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Who gets heard in the music industry—and who gets left out?

In this episode of She Creates Noise, producer, engineer, and Gender Amplified founder Ebonie Smith shares how she’s building a more open, collaborative, and equitable future for music—from the studio to the systems behind it.

Ebonie Smith discusses her production work and origin story. From Memphis, where hymns and call-and-response shaped her music, to New York and LA, where Grammy-nominated projects and Broadway musical recording filled her credits, Ebonie shows how leadership, faith, and enlightened approach to  engineering can create an open environment in the studio and elevate the artist’s voice. We spotlight her journey  and follow the choices that built her reputation: invite artists to the console, demystify the gear, and treat technology as a shared canvas and support system instead of an obstacle.
 
 The story doesn’t stop at credits. While building records for Hamilton, Janelle Monáe, and Cardi B, Ebonie launched Gender Amplified, first as a college thesis, then as a movement. She uncovered a vibrant, often unseen network of women producers and DJs, then built platforms where their work could be found, hired, and celebrated. We dig into why charts show where power sits—not where value lives—and how storytelling, community, and access can shift who gets heard and who gets paid. The conversation widens into the AI surge and why fear isn’t a strategy: audio jobs will change, and those who learn new tools, refine taste, and lead collaboration will thrive.
 
 From her Recording Academy leadership to her AES keynote, Ebonie pushes a provocative idea: artists should build the tech that moves their art. Distribution solved a problem and created a gap between creators and their money. Her playbook points to ownership—of masters, publishing, audience, and the rails themselves. We talk indie wins, sustainable revenue, and the courage to design your own ecosystem. Then we look ahead: more records, daily piano, new content, and Gender Amplified camps in New York and LA that bring gender-expansive producers into rooms built for their success.
 
 Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more creators find these stories—and tell us: what would you build to put artists back in control? https://www.instagram.com/eboniesmithmusic

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What does it take to help guide one of the most influential artists in the world—and turn that experience into lasting leadership in the music industry?

In this episode of She Creates Noise, Sarah sits down with Caron Veazey to discuss her years managing Pharrell Williams, and how that chapter helped shape her perspective on women’s leadership, artist development, and real change across the music business.

From an early break as a page at Saturday Night Live to senior roles at MCA, RCA, Island Def Jam, and Sony’s global marketing team, Caron built a rare career path rooted in instinct, strategy, and people-first thinking.

She shares how refusing narrow categories opened doors for artists like Christina Aguilera, Rihanna, and Duffy—and why creating your own opportunities can still be the most powerful move.

We also discuss the Pharrell years: building I Am Other as a multi-platform vision where music, fashion, film, and philanthropy fueled one another, and navigating the global success of “Get Lucky,” “Blurred Lines,” and “Happy.”

If you want to know more about:

•  managing major artists 
•  Pharrell’s creative world 
•  women’s leadership in the music industry 
•  artist branding and career growth 
•  building influence behind the scenes 
•  marketing artists globally 
•  creating opportunity in the music business 
•  long-term career strategy 

A sharp and inspiring conversation with one of the industry’s most respected executives and advocates for progress.

 If the conversation resonates, tap follow, share it with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review—your support helps more listeners find stories that open doors. 

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Many thanks to Anne Tello for her vocals on the theme song and to our sponsor 'Heard City'. 

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24 years later, “Complicated” is still one of the defining songs of a generation. The woman who helped write it shares the story behind the hit—and the setbacks, reinventions, and hard-won lessons that shaped her career.

In this episode of She Creates Noise, Sarah sits down with Lauren Christy, songwriter, producer, and co-creator of The Matrix, for a candid conversation about resilience, reinvention, and writing some of the defining pop hits of the 2000s.

From early artist struggles and label disappointments to building The Matrix with Graham Edwards and Scott Spock, Lauren shares how instinct, craft, and persistence led to songs like “Complicated” and “Sk8er Boi” for Avril Lavigne—and a new era of pop-rock success.

We also talk faith, family, women in production, and what it really takes to create a lasting life in music.

If you want to know more about:

•  writing hits like “Complicated” and “Sk8er Boi” 
•  how producer teams really work 
•  starting over after setbacks 
•  women in music production 
•  songwriting craft and melody building 
•  balancing career success with family life 
•  artist development in the 2000s music industry 
•  how to build longevity in music 

Lauren’s story is a masterclass in trusting your instincts, adapting when the business shifts, and creating success on your own terms.

