OH Sick Beat! Really emphasized by the slower quieter parts.

I feel like I'm in a spaceship hurdling out into the universe! Weeeee! But it's also the most stylish and hip spaceship!

#jamuary2026 1 of 31

Jamuary = a one-track-a-day sprint: 31 short synthwave instrumentals built fast and kept simple. My (loose) theme is “a.m. / black & white”—early-morning, low-light, minimalist mood. 

All modern tools, but with real “I was there” ’80s instincts (and usually a little real bass/guitar in the mix). Follow along for daily chill, melodic, sidechained jams—one new piece every day.

ig:@mrtorian
web: jdtorian.bearblog.dev
sc: @jdtorian
yt: www.youtube.com/@jdtorian
©2026 jd torian

20260101 Am 93_92 SW demo

jan 01 prompt: "Begin with a sound or idea you don’t like. Try to shape it into something beautiful.

I'm always nostalgic about those plucky FM synths that sound straight out of a Sega Genesis, but never stick with them because they sound "cheesy". but I figured I would embrace that vibe. all synths are Ableton Operator.

1st - Jamuary 2026

Day 4 of Jamuary 2026. Activity: Make your jam with only 4 elements — one rhythm, one bass, one melody, one texture.  Philosophy: “You probably don’t need as much as you think. Make the things you use count.”  (prompts created by Brian Funk- brianfunk.com/mpc)
A short tango for bandoneon, piano, and ukulele. It's called "Quartango Minus One" because I didn't have time to record a 4th part.

Quartango-1

Jamuary 5th 2026 In Fading Light

Day 6. I wanted something a little more upbeat for this one. I had it all finished and then thought of a vocal melody so spent another hour on it writing lyrics. I had to sing very low as it was late, but this is a general sketch of the idea. I'll probably rewrite the lyrics if I come back to this, just wanted something to throw down for the Jam!

Lyrics:
Oh I wonder how the time has passed,
And I wish that some of the things would last,
I don't know just where to go,
To find somewhere that feels like home.

Then the stars will light white ink against the sky,
and the fire's bright and everything is fine,
Play a song so we can travel back in time,
Everything, everything will feel alright.

Jamuary 6th 2026 Everything Will Feel Alright

jan 14 prompt: "Write a jam using just one chord. Find other ways to progress the music."
[prompts by Brian Funk, brianfunk.com/mpc]

not much to it - just made a musical doodle with only one chord. this made me realize how much I rely on chord and harmony progression to find inspiration in the music I write, but there are a lot of creative things you can do outside that box.

14th - Jamuary 2026

Welcome to my rave. 
Started this one on Push 3 standalone. Then moved to Live. Trying to make little silences count in this piece.

Day 17 Universe

Day 20 of January 2026. Activity: Use household objects as instruments. Philosophy: “There is music all around you.” 
Made with a bass loop, a flute loop, household percussion, and my stupid fun voice. 

We could be doing so much stupid fun shit instead of doing war and murder
Why aren’t we doing so much stupid fun shit instead of doing war and murder?
A couple of hours to feed the people
A couple of hours to cure disease
A couple of couple of couple of hours to do whatever stupid fun shit we please
Like flute, go!
And this…

Stupid Fun Shit

Jamuary 20th 2026 A Walk Through Haarlem

Jamuary 23rd 2026 Crossing Paths

Day 27 of January 2026. Activity: Create a groove where melodies or rhythms emphasize offbeats. 
Philosophy: “Different is better than more of the same.”  (prompts created by Brian Funk- brianfunk.com/mpc). 
I don't have access
I don't have the clearance 
I won't make progress
I'm staring into a wall
Breathing over my own shoulder
What's so wrong with getting older?
Keeping track and counting, rounding up and down
Take a look at the brickwork- is it gonna hold?
Take a look at the brickwork- does it fit the mold?
I'm not qualified to take this load
Take a look at the brickwork
Brickwork

Brickwork

Musician, Producer, and Educator from New York. 
Host of the Music Production Podcast. 
Author of 5-Minute Music Producer. 
Berklee Online teacher. 
Ableton Certified Trainer.

Day 17 Universe

Brian Funk

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