Girls Twiddling Knobs

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What 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 up and entered a new phase as a independent musician. And, as Kate shares inside this BONUS Special episode, while it's meant making music on her terms, it's also brought new challenges - between negotiating terms, building a trustworthy team and balancing the books - it's been far from an easy ride.

But as you'll hear in this candid conversation, Kate has passion, courage and oodles of heart and has created a career encompassing music, acting and activism. This one's a must listen for any independent women in music!

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{03:52} Introducing Kate Nash
{12:44} Kate’s journey to signing a record deal
{27:23} Maintaining a work-life balance as an independent artist
{34:48} Her personal experience as a woman in the industry
{43:06} The meaning behind her track 'Conventional Girl'
{46:41} Kate's experience of music technology and working with producers
{01:00:30} Kate stars in new film 'Coffee Wars'

'Kate Nash: Underestimate The Girl' Documentary >>
Watch the Official Trailer for 'Coffee Wars' >>
Follow Kate on Instagram >>
Visit Kate's website >> 

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Girls Twiddling Knobs has ended, but you can stay connected to Isobel's artistic work here.

Girls Twiddling Knobs was hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey from Nov 2020-Jan 2026 and will remain live on all major podcast platforms throughout 2026. 

We are grateful to the British Library who have archived the podcast in their Sound and Vision Collection.

Learn more about the Girls Twiddling Knobs legacy here.

Watch this episode on YouTube

Explore more episodes here.

Listen on Spotify.

Send us Fan Mail

[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 her journey into sound, music and academia and gives us a binaural sneak peak of her incredible new composition, Conversations at the Edge of the World. In this electroacoustic delight, Emma Kate shares how the sea ice recordings inside “appear to breathe and sing” and we think they provide the perfect finale to Season 04.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{03:36} A binaural tour of the University College London’s Bartlett School of Architecture
{23:50} Exploring how sound and space work together
{44:46} Emma-Kate’s journey into sound, music and academia
{01:16:58} A binaural preview of her work 'Conversations at the Edge of the World'
{01:38:54} Episode Summary

Emma Kate Matthews Website >>

More info about Conversations at the Edge of the World >>

The Bartlett Sch. of Architecture >>

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Girls Twiddling Knobs has ended, but you can stay connected to Isobel's artistic work here.

Girls Twiddling Knobs was hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey from Nov 2020-Jan 2026 and will remain live on all major podcast platforms throughout 2026. 

We are grateful to the British Library who have archived the podcast in their Sound and Vision Collection.

Learn more about the Girls Twiddling Knobs legacy here.

Watch this episode on YouTube

Explore more episodes here.

Listen on Spotify.

Send us Fan Mail

Orla 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 songwriters have started integrating it into their creative process. Inside this week’s episode, Isobel is joined by one of the most exciting artists to have emerged from the UK and Ireland in recent years, Orla Gartland, and hears how she has adopted this approach herself. Orla joins us from her studio space in London where she is writing a new album.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{03:30} Orla’s experience as a DIY artist
{15:15} Creating her artistic world
{20:02} Orla’s journey into recording and production and the moment she began to take more control of the process
{29:00} Owning the title of ‘producer’ and investing in her skills in recording and production
{34:40} The process of creating her debut album, Woman on the Internet
{45:00} Writing and recording her track ‘You’re Not Special Babe’
{53:14} Why Orla preferred the process of recording to tape for her track ‘Left Behind’
{01:07:34} How her recording process has changed for her next album
{01:16:12} What’s coming up for Orla in 2023
{01:19:00} Episode Summary

Orla’s website >>

Listen to Woman on the Internet >>

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Girls Twiddling Knobs has ended, but you can stay connected to Isobel's artistic work here.

Girls Twiddling Knobs was hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey from Nov 2020-Jan 2026 and will remain live on all major podcast platforms throughout 2026. 

We are grateful to the British Library who have archived the podcast in their Sound and Vision Collection.

Learn more about the Girls Twiddling Knobs legacy here.

Watch this episode on YouTube

Explore more episodes here.

Listen on Spotify.

