Girls Twiddling Knobs

Send us Fan Mail

In 2020, Isobel launched one of the first and only music technology courses designed exclusively for women in music, focussing not only on the technical processes involved in recording, producing and mixing music from home but also the mindset blocks and societal pressures women face when embarking on such a task.

In it’s fourth round of enrolment, Isobel has added some exciting new updates and features and inside this episode you’ll get the whole inside scoop on exactly what you can expect to find inside. If you’ve been frustrated at a lack of female-focussed courses in music-tech and are ready to embrace all the possibilities home recording will bring to your music, this episode is a must listen!

Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted and produced by Isobel Anderson with production support from Jade Bailey and Francesca O’Connor and is a Female DIY Musician Production.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{05:53} What is Home Recording Academy?
{08:10} Who is HRA for?
{11:34} What’s inside HRA?
{19:35} What’s NEW inside?
{25:57} What my students say about HRA
{28:57} Why I created HRA
{34:17} Episode Summary

Enrol in Home Recording Academy before doors close on May 17th at 6pm GMT >>

Listen to Episode 43 for a full breakdown of all the modules inside Home Recording Academy >>

Listen to Episode 58 about New Revenue Streams Home Recording Can Open Up In Your Music >>

Listen to the episode here
Listen on Spotify

Join the Girls Twiddling Knobs Podcast Community here >>

---------------------------------------------------

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

Usually when we think about recording our music, we think about all the outgoings: the new recording gear we’ll need to invest in, or even the studio time we might have to book. But what if having recording and production skills actually opened up new revenue streams in your music and gave you more freedom and independence as a musician?

Well, that’s exactly what happened for this episode's three guests Sam, Sandy and Annie. None of these musicians have been recording music for a long time, but after learning to record and produce from home, they’ve all seen new earning opportunities in their music that have changed their options for good.

Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted and produced by Isobel Anderson with production support from Jade Bailey and Francesca O’Connor and is a Female DIY Musician Production.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{03:37} How home-recording skills can create new revenue streams for your music
{07:04} Applying for Funding w/ Sam Crane
{25:43} How does Sam feel about the future of her music?
{30:25} Advice and top tips for a successful funding application
{40:07} Recording and Producing for Clients w/ Sandy Ince
{46:00} What led Sandy to invest in her home-recording skills?
{01:00:52} Sandy’s plans for the future
{01:07:04} Recording and Producing for Theatre w/ Annie Ball
{01:13:07} How these recording skills helped Annie save money and become more visible as
a musician
{01:19:56} Annie’s advice for starting your recording journey
{01:21:47} Episode Summary

Girls Twiddling Knobs listeners get 10% off iZotope's award-winning audio plugins and a 30 day free trial of their incredible Music Production Suite 4.1. Just use the code GIRLSPOD10 here >>

Listen to Sam’s music here >>

Check out Sandy’s music here >> and say hello to Sandy on IG >>

Find out more about Annie’s music here >>

Listen to the episode here
Listen on Spotify

Join the Girls Twiddling Knobs Podcast Community here >>

---------------------------------------------------

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 said to yourself, “I’d love to have the freedom to record my music where and when I want, but won’t it just sound amateur if I do it myself?” It’s a common thought for many musicians that can leave you feeling totally reliant on other people to get your music out of your head and into the world.

But inside this episode of Girls Twiddling Knobs, Isobel speaks to musician Flaming June, AKA Louise Eatock, about the incredible journey she’s been on learning to record and produce her music from home. It’s one that’s led Louise releasing her first self-produced album, Hope In A Jar, which has since won an award and wider critical acclaim. And as she shares inside, Louise has now properly got the recording and production bug!

Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted and produced by Isobel Anderson with production support from Jade Bailey and Francesca O’Connor and is a Female DIY Musician Production.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{07:24} How Louise got started in music
{11:54} Balancing music and motherhood
{16:15} The positives and challenges of being a musician
{19:00} What led Louise to start recording her music
(26:48} The real value of having a supportive community
{30:30} Finding freedom to create music for yourself and why you shouldn’t wait until you “know it all” to get started
{37:19} Taking back control of the creative process for her album ‘Hope In A Jar’
{48:38} How self-producing her album led to commercial success
{53:58} How does Louise feel now that she’s gained recording and production skills?
{58:22} What lies ahead for Louise and her music?
{01:01:00} Advice for musicians who want to record their music too
{01:03:49} Episode Summary

Girls Twiddling Knobs listeners get 10% off iZotope's award-winning audio plugins and a 30 day free trial of their incredible Music Production Suite 4.1. Just use the code GIRLSPOD10 here >>

Listen to Hope In A Jar >>

Find out more about Flaming June >>

---------------------------------------------------

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

Ask some women how they feel in music studios, music tech classes or dealing with live sound technicians and many will say they’ve had to work hard to feel confident. Many others will say that asserting their needs, opinions and boundaries in these spaces is still an ongoing struggle. And this can significantly influence not just how women creatively contribute and collaborate in these settings, but if they even enter them in the first place. The result? Less women recording music, learning to record music and even performing music.   

