Girls Twiddling Knobs

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If your first few attempts at self-producing your music have left you feeling like throwing in the towel, this episode is for you. Jess Magoch is an award winning Philadelphia based Hip Hop/Jazz artist who decided it was time to become more independent through developing her skills in recording and production. But as Jess shares in her chat with Isobel, it wasn’t a straightforward process.

It took patience, practice and self-compassion for Jess to gradually build up her production chops and, eventually, she and other people couldn’t believe how good her recordings were sounding. In fact, a major sync exec for brands like Vogue and Vanity Fair was blown away by Jess’ production skills. What’s even better is that Jess now feels 100 X more confident, independent and excited about her music moving forward.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{06:40} How Jess got started in music and how she used it to find her voice
{11:30} Why you’re never ‘too old’ to pursue your music
{18:00} The moment when a major sync exec was blown away by Jess’s production skills
{24:39} The process of learning and taking action is more important than the ‘perfect’ outcome
{34:24} The most important lessons Jess has learned from recording and and producing her music
{40:45} How learning these skills has allowed Jess to communicate her ideas with confidence and produce her music on her terms
{58:07} Jess shares the plans for her forthcoming album, Trivial Pursuit, and her advice for other DIY musicians
{01:03:36} Episode Summary

Pre-order Jess’s new album, Trivial Pursuit >>

Download Jess’s unreleased song for FREE >>

Find out more about Jess and follow her journey >> 

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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

Most musicians will have to make a big, bold, scary decision at some point in their career if they’re going to keep growing and developing as an artist. But how do you know when it’s time to take a risk, take the plunge and get out of your comfort zone? 

Inside this special BONUS episode, Isobel unpacks the types of big decisions you might face as a woman in music and when to know if it’s time to be brave and just go for it!

LINKS

Listen to EP#56: Being Assertive in Music Tech Spaces >>

Check out the 2022 Misogyny In Music, Parliamentary Committee Inquiry >>

Read USC Annenberg's Inclusion Initiative’s 2021 Inclusion in the Studio? report >>

Read the 2017 PRSF 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.

Send us Fan Mail

Have the last few months of financial insecurity made you question if you can keep investing in your music? Many musicians are having to make some tough decisions when it comes to basic living costs, let alone their music careers. But inside this episode, Isobel shares how having the ability to record and produce yourself will not only save you money but can make you money too.

No, this isn’t some pie in the sky, “Let’s make a hit record, baby!” stuff. Making an income from your music isn’t always straightforward and there’s no sugar coating that. But having basic skills in recording and production is one of the best ways you can keep showing up as an artist, regardless of a global recession. Keep listening to find out how.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{06:06} What is the financial situation here in the UK right now?
{08:59} What are the financial challenges musicians are facing right now?
{11:40} How does this affect women specifically?
{17:26} How can you recession-proof your music?
{23:42} Episode summary
{24:34} How can you get financial help if you’re struggling right now?
{25:52} Next week’s teaser

• Read about the music gender pay gap in Music Business Weekly >>
• Read about Counting the Music Industry >>
• Get support from Help Musicians >>
• Get support from the Musicians Union >> 
• Funding from Arts Council England >>
• Fund your music through the PRSF >>
• Fund your music through Help Musicians >>

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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’s nothing more frustrating than being creatively restricted by the skills and tools at your disposal, and oftentimes this leads to musicians being overly-reliant on others to get our music out into the world. But this week’s podcast guest, VOLTA HYMN (AKA Delali Zevon-Aniakwah), decided to develop her music tech know-how in order to forge her own artist project and become fully independent.

Inside this conversation, Delali shares how attending one of Isobel’s 5 day recording challenges helped her record her new release, INCOGNITO MODE, and we get the chance to hear two tracks off the record and the concepts behind them. 

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{02:55} How Delali got started in music and the artists that influence her
{13:20} What led Delali to form her artist identity, VOLTA HYMN
{18:07} Learning to record and produce herself as an independent musician
{22:03} How attending one of Isobel’s 5 day challenges helped Delali record her new album, INCOGNITO MODE
{30:39} The process of writing and producing her album
{42:30} What’s next for Delali?
{44:45} Episode Summary

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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 want to make 2023 the year you finally have amazing recordings of your music without breaking the bank, this episode is for you. Inside, Isobel shares 5 Key Strategies to Home Record Your Music Like a Pro!

Even if you’ve worried that recording your music at home will automatically make it sound amateur in comparison to paying for commercial studio time, this episode will show you how amazing sounding tracks are in fact, well within your grasp. All you need is a little insider know-how, and Isobel is pulling back the curtain and giving you exactly that - these are the strategies she’s honed from years of recording and producing music and helping thousands of other women do the same.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{03:35} First-and-foremost, record good quality audio
{05:35} Have a project map
{11:58} Make a to-do list when you recording
{15:20} Save presets
{16:50} Organise your session
{18:50} Episode Summary

Download my FREE 3 Steps to Sound Treating your Home Recording Space  PDF Guide >>

Speed Up Your Production Process with my 6 Music Production Hacks To Save You Time checklist >>

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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

Adversity can be one of the most creativity-enhancing experiences for many musicians, but when you’re faced with chronic illness that may dictate your energy and ability to work, it’s a whole different story.