Send us Fan Mail

Whether you’re in a band, have a team or are a totally DIY, solo musician, you’ll likely need to work with other people from time-to-time to get your music out into the world. But it doesn’t always feel easy or rewarding and, even worse, sometimes – especially if you’re a woman in music – collaborative relationships can be disrespectful. 

So, inside this episode, Isobel shares three steps you can take to ensure your collaborative relationships are respectful, rewarding and successful. Isobel also shares her own past experiences of disrespectful collaborations and how destructive they can be, not only to our self-esteem, but also our enthusiasm for following a career in music. This episode will show you how to make collaborating in music feel awesome.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{03:34} What Forms Does Collaboration Take In Music?
{05:32} Why Collaboration Can Be Tricky (Especially For Women In Music)
{10:48} Isobel’s Experiences Of Disrespectful Collaborations
{15:26} 3 Steps To Respectful Collaborations As A Woman In Music
{35:39} What To Do When A Collaboration Turns Sour
{38:11} Why You Don’t Need To Collaborate With An Ar*E H*Le, Even If They Say You Should
{40:22} Episode Summary

Listen to EP#17 with Neeta Sarl >>

Listen to EP#51 with Emily Nash >>

Listen to {BONUS EPISODE} Why Music Technology Education Has (Largely) Failed Women >>

Read the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee Misogyny in Music Inquiry >>

SUPPORT FOR UK MUSICIANS
Musician’s Union Bullying and Harassment Helpline: 0800 088 2045
Help Musicians Music Minds Matter Support Line: 0808 802 8008 
Music Support helpline: 0800 030 6789

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Girls Twiddling Knobs has ended, but you can stay connected to Isobel's artistic work here.

Girls Twiddling Knobs was hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey from Nov 2020-Jan 2026 and will remain live on all major podcast platforms throughout 2026. 

We are grateful to the British Library who have archived the podcast in their Sound and Vision Collection.

Learn more about the Girls Twiddling Knobs legacy here.

Watch this episode on YouTube

Explore more episodes here.

Listen on Spotify.

Send us Fan Mail

There have never been so many initiatives fostering marginalised talent in electronic music and sound, and one such platform is the UK’s Oram Awards. Established in 2017, the Oram Awards is a partnership between The Radiophonic Institute, PRS Foundation & The Daphne Oram Trust, and elevates the work and voices of women, Trans and Non-Binary music creators working in sound innovation, music and related technologies.

Inside this episode, Isobel gets the chance to chat with 2022 winners Kelly Jayne Jones and Amble Skuse to discuss their artistic practice and what winning an Oram Award means to them as women in music. Isobel is also joined by judge and Senior Lecturer of Sonic Arts at Goldsmiths University, Iris Garrelfs, who shares why Daphne Oram is such an inspirational figure and how you can apply for the 2023 awards yourself.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{03:55} Oram Awards judge, Iris Garrelfs, speaks about the formation of the Oram Awards
{11:15} Why the Awards is dedicated to Daphne Oram
{14:25} Who can apply for the Oram Awards?
{20:48} Previous winners, Amble and Kelly, speak about their creative practise
{31:17} Why the Oram Awards is necessary and the impact of winning the award has had for Amble and Kelly
{43:37} Their advice for creating conceptualised music
{52:32} Why you don’t need to know everything about tech in order to use it
{59:13} Episode Summary

Find out more about the Oram Awards >>

Follow the Oram Awards on Instagram >>

Links to the websites of this week’s guests:
Amble Skuse >>
Kelly Jayne Jones >>
Iris Garrelfs >>

Check out Daphne Oram’s An Individual Note >>

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Girls Twiddling Knobs has ended, but you can stay connected to Isobel's artistic work here.

Girls Twiddling Knobs was hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey from Nov 2020-Jan 2026 and will remain live on all major podcast platforms throughout 2026. 

We are grateful to the British Library who have archived the podcast in their Sound and Vision Collection.

Learn more about the Girls Twiddling Knobs legacy here.

Watch this episode on YouTube

Explore more episodes here.

Listen on Spotify.

Send us Fan Mail

Now, you might have heard about this production technique in the context of compression. You may already be using this technique in your own projects but even if you’re not just yet, you might have heard someone talk about adding sidechain compression either in a studio or on a YouTube video.