So, in this week’s episode, Isobel asks why these still often male-dominated spaces can feel so difficult for women to assert  their needs, boundaries and opinions. What can we do to maintain a sense of integrity and authenticity as women collaborating with music tech in ways that feel respectful and equal? And does a narrative that women should keep the peace, rather than rock the boat, contribute to a lack of assertiveness in recording and production spaces?

Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted and produced by Isobel Anderson with production support from Jade Bailey and Francesca O’Connor and is a Female DIY Musician Production.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{05:03} Do music tech spaces make women feel less confident and assertive?
{13:29} The effects of this on women’s music careers
{15:45} Why might women find it hard to be assertive in recording studios?
{16:54} What is assertiveness?
{18:26} How can we cultivate more assertiveness as women in music tech spaces?
{21:05} When aggression is necessary
{22:25} Why it’s not all your responsibility
{23:14} What to do if assertiveness is not received or respected?
{25:10} Recognising how your own internalised misogyny might be keeping you small
{26:57} The missing piece in the puzzle
{30:18} Episode Summary

Girls Twiddling Knobs listeners get 10% off iZotope's award-winning audio plugins and a 30 day free trial of their incredible Music Production Suite 4.1. Just use the code GIRLSPOD10 here >>

Join the ‘Record Your Damn Music!’ FREE 5 Day Challenge >>

It’s Not Just Björk: Women Are Tired of Not Getting Credit for Their Own Music article in Slate >>
Does being assertive backfire for women in the workplace? Half the Sky article >>
3 Effective Tips On How Women Can Be More Assertive In The Workplace. Article on Forbes >>
'If You Want To Be Somewhere, You've Got To Occupy It': How Women Are Changing The Face Of Engineering And Producing article on NPR >>

Listen to the episode here
Listen on Spotify

Join the Girls Twiddling Knobs Podcast Community here >>

---------------------------------------------------

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, what is a music producer? I mean what do they do? Or maybe most importantly, when have we earned the right to call ourselves one? Surely there’s some way we know for sure we’ve graduated from music tech dabbler to full blown producer, right?

Well, not really, which may be one contributing factor to so few women being represented in this profession. And, that’s why inside this episode, Isobel draws from women in music production and one of the most respected producers of all time, Brian Eno, to better understand this term.

By the end of this episode, your knowledge of the term will be significantly expanded as will your confidence in owning the title of producer if this has been something you’ve been struggling with.

Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted and produced by Isobel Anderson with production support from Jade Bailey and Francesca O’Connor and is a Female DIY Musician Production.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{04:31} What is a music producer? 
{07:59} The difference between a producer and engineer 
{12:17} Do women relate to the term ‘music producer’ differently?
{17:03} What is Brian Eno’s definition?
{19:11} 3 empowering resources of you’re struggling to adop the term of producer
{21:06} Episode Summary

Girls Twiddling Knobs listeners get 10% off iZotope's award-winning audio plugins and a 30 day free trial of their incredible Music Production Suite 4.1. Just use the code GIRLSPOD10 here >>

Ready to Discover Your Female Producer Spirit Guide? Take the Quiz now >>

Music Production: What does a music producer do? Read the Berkeley article >>

What is a music producer? Read the Renegade article >>

Sound & Vision: Why Only 2% of Music Producers are Women. Read the Sound & Vision article >>

13 Women On How To Change Male-Dominated Studio Culture. Read the Fader article >>

Brian Eno and the role of the producer. Read the Ethan Hein article >>

Join the Home Recording Academy Waitlist here >>

Join the Girls Twiddling Knobs podcast community here >>

Find out more about other resources for women in music >>

Resources for women in music production >>

Listen to the episode here
Listen on Spotify

Join the Girls Twiddling Knobs Podcast Community here >>

---------------------------------------------------

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

In this week’s episode we’re jumping into the fascinating, complex and playful world of theatre sound design with Tony Award winning Broadway sound designer, Jessica Paz. With years of experience under her belt designing complex sound systems, sound effects and audio experiences for acclaimed productions like Anaïs Mitchell’s Hadestown, Dear Evan Hansen and Little Shop of Horrors, there isn’t much Jessica hasn’t seen or done when it comes to theatre sound design.