Inside this episode Isobel chats to musician and producer April Rose Gabrielli about her experience developing epilepsy, totally out of nowhere, and how it informed her debut album, I Woke Up Alive. April also shares her journey into recording and production and the BTS scoop on her professional team and promotion strategy too.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{03:51} How April got started in music production
{16:44} Getting signed with BMG and becoming a full time musician and producer
{23:51} The difference between engineering and producing
{27:20} The difference between a publishing deal and record deal
{34:40} The process of recording her debut album, I Woke Up Alive, after getting diagnosed with Epilepsy
{46:50} How living with Epilepsy impacted how April wrote, produced and promoted her album 
{55:17} April’s advice for musicians who aren’t in full health
{01:00:37} Episode Summary

Listen to I Woke Up Alive on Spotify >>

Check out April’s website >>

Follow April 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

How many times have you been given advice on your music, recording or production, even though you didn't ask for it? Or perhaps you’re always looking for advice rather than trusting your own internal resources and instincts? For many women in music, getting advice can feel like a tricky terrain to traverse without getting mansplained at, stereotyped or thrown a unhelpful red herring.

So, inside this episode, Isobel examines the types of advice we might receive as musicians, if women really are more likely to receive unsolicited advice than their male counterparts and the effects this might have on our careers. Crucially, Isobel outlines three questions to ask yourself before seeking out advice and one principle to stick by if you’re on the receiving end of it.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{03:41} The most common types of advice musicians might receive
{05:54} Are women in music *really* more likely to receive unsolicited advice?
{10:32} How might this affect our confidence and careers?
{13:40} How to respond to unsolicited advice
{15:39} Women can also give bad advice
{18:41} How to get good quality advice on your music
{23:00} Next week’s teaser

REFERENCES
A Study of Unsolicited Advice >>

8 Types of Advice >>

How the gender bias in performance reviews impact womens' careers >>

Women in Music: 9 Female Producers on the Challenges They Face and How We Can All Support Women Beatmakers in Today’s Industry >>

The Best Advice to Women in Music from Female Musicians >>

Music Feedback: When to Take the Opinions of Others Seriously and When Not to Care >>

Check out Jeia here >>

Check out SADIVA here >>

Check out Saaaz 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

It’s not uncommon for musicians to feel disheartened by recording and releasing their music when they don’t receive the recognition or respect they’d like. But inside this episode, Penny White (AKA Jenny Welch) shares how this all changed once she became more involved in the process of recording and production.

This is a journey that has resulted in Jenny recording and releasing two EPs, being made track of the week on BBC Introducing: Midlands and feeling more fulfilled than ever before in the process. Penny shares her past experiences recording and releasing, how learning to record and produce helped her fall back in love with her music and how she produced a bigger sound on her new EP, TWO.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{04:08} How Jenny got into music
{13:42} Why Jenny fell out of love with music and had to take a break
{24:20} How she regained control of her music again
{33:24} Recording and releasing her music for the first time
{37:21} Her experience of learning about recording and production in a women-only space
{43:55} What success looks like now for Jenny
{48:09} The process of recording her second EP, TWO.
{01:05:07} Jenny’s advice for getting started with recording
{01:09:03} Episode Summary

Penny Music Artist Website >>

Listen to TWO on Spotify >>

Watch the video for ‘Better Than This’ >>

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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

Recording and producing as a woman in music is still pretty nonconformist, but in the context of the Middle East, it’s a down-right act of resistance, as this week’s guest Blu Fiefer explains.

The Lebanese based artist has had to face many of the familiar challenges regarding accessing safe-spaces in which to record, being taken seriously as a female artist and forging a career in a competitive industry. But she’s also had to do this in a time of conflict, revolution and collective trauma and in a society that has told her even just being a woman following her music definitely isn’t OK.

Despite this, Blu has become one of the only female Hip Hop producers and label owners in the Middle East today. This episode will inspire you to follow your heart, take bold steps and chase meaning rather than hollow success in your music.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{03:40} Blu Fiefer’s experience of moving from Lebanon to London to start her journey in music
{16:21} How Blu’s pursuit of a music career is an act of revolution in Lebanon
{34:16} How feeling unsafe as a woman in music led Blu to set up her own label
{52:39} The meaning behind her track “Shut Up” and a walkthrough of her creative process
{1:03:19} Her favourite part of the recording and production process
{01:08:50} Blu’s forthcoming album
{01:31:41} Episode Summary

Listen to Blu Feifer on Spotify >>

Follow Blu 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

Nowadays, pretty much everyone feels busy, but for musicians this can really start to eat into vital music making time. Urgent tasks can seem to dominate your schedule, and before you know it, the day’s gone and your music’s been left to the bottom of your to-do list.

Inside this episode, Isobel shares how she’s managed to make time for her music, even though her diary seems busier than ever. Between running a business, holding space for (literally) thousands of other women in music and all the usual day-to-day chores, it’s not always felt easy, but Isobel has been making the time to record and produce some of her favourite music to date. Keep listening to find out how.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{04:17} Business vs feeling overwhelmed
{06:19} Why I wasn’t making music as much (if at all)
{07:43} What made me want to prioritise it more
{09:58} What batching is and how it helped
{20:32} 3 other time-hacks that Isobel swears by
{22:01} Why it matters to you
{23:43} Episode Summary

Grab your spot on my new workshop, 3 Time Hacks To *Actually* Make Your Music Happen in 2023, on Wednesday 7 December >>

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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.