 If stories of resilience, real-world tactics, and transparent mentorship fuel you, press play and join us. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s building their music career, and leave a review so more creators can find these conversations.

https://www.instagram.com/thelaurenchristy/?hl=en

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What does it really take to make music—and who’s behind the moments we hear?

After a debut season that landed in the top 80% of new podcasts and the top 98% of most shared shows, She Creates Noise returns with a bigger, bolder Season Two—continuing to explore how music gets made, and who makes it happen.

If you care about songwriting craft, studio engineering, music production, artist development, and the real mechanics of the music industry, this season is built for you. We’ll keep the warmth and honesty you’ve come to expect while delivering more diverse voices, and conversations that move from inspiration to application.

Thanks for listening, sharing, and being part of this growing community. Hit follow, send this teaser to a friend who loves music, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find these stories. Your support helps us keep amplifying the women who move the industry forward. 

Support the show

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Many thanks to Anne Tello for her vocals on the theme song and to our sponsor 'Heard City'. 

Check out https://www.shecreatesnoisepodcast.com for more episodes featuring women who power the music industry.

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Where does creativity come from—and how do you stay open enough to receive it?

In this episode of She Creates Noise, Grammy-nominated artist, songwriter, and poet Valerie June shares how everyday life becomes a creative channel, and how she protects the space where songs first arrive.

 Valerie traces her roots to Tennessee and a childhood surrounded by music. We talk about her father’s involvement as a promoter of performers like Prince, Jojo and Jodeci. That early vantage point meets a deep well of influence—Appalachian folk, gospel, blues, dream soul, and how her music draws from artist’s as diverse as Curtis Mayfield, Tracy Chapman and Leonard Cohen. 

She shares how her ideas and melodies show up unannounced, how she protects the solitude of writing before inviting collaborators to add their contribution in the studio, and how her three-breath meditative reset keeps her centered. We listen to and talk about a song from her newest album, Owls, Omens and Oracles. The song “Endless Tree,” is a radiant experience that asks whether we can be free and still disagree, and we also unpack the quiet power of opening doors as a Black woman in Americana without having to explain it at every turn.
 
Style becomes another instrument in this conversation: Bowie-inspired silhouettes, thrift-store treasures, and street-stall finds that build a living mood board around her music. Valerie describes the slow climb from fly-on-the-wall sessions with Dan Auerbach to co-producing with conviction, and she opens up about poetry arriving after loss, spoken lines in her poetry that later find their way into her songs. Beyond the stage, she is a mentor and brings mindfulness into classrooms, helping students turn attention into art and courage into performance.
 
Listen to hear about her songwriting secrets, stay for the practices you can use today—portable meditation, patient craft, and the reminder that creativity thrives when we listen and engage. If this conversation moves you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find these stories.

 https://www.instagram.com/thevaleriejune/?hl=en

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What makes Nashville such a powerful engine for artist development—and how has it evolved alongside film, television, and the changing music industry?

In this episode of She Creates Noise, Nashville-based music supervisor, consultant, and author Anastasia Brown shares how she helped shape the city’s growing role in film and television, while building a career grounded in instinct, strategy, and resilience.

 From her early days as a manager, the Bluebird Cafe revelation that led to signing Keith Urban to his first record deal; Anastasia shows how conviction, curiosity, and grit can lift you to new career heights.
 
 We unpack the real Nashville: a ten-year town for artist development  because of the density of talent and the apprenticeship needed for  songwriting. Anastasia explains how sync licensing became her pivot as mechanical royalties for record sales fell, why authentic archival recordings can save a budget without shortchanging writers, and what it takes to spot an artist before the market does. We talk frankly about songwriter pay, the realities of streaming royalties, and the practical ways supervisors and producers can protect value for the people who create the songs. If you’re searching for artist development, music supervision strategy, sync licensing, Nashville music scene, or songwriter rights, this conversation delivers an insider’s view.
 
 The episode also moves into leadership and resilience. Anastasia shares how women in Nashville pushed through outdated norms, the mentors who opened doors, and her goal to build a self-sustaining scoring industry in Music City—highlighted by recording The Shack with a 74-piece orchestra at Ocean Way. Finally, she opens up about her own loss and purpose, launching “There Are No Words, But We Have A Few” to give grieving parents a community and a voice.
 
