John Pence is a Roanoke, Virginia-based songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and music advocate. Born in 1993, he grew up on mix CDs, Tony Hawk soundtracks, and early MySpace uploads. After graduating with a BA in Songwriting from Berklee College of Music in 2015, he returned home and became deeply involved in the local music scene. He went on to help launch and eventually manage The Spot on Kirk, a cornerstone nonprofit arts venue in downtown Roanoke. John also served as an Artist-In-Residence at Carilion Clinic’s Healing Arts Program, engaging with patients through music at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
He has performed over 500 shows, most notably as keyboardist and co-producer for the instrumental exotica dance band Cinémathèque, drummer for The Young Sinclairs in the post-pandemic, and as a solo singer/songwriter. John produces electronic music under the name Decampi and DJs as The Grand Total, often parsing through record crates and VHS tapes for sample material and hidden gems. Whether on stage, staying up late nights recording music, or hosting musicians at The Spot on Kirk, John continues to explore music in all its forms, with a deep love for texture, tone, and community.
