Send us a textLuckily, there’s far more conversations happening about musicians’ mental health these days. But how might gender impact our experience of things like depression and anxiety? And how might this differ in a music technology setting, specifically? Because, while this is something that’s often touched upon in wider conversations around gender and music technology, it’s rarely fully explored in its own right.Inside this conversation, Isobel chats with musicians’ therapist and counse...
Send us a textIn a world that’s always online, how do we stay true to ourselves as artists? This week on Girls Twiddling Knobs, we tackle this question with the fiercely original electronic music producer Maria Uzor.Growing up as a Black artist in a predominantly White area of the UK, Maria often felt like an outsider. But she turned that feeling into a sound that’s bold, raw, and unmistakably hers. Join us as we explore how Maria channels her unique experiences into a blend of basement gritt...
Send us a textWhat unique facets of our existence and identity does sound allow us to explore as women and gender diverse artists? This is one of the big questions that emerges inside this conversation with three of the five 2024 Oram Award winners.Whether it be through choreography, performance art, hacking or design, Lola De La Mata, xname and The Silver Field are all artists who have come to sound through alternative pathways. Inside this episode, you’ll learn about the role that sound and...
Send us a textJoin Isobel for all the juicy details on what you can expect to find inside of Season 06 of the podcast, dropping on October 24th. Listen and subscribe to the podcast: https://femalediymusician.com/podcastAnd share the podcast with a friend so we can spread the word, and making music technology a better place for women and gender diverse people.Ready to level up your music making with the powerful art of field recording? Download my new FREE Essential Gear Checklist to Star...
Send us a textJoin us for the first ever Live Girls Twiddling Knobs episode, recorded at Towner Gallery on August 2nd, 2024. inside, Isobel talks with sound and lino artist, Daisy Stewart-Darling about her new project Lino Waves: Soundscapes of the Living Coast, which documents the changing East Sussex coastline through field recordings and large scale lino works.We touch on critical acoustic ecology, recording non-human voices, combining sound with visual mediums and how to present this demo...
Send us a textFollowing last week’s epic binaural finale episode, Isobel is back for one last music tech chat to bring Season 05 of Girls Twiddling Knobs to a close.This final wrap up episode is the perfect way to get a whistle stop tour of any episodes you might have missed and glean any final little golden nuggets from the last few weeks.This season, we've had some of the most amazing guests including NYX, DJ Paulette, Cathy Lane, Josephine Zwaan and many more, and they've all shared their ...
Send us a textReady for a binaural sound adventure?We’re wrapping up S05 of Girls Twiddling Knobs with an extra-special episode where, together, we take an immersive binaural deep dive into the ecosystem that is NYX.NYX are often described as an electronic drone choir and are a group of women and non-binary vocalists and non-vocalists who use music technology to create dense, musical creations and performance experiences with artists such as GTK alumni Gazelle Twin, amongst many others.Record...
Send us a textHave you ever questioned the way that music technology software is designed? And how the tech tools and gear we use might look and feel completely different if they were designed by different humans (i.e. not just predominantly white, cis, heterosexual men living in the West). Well, this question didn’t just bother today’s guest, producer and researcher, Josephine Zwaan. It led her to write a masters thesis that totally reimagines how a DAW could behave through the lens of Afric...
Send us a textFeeling overwhelmed by all the recording software choices? Been using the same DAW for a while and feel like it’s time to switch it up? Haven’t started recording your music because you don’t have the right gear? If so, this episode is a MUST LISTEN because we’re breaking down the pros and cons of a variety of recording softwares and demystifying this often overwhelming decision.If you’re curious what software Isobel uses, you also won’t be disappointed because inside you’ll lear...
Send us a textIt’s not easy growing a career in the arts but it’s down right tough if you’re living with a disability too. In this episode, Isobel is joined by journalist, digital producer and disabled rights activist Meg Fozzard to discuss the challenges disabled artists can face, the things the industry can do better and strategies Meg has developed over the years to grow her career whilst having a disability.Inside, you’ll gain some really practical knowledge on things like access riders a...