But, if you’re totally new to sidechaining, today’s episode will break it down so you’re no longer in the dark. And if you’re already using sidechaining in your music, perhaps we’ll just fill in any gaps in your knowledge or confirm that you’ve got this whole sidechaining thing wrapped up.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{02:34} Side chaining in a nutshell
{02:49} Why we use it in music production
{04:25} 3 of the most common uses of side chaining
{10:43} The best way to start using side chaining in your tracks
{11:00} Episode Summary

Read Sage Audio’s blog post, What is Sidechaining >>

Read Ledger Note’s article What is Sidechaining >>

Read iZotope’s blog post 5 Essential Tips for Mixing Reverb >>

Watch @mikerussell’s ‘Sidechain Compression to Duck Music W/ Voice’ video tutorial >>

Watch @mastering.com’s ‘Vocal Reverb  Sidechaining’ Logic video tutorial >>

Watch @whatsupimforrest’s ‘Silent Sidechaining / Ghost Compression’ Tutorial for Ableton Live 11 >>

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Girls Twiddling Knobs has ended, but you can stay connected to Isobel's artistic work here.

Girls Twiddling Knobs was hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey from Nov 2020-Jan 2026 and will remain live on all major podcast platforms throughout 2026. 

We are grateful to the British Library who have archived the podcast in their Sound and Vision Collection.

Learn more about the Girls Twiddling Knobs legacy here.

Watch this episode on YouTube

Explore more episodes here.

Listen on Spotify.

Send us Fan Mail

It’s easy to feel tied down or boxed in as a woman in the music industry, and many artists use a pseudonym to create separation between their personal and creative lives. But today’s guest, Riz Maslen, has been releasing electronic music under multiple musical identities for the past three decades.

Inside this episode, Riz shares how she’s used different monikers to play with different genres, contexts and identities, what it was like getting into production during the ‘90s in London and her new ambient release, Stairway 13. Riz also shares the important qualities she thinks women bring to the field of production and why less can be more when it comes to music tech gadgets and gear.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{03:00} How Riz got started in music
{09:54} Forging her way in the London music scene and getting started with music production
{16:55} The women that shaped Riz’s own confidence in music
{21:15} The process of recording her first track released on Ninja Tune and her experience of life on the road
{28:38} Why Riz decided to release music under different monikers and a walkthrough of her creative process
{44:32} The unique qualities women bring to music production
{48:28} A look into Riz’s recording setup and her top tips for getting started for free!
{56:35} Riz’s advice for releasing music under a different moniker
{01:01:17} Episode Summary

Check out Riz’s music here >>

Listen to Stairway 13 here >>

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Girls Twiddling Knobs has ended, but you can stay connected to Isobel's artistic work here.

Girls Twiddling Knobs was hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey from Nov 2020-Jan 2026 and will remain live on all major podcast platforms throughout 2026. 

We are grateful to the British Library who have archived the podcast in their Sound and Vision Collection.

Learn more about the Girls Twiddling Knobs legacy here.

Watch this episode on YouTube

Explore more episodes here.

Listen on Spotify.

Send us Fan Mail

What culture would enable women to learn and thrive with music technology? And how might this be fostered in music tech learning spaces? Inside this BONUS podcast episode Isobel shares the unique teaching approach she’s developed over the past five years, and why it's set over 400 women (and counting) up to win with music technology.

This practical discussion continues on from last week’s BONUS episode all about how music technology education has (so far) been failing women. But inside this episode, Isobel gives some progressive and helpful tips for cultivating a more gender inclusive culture where women truly thrive. Whether you’re a teacher, facilitator, studio owner or women wanting a better space to learn recording and production, this episode will help you find and create a music tech space that women love to be a part of.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{05:17} Influences that have shaped my approach
{06:30} The 3 pillars of my teaching approach
{07:05} Pillar #1: Community
{12:55} Pillar #2: Artistry
{18:33} Pillar #3: Respect
{23:58} What this means for wider music tech
{27:29} What this means for you
{30:06} Next week’s teaser

Enrolment in Home Recording Academy closes Feb 7th @ 6pm GMT. GRAB YOUR SPOT NOW >> 

[So they are easier to navigate, these references are not academically formatted]

Listen to last week’s BONUS episode – Teaching Women Music Technology [PART 1]: Why Have We Failed So Far? >>
‘Permission to Play: Practice principles for collaborative learning in music technology’ >>
‘Talk for collaborative learning in computer-based music production’ >>
Women Make Music 5 Year Report >>
Dignity at Work 2: Discrimination in the music sector >>
Listen to EP#18 with Dr Eddie Dobson >>
Listen to EP#43 on what’s inside Home Recording Academy >>

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Girls Twiddling Knobs has ended, but you can stay connected to Isobel's artistic work here.

