, composition, trailer music, film scoring, etc., including guidance on building a career.
- It’s an opportunity to engage with others, receive constructive feedback, career and business advice, and navigate creative challenges together, fostering a supportive environment that nurtures artistic growth.
- Enriching activities like book clubs, score study, and song analysis ranging from music theory, production techniques, songwriting, film scoring and more.
- Messaging — private and threaded discussions to stay connected and engaged.
- Curated Information — a centralized location for relevant topics with a companion newsletter, podcast, and iPhone + Android app.
Our members are what make this magical and we look forward to hearing from you. Let’s see what’s possible when we give ourselves the time and space to make our best work.