Send us a textIf you’ve ever wondered what music mastering is, how to get your music mastered or even get into mastering yourself, this podcast episode is for you because Isobel is joined by Weird Jungle mastering engineers Katie Tavini and Izzy McPhee. Between them, they’ve racked up credits with We Are Scientists, Bloc Party, Frankie Morrow, Ash, Waverly, Arlo Parks and so many more. But what’s also interesting about Katie and Izzy is that they met through the amazing Saffron studios’ ...
Send us a textIt’s common to hear people make the case for initiatives and spaces that help women become more confident with music tech. And many women will say they wished they had more confidence when it comes to music production, mixing and the whole recording process. But what if this pursuit for more confidence was actually further sabotaging the progress of women with music technology? What if, instead, we need to be questioning the whole focus on confidence itself?In this solo episode,...
Send us a textIf you’ve ever felt stumped as to what to do with all those field recordings you’ve been making… Or like experimental music sometimes lacks a human touch… this episode is a must listen because Isobel is joined by Cathy Lane, an artist, composer and academic inspired by everyday experiences and, in particular, how ‘hidden histories’ can be investigated from a feminist perspective. Inside, Cathy shares so many gems from her vast experience and knowledge as one of the most highly r...
Send us a textHave you ever recorded in a studio and felt like time just slipped away? Or maybe you wished you’d felt more comfortable or like you were using the time better? If so, this episode is not to be missed because Isobel is joined by Brighton based producer and engineer, Phoebe Bentham, who’s sharing her top tips on preparing like a pro for your next recording studio session. Inside, Phoebe also discusses her route into production and engineering, her love of microtonal music, h...
Send us a textDo you struggle with perfectionism? We totally get it - it can be easy to put off recording your music out of the belief that every single element of it needs to be perfect. It can also be tricky to find time to dedicate solely to making music; so perfectionism combined with limited time can make it really difficult to actually sit down and get the music made. Inside this episode Isobel discusses the importance of taking ‘imperfect action’ when making music, and explains ho...
Send us a textDJing is still a pretty white, male industry, but when this week’s guest, DJ Paulette, first began spinning vinyl in Manchester’s nightclubs in the 90s, black women DJs were few and far between. Winner of the DJ Mag’s Top 100 Lifetime Achievement Award, DJ Paulette's career has spanned over two decades and multiple locations. But inside this candid conversation, Paulette also shares the personal path she’s trodden along the way.Paulette shares the real sense of threat she felt D...
Send us a textWith Season 05 of Girls Twiddling Knobs dropping on August 17th, Inside this trailer Isobel gives you a teaser of what you can expect inside each episode over the next few weeks.Remember to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode and don't forget to enter our Season 05 competition where you could win an audio interface and some of our exclusive Girls Twiddling Knobs merch line too. Full details on how to enter >> https://femalediymusician.com/s05-competitionR...
Send us a textWhat if fame and commercial success weren't as great as the industry leads many artists to believe? This weeks guest, Kate Nash, had to face this question from an early age after her debut album found overnight success during the naughties. Because, even though there were good times and a few great people, burn out, industry sharks and misogyny were in abundance too. Kate was dropped from her label and, while many artists might understandably call it a day, Kate picked herself u...
Send us a text[Headphones Advised] Listen to the shifting, singing Antarctic sea ice in mesmerising binaural audio to mark the end of another incredible season of Girls Twiddling Knobs. For this Season Finale, Isobel travels to University College London’s Bartlett Sch. of Architecture to meet composer and lecturer Emma-Kate Matthews. Follow Emma and Isobel on a binaural tour of this incredible hive of architectural and engineering exploration and deep into The Sound Lab. There, Emma shares he...
Send us a textOrla Gartland’s career started out as a DIY artist on Youtube and has since seen her music rise in success and synced on both the hit TV shows Normal People and Heart Stopper. Inside this episode, she shares why recording and production has become integral to her creative process, especially in the creation of her debut album, Woman On The Internet.Over the last 5-10 years, recording and production gear has become affordable and intuitive enough that many musicians and songwrite...