Inside her discussion with Isobel, she unpacks exactly what makes theatre sound design unique, her favourite aspects of this role and the challenges she’s faced along the way. Jessica also has some killer advice for any other women looking to explore this field themselves.

Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted and produced by Isobel Anderson with production support from Jade Bailey and Francesca O’Connor and is a Female DIY Musician Production.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{05:26} What does a theatre sound designer do?
{15:38} How Jessica got into theatre sound design
{19:43} The tools, equipment and sound systems used in Hadestown
{30:28} The positives and challenges of a designer
{42:48} Jessica's experience as a woman in the industry
{48:20} Jessica's advice for getting into theatre sound design
{49:48} Episode Summary

Girls Twiddling Knobs listeners get 10% off iZotope's award-winning audio plugins and a 30 day free trial of their incredible Music Production Suite 4.1. Just use the code GIRLSPOD10 here >>

Grab your FREE 3 Step Guide to Sound Treating Your Home Recording Space >>

Find out more about Jessica Paz’s work >>

Listen to EP#24 of the podcast here >>

Listen to the episode here
Listen on Spotify

Join the Girls Twiddling Knobs Podcast Community here >>

---------------------------------------------------

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

Never one to take the conventional path, UK experimental electronic composer and producer, Elizabeth Bernholz, AKA Gazelle Twin’s back catalogue plays with and subverts a variety of identities. Inside this episode, Isobel has the chance to hear all about her journey into music making so far, her evolution as an artist, where she’s at now (including being a fulltime musician and mother) and the reissue of her first album, The Entire City / The Wastelands, which is coming out on April 8th, 2022.

Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted and produced by Isobel Anderson with production support from Jade Bailey and Francesca O’Connor and is a Female DIY Musician Production.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{05:30} How Elizabeth got started in music
{20:01} The catalyst for the creation of Gazelle Twin
{26:35} Finding her identity as a live performer
{36:48} The process of self-releasing her debut album ‘The Entire City'
{48:25} How The Terminator was an inspiration for her track ‘I Am Shell I Am Bone'
{53:20} The themes and ideas that influenced her album ‘Pastoral’
{01:01:46} Ways Elizabeth uses music to creatively express her frustrations
{01:13:30} Landing her first job as a film composer for 'The Power'
{01:23:12} Managing her music career as a mother
{01:28:30} Episode Summary

Girls Twiddling Knobs listeners get 10% off iZotope's award-winning audio plugins and a 30 day free trial of their incredible Music Production Suite 4.1. Just use the code GIRLSPOD10 here >>

To listen to all the Gazelle Twin tracks featured in this episode, check out this special Spotify playlist >>

Find out more about Elizabeth’s work >>

Listen to The Entire City / The Wasteland >>

Listen to the episode here
Listen on Spotify

Join the Girls Twiddling Knobs Podcast Community here >>

---------------------------------------------------

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

Many musicians think they need all the ‘right’ gear before they can start recording and producing from home, which can massively stunt their skills and careers. But guess what?  You DON’T need fancy gear to get started! The thing you really need to invest in costs hardly anything and you probably have it all at home already. This week's episode dives into acoustic treatment and how you can use it.

Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted and produced by Isobel Anderson with production support from Jade Bailey and Francesca O’Connor and is a Female DIY Musician Production.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{04:45} Musicians making professional music with a minimal setup
{10:47} What you should do to get professional home recordings
{11:19} What is acoustic treatment?
{12:25} 3 steps to sound-treating your space
{15:57} Gear to up your acoustics game
{16:37} Episode summary

Girls Twiddling Knobs listeners get 10% off iZotope's award-winning audio plugins and a 30 day free trial of their incredible Music Production Suite 4.1. Enter the code GIRLSPOD10 here >>

Grab your FREE 3 Step Guide To Sound Treating Your Home Recording Space >>

EP#11: Start Recording Your Music For Under £100 >>
Listen to Visions (2012) and Art Angels (2015) by Grimes >>
Grimes Details Gear Behind Art Angels article on Stereogum >>
Grimes: Claire Boucher insists that anyone can do what she does. If only it were true article in Loud & Quiet >>
Listen to girl in red >>
Home Recording Gear Haul: girl in red article on Spotify >>
How to become a pop star without leaving your bedroom article on i-D >>
Why do Recording Studios Need Acoustic Treatments? Article on IPR College of Creative Arts >>
The Mirror Trick! Blog post on PrimaAcoustic website >>
Room EQ Wizard - Free app for room acoustics, loudspeaker and audio device measurement >>
Pro-coustix Foam Panels >>
sE Electronics RF-X Reflextion Filter >>

---------------------------------------------------

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

Welcome back to another season of Girls Twiddling Knobs! At 20 years old, our first guest of the season, Emily Nash, is perhaps the youngest guest we’ve ever had on the podcast. But don’t let that fool you because this DJ & producer is currently setting the EDM world on fire.

