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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 is hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey.

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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 >>

Ready to level up your music making with the powerful art of field recording? Download my new FREE Essential Gear Checklist to Start Field Recording With Your Smartphone >>

Love Girls Twiddling Knobs? Leave a review wherever you're listening and let me know!

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Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey.

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Listen on Spotify.

Join the Girls Twiddling Knobs Podcast Community here >>

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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 >>

Ready to level up your music making with the powerful art of field recording? Download my new FREE Essential Gear Checklist to Start Field Recording With Your Smartphone >>

Love Girls Twiddling Knobs? Leave a review wherever you're listening and let me know!

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Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey.

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Listen on Spotify.

Join the Girls Twiddling Knobs Podcast Community here >>

Send us a text

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’ >>

Ready to level up your music making with the powerful art of field recording? Download my new FREE Essential Gear Checklist to Start Field Recording With Your Smartphone >>

Love Girls Twiddling Knobs? Leave a review wherever you're listening and let me know!

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Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey.

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Explore more episodes here.

Listen on Spotify.

Join the Girls Twiddling Knobs Podcast Community here >>

Send us a text

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 >>

Ready to level up your music making with the powerful art of field recording? Download my new FREE Essential Gear Checklist to Start Field Recording With Your Smartphone >>

Love Girls Twiddling Knobs? Leave a review wherever you're listening and let me know!

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Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey.

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Explore more episodes here.

Listen on Spotify.

Join the Girls Twiddling Knobs Podcast Community here >>

Send us a text

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 >>

Ready to level up your music making with the powerful art of field recording? Download my new FREE Essential Gear Checklist to Start Field Recording With Your Smartphone >>

Love Girls Twiddling Knobs? Leave a review wherever you're listening and let me know!

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Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey.

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Explore more episodes here.

Listen on Spotify.

Join the Girls Twiddling Knobs Podcast Community here >>

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If you’re someone who loves a good concept album, this episode is for you because Isobel is joined by musician and producer, Miss Grit, to discuss their new album Follow The Cyborg. Combining both grit and cleanliness in equal measure, Miss Grit’s music is an exploration of what it means to be human and then reframe this on our terms.

But this doesn’t mean Follow The Cyborg was made in a big, flashy studio. Miss Grit prefers to record and produce music in the privacy of their own home in order to fully embrace the intimacy of making music. Inside this episode. Miss Grit shares the process of making their new album, their experience of learning music tech in a male dominated environment and why they’re so fascinated by cyborgs too!

**CORRECTION: Miss Grit releases the SINGLE, Follow The Cyborg in November 2022. The album of the same title will be released in Spring, 2023**

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{03:15} Miss Grit’s journey into music technology
{11:27} Forming the ‘Miss Grit’ identity and navigating social media as an artist
{17:36} What Cyborgs represent in Miss Grit’s music
{23:43} A walkthrough of their creative process
{31:04} Why Miss Grit prefers to record in their home studio
{40:57} Their advice for home-recording musicians
{46:34} Episode Summary

Listen to Miss Grit’s new single ‘Follow The Cyborg’ >>

Check out Miss Grit’s website >>

Follow Miss Grit on Instagram and Facebook

Listen to the episode here
Listen on Spotify

Ready to level up your music making with the powerful art of field recording? Download my new FREE Essential Gear Checklist to Start Field Recording With Your Smartphone >>

Love Girls Twiddling Knobs? Leave a review wherever you're listening and let me know!

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Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey.

Watch this episode on YouTube

Explore more episodes here.

Listen on Spotify.

Join the Girls Twiddling Knobs Podcast Community here >>

Send us a text

Recording studios are wonderful spaces where real magic can happen, but it’s also so liberating to have the skills and set up to create music and experiment with your creative ideas from the comfort of your own home.

Inside this Golden Nugget Episode we’re going back to #57 where Isobel chatted to musician and producer, Flaming June (AKA Louise Eatock), about how much more freely she has been able to make music through learning to record and produce herself.

Inside, Louise dissects exactly how this has helped her shape her own vision and make an album she’s truly proud of (which has also gone on to win an award, BTW). It’s an important reminder of the freedom and creative possibilities home recording can afford.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{00:00} Intro
{02:01} How Louise used EQ to transform her music
{05:10} The techniques and equipment Louise used to depict living with ADHD 
{08:04} Outro

Listen to the full, original episode HERE >>

And don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and share it with a friend.

Love Girls Twiddling Knobs? Leave a review wherever you're listening and let me know!

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Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey.

Watch this episode on YouTube

Explore more episodes here.

Listen on Spotify.

Join the Girls Twiddling Knobs Podcast Community here >>

Send us a text

Do you ever worry about how other people perceive you as an artist? This question is particularly loaded for women and gender expansive musicians because there’s so much tied up with how femininity should be presented and received (and even what it is).

It’s for this reason that Isobel is sharing a Golden Nugget from EP#30 when she chatted with the amazing London based musician and producer, BISHI who spoke so candidly and articulately about how she’s been received over the years.

BISHI has always had a very strong visual element to her music, which has sometimes led to intense scrutiny and judgement. But it’s interesting hearing how growing up surrounded by London’s queer community helped her to approach her visual identity with a sense of boldness and play.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{00:00} Intro
{01:57} Receiving a passive aggressive response from people   
{04:47} Feeling free and confident to explore her artistic identity
{07:28} Outro 

Listen to the full, original episode HERE >>

And don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and share it with a friend.

Love Girls Twiddling Knobs? Leave a review wherever you're listening and let me know!

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Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey.

Watch this episode on YouTube

Explore more episodes here.

Listen on Spotify.

Join the Girls Twiddling Knobs Podcast Community here >>

Send us a text

One of the biggest drains on many a musician’s time, self-esteem and mental energy is social media - you’ve probably found yourself both loving and hating it in equal measure.

So today we’re going waaay back to episode #44 where Isobel shares her best tips for getting more intentional about how we use social media so it stops being a vanity scale and starts actually adding to our creative self expression - I know WHAT a novel idea, right?!

And Isobel will be walking you through a mini artist branding exercise too, so grab a pen and paper if you want to take notes!

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{00:00} Intro
{01:44} Social media is an extension of our art
{03:19} Create a dialogue with your followers
{04:07} Set digital boundaries
{04:56} Be intentional with your time on social media
{06:03} Outro

Listen to the full, original episode HERE >>

And don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and share it with a friend.

Love Girls Twiddling Knobs? Leave a review wherever you're listening and let me know!

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Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey.

Watch this episode on YouTube

Explore more episodes here.

Listen on Spotify.

Join the Girls Twiddling Knobs Podcast Community here >>