Open mic at the Roxy. Jan 31, 2023.

Written By David Ransom

I brought the heat tonight. Didn’t feel much like singing, but I did feel like smacking the guitar around. It was my first time playing my more bombastic instrumental songs at the Roxy - Uluru and Close Your Eyes - and I’m glad I did.

Truthfully, I didn’t play all that cleanly, but I tried to just have a good time and make some musical memories. I’ve struggled at the Roxy and I needed something to make it less scary. We’ll see if it worked next time, but I did feel like I accomplished my mission tonight. Lots of folks said a lot of nice things afterward, anyway, haha. That’s not why I do it, but it sure does help.

More importantly, I started to make some inroads in the Denver music community. Some really talented folks wanted to collaborate, and several familiar faces remembered my name and were genuinely happy to see me. One person even compared me to this amazing (and local!) guitarist, Trace Bundy:

I am definitely not at that level yet, but to be mentioned in the same breath with someone like that is pretty awesome. It’s the second time I’ve gotten that after playing, actually. Third time means the universe is conspiring in my general direction (one can hope).

One other thing I’m noticing is that, if I can get over my ego long enough when people respond to my instrumental music instead of (or not as much to) my singer-songwriter stuff, I feel really connected to myself when I embrace this part of me. It feels authentic and like I’m speaking in my native tongue. I suppose these acoustic instrumental songs were the first language into which I wrote my nature. They helped me sing before I could find the words. The notes and melodies are words to me, really. When I’m playing Close Your Eyes, I’m also singing “Close your eyes / you don’t have to cry” in my head along with the melody. And then I get to play a bunch of other melodies I can’t sing, lol. So, bonus voice.

And that’s a wrap, folks. Ye readers of the blog, both imagined and real. I hope to be back at the Roxy next Tuesday night. I have a few new instrumental songs brewing, so maybe one or two of them will be ready by then…

David Ransom

I produce, record, edit, mix, and master music for independent artists, labels, non-profits, and professional mix engineers and producers. I work out of my home studio in Denver, CO, but enjoy collaborating on remote projects from all over the world, as well.

I specialize in mixing and mastering singer-songwriter and folk genres, particularly with artists on their first or second projects. As a musician myself, I am passionate about helping upcoming artists get their careers going with a great recording. I also have experience with rock, pop, electronica, Americana, and instrumental music. For the initiated, I prefer to work in Logic Pro X, but am also a certified Pro Tools professional.

Most of my work has been for Purple Songs Can Fly (PSCF). In 2022, my wife, Tricia Fox, and I worked with PSCF to establish a remote songwriting program for pediatric patients and their families in the Texas Children’s Hospital’s bone marrow transplant unit called “Bring Melodies to Life” (BMTL). Together we have written, recorded, mixed, and mastered over 50 songs with families in BMTL. Out of respect for their privacy, I do not showcase this work online but I am able to provide limited samples upon request.

I have been a musician and performer for over 20 years, playing at venues across Texas and Colorado as a solo act, guest guitarist, and in full bands. In 2008, I released my first album, “Safe From the Day" in true starving-artist form, and have released several singles and appeared on a few albums since then.

In 2025, I made the decision to leave a 15-year career as a senior product manager in tech and pursue my passion for audio production and helping people bring their musical vision to life. When I’m not in the studio, I can be found playing original music at gigs around Denver, or enjoying time at home with my wife, two kids, and goofy golden-doodle. If you’d like to get to know me before booking a project, the best way to reach me is by email or video call. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

https://www.daveransom.com
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Open Mic at The Alley. Jan 24, 2023.