When she didn’t get the grades she needed at school, she was encouraged to do a Music Production course at her local college. Little did she know that within just a couple of short years this would lead her to sign to Ministry of Sound and be tipped by Radio 1 as one of 2022’s rising stars.

Inside this episode, Emily shares what it’s been like seeing her music take off, her creative process and her positive experience so far as a women in the industry.

Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted and produced by Isobel Anderson with production support from Jade Bailey and Francesca O’Connor and is a Female DIY Musician Production.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{06:00} How Emily Nash got started in music
{09:57} Emily’s musical influences
{11:09} How the music scene has shaped her music
{14:28} How she got started using music technology
{17:36} Emily’s creative process of making hit track ‘Garden’
{21:21} Kicking off her music career and getting signed by Ministry of Sound
{25:30} Gaining confidence performing as a DJ
{28:35} Top Tips for making electronic music 
{31:34} The artists who inspired Emily to become a DJ
{33:53} Episode Summary

Girls Twiddling Knobs listeners get 10% off iZotope's award-winning audio plugins and a 30 day free trial of their incredible Music Production Suite 4.1. Just use the code GIRLSPOD10 here >>

Start producing your music with Isobel’s recommended 10 FREE Recording Tools >>

Listen to Emily’s music on Spotify >>

Watch ‘Get To Know Emily Nash’ >>

Listen to the episode here
Listen on Spotify

---------------------------------------------------

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

Inside this very special 50th episode of the podcast and the Season 02 finale, Isobel takes a trip to the most famous recording studios in the world, Abbey Road, to celebrate their 90th Birthday. Join her and in-house Assistant Engineer, Marta Di Nozzi, for a binaural walking tour of this historic building’s three main studios and the amazing music that’s been recorded there. Whether it’s Amy Winehouse’s time recording in Studio 3, The Beatles’ love of Studio 2 or the many large scale film scores that have come to life in Studio 1, Abbey Road has many tales to tell. 

And, after getting the 3D experience of all these spaces and finding out about all the wonderful vintage gear housed inside, Isobel sits down with Marta in Abbey Road’s Gatehouse studio to hear how she got into working with sound and why Abbey Road is such a special place to work. Of course, Isobel picks Marta’s brains on her top recording tips and also the initiatives at Abbey Road to help make recording and production more diverse and inclusive too.

This is a real treat of an episode, so stick it in your ears now.

And, Happy Birthday Abbey Road!

---------------

Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted and produced by Isobel Anderson with production support from Jade Bailey and Francesca O’Connor and is a Female DIY Musician Production.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{02:13} Brief history of Abbey Road Studios
{08:00} Meet our tour guide - Marta Di Nozzi
{11:17} Studio Three Live Room
{17:18} Studio Three Control Room
{22:22} Studio Two Control Room
{27:03} Studio Two Live Room - live recording setting up
{34:21} Studio One Live Room
{45:04} Studio One Control Room
{48:12} Why is Studio One Marta’s favourite space?
{52:48} The Gatehouse
{54:26} How Marta got started in sound engineering
{58:50} Studio vs. Live recording
{01:01:06} What makes Abbey Road so special?
{01:09:08} Equalise Programme - encouraging gender diversity in sound engineering
{01:18:58} Marta’s Top Tips for Home Recording
{01:26:17} Episode Summary

Find out more about Abbey Road Studios >>

Find out more about Marta Di Nozzi >>

Download the Waves X Abbey Road Chamber Reverb plugin >>

Download the Waves X Abbey Road Reverb Plates plugin >>

Listen to the episode here
Listen on Spotify

Join the Girls Twiddling Knobs Podcast Community here >>

Don't be shy - spread the Girls Twiddling Knobs Love 💗

Every time you share the podcast with a friend or on social media, you're helping us reach even more people and elevate the voices of women in music technology. 

So hit that share button wherever you're listening and, while you're there, why not subscribe to the podcast too! 

---------------------------------------------------

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.