Girls Twiddling Knobs was hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey from Nov 2020-Jan 2026 and will remain live on all major podcast platforms throughout 2026. 

We are grateful to the British Library who have archived the podcast in their Sound and Vision Collection.

Learn more about the Girls Twiddling Knobs legacy here.

Watch this episode on YouTube

Explore more episodes here.

Listen on Spotify.

Send us Fan Mail

If you’ve ever struggled to own the title of ‘Musician’ this episode’s for you. Every single person has a slightly different definition of what actually makes a musician, but the reality of how and why we *feel* like one is often complex and even pretty misunderstood.

Inside this episode, Isobel sits down with pianist and Home Recording Academy alumni student, Lois Lelland, about why she struggled to feel like a ‘proper’ musician in the past and why that’s now totally changed. In fact, Lois is set to release an amazing new EP of compositions she has lovingly recorded and produced herself and she’s never felt so excited and confident as a musician.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{03:43} Why Lois struggled to feel like a ‘proper’ musician
{09:11} When this began to change for Lois|{12:43} Starting to record her music from home
{17:18} Why Lois took part in Home Recording Academy not just once, but twice.
{26:09} The process of self-recording, producing and releasing her stunning debut
EP, Sepia.
{50:42} Collaborating with other musicians
{54:16} Episode Summary

Listen to Lois’ new album, Sepia >>

Follow Lois on Instagram >>

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Girls Twiddling Knobs has ended, but you can stay connected to Isobel's artistic work here.

Girls Twiddling Knobs was hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey from Nov 2020-Jan 2026 and will remain live on all major podcast platforms throughout 2026. 

We are grateful to the British Library who have archived the podcast in their Sound and Vision Collection.

Learn more about the Girls Twiddling Knobs legacy here.

Watch this episode on YouTube

Explore more episodes here.

Listen on Spotify.

Send us Fan Mail

“Surely if women *really* wanted to record and produce music, they’d just get on with it like their male peers, right?” Well… Sadly it’s not that simple. Today in 2023, women still are considerably outnumbered on music production programmes and in recording studios and are less likely to learn through free online resources, like YouTube, compared to their male contemporaries.

It’s true that women, in theory, aren’t banned from taking part in these spaces. So, inside this BONUS podcast episode Isobel explores why the problem might not be lack of access. Instead, could it be a culture that lacks an inclusive approach? If so, what culture would enable women to better learn and thrive with music technology?

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{07:47} How most music tech spaces have traditionally operated
{19:55} Episode Summary

Grab your spot on Isobel’s FREE Live masterclass ‘5 Simple Steps to Record Your Music from Home’ >>

[So they are easier to navigate, these references are not academically formatted]

• Annenberg Inclusion Initiative – Inclusion in the Recording Studio? >>
• Music Teacher Magazine – Only a quarter of A Level Music Technology students are female >>
• House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee Misogyny in Music Inquiry >>
• Written evidence from the Music Producer’s Guild >>
• Technology and the Gendering of Music Education >>
• ‘Women in Audio: contributions and challenges in music technology and production’ >>
• Women Make Music 5 Year Report >>

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Girls Twiddling Knobs has ended, but you can stay connected to Isobel's artistic work here.

Girls Twiddling Knobs was hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey from Nov 2020-Jan 2026 and will remain live on all major podcast platforms throughout 2026. 

We are grateful to the British Library who have archived the podcast in their Sound and Vision Collection.

Learn more about the Girls Twiddling Knobs legacy here.

Watch this episode on YouTube

Explore more episodes here.

Listen on Spotify.