 If this resonated, tap follow, share it with a friend who loves music and stories that matter, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show. Your support keeps these conversations—and the songwriters behind them—thriving.

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What happened to the singer-songwriter era—and what does it take to survive as an artist now?

In this episode of She Creates Noise, Rachael Yamagata reflects on her early days in the Hotel Café scene and the long road to building an independent creative life today.

  That’s the invitation at the heart of our conversation with Rachael Yamagata, whose new record, Starlit Alchemy, unfolds as a continuous journey—interludes, transitions, and songs that flow like a single film score. We trace the winding path to release: tours planned for 2019, recording plans derailed in 2020, the pivot to a home studio in the Catskills, and the choice to embrace an album-first vision when the industry rewards singles and snippets.
 
 Rachael shares the stories behind the music, including “Birds,” a meditation on signs, loss, and the ways we make meaning during uncertain times. She opens up about the tradeoffs of full independence: self-management, learning marketing from scratch, funding a record out of touring, and crafting DIY visuals on her phone to reach new listeners. The numbers are real—tens of thousands to make an album, streaming payouts that don’t cover the costs, and the long grind of booking, rehearsals, and promotion. Yet the creative intent shines: immersive shows in listening rooms and resonant spaces with strings, soundscapes, and a set designed for deep focus.
 
 We also revisit Rachael’s early 2000s roots—Hotel Cafe, global tours, and collaborations—and explore why placements in TV and film still give songs a second life. Then we get candid about the present: social media as both lifeline and time sink, gatekeeping that privileges surface over substance, and the uncertain role of AI in shaping the next wave of artistry. Rachel’s answer is to go deeper, not faster: make work that rewards attention, build community, and let the album format carry the weight of complex emotion.
 
 Hit play to hear a veteran artist map the real economics of creating today, the philosophy behind an album that demands presence, and the optimism that keeps the music moving forward. If the conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find these stories. 

https://rachaelyamagata.com/

https://www.instagram.com/rachaelyamagata/

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How are global hits discovered—and who spots greatness before everyone else does?

In this episode of She Creates Noise, Sarah sits down with Kim Frankiewicz, winner of the Seymour Stein Global A&R Award and EVP of Worldwide A&R at Concord Music Publishing, to discuss how talent is discovered, developed, and sustained in today’s borderless music industry.

From early roots in Australia and formative years connected to INXS to signing writers across multiple continents, Kim shares why songs, character, and long-term vision matter more than hype.

We talk global trends, K-pop, Afrobeats, AI, leadership, and what separates one-hit moments from lasting careers.

If you want to know more about:

•  how global hits are found 
•  music publishing and songwriter careers 
•  K-pop, Afrobeats, and worldwide trends 
•  what A&R really looks for 
•  building careers instead of one-hit moments 
•  AI and the future of music 
•  women leading in the industry 
•  how introverts can lead successfully 

A rare insider conversation with one of the most respected global talent executives in music.

If you care about artist development, music publishing, and the future of A&R in a global, AI-tinged landscape, this conversation will reset your compass. 

https://www.instagram.com/kimfrankiewicz/

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Many thanks to Anne Tello for her vocals on the theme song and to our sponsor 'Heard City'. 

Check out https://www.shecreatesnoisepodcast.com for more episodes featuring women who power the music industry.

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In this engaging conversation, Divinity Roxx takes us through her remarkable journey from classical clarinet player to hip-hop artist, to Beyoncé's bassist and musical director, and ultimately, a creator of genre-defying music for all ages.
 
 Divinity talks about her experience as musical director in Beyoncé's groundbreaking all-female band—a role that transformed perceptions of women in music across generations. "I meet people all the time who talk about how impactful it was," she shares, recounting stories of young women who became professional musicians after seeing women commanding stadium stages for the first time. This representation wasn't just vital for girls but also for boys who grew up with limited notions of what women could accomplish musically.
 
 Her artistic evolution is a masterclass in following curiosity wherever it leads. Growing up in Atlanta's rich musical ecosystem, Divinity absorbed influences from local funk bands to Parliament Funkadelic, from Bad Brains to Bob Marley. This diverse musical diet created the foundation for her uniquely genre-fluid approach to composition. When the pandemic hit, an unexpected opportunity to create music for Scholastic led to her first Grammy nomination and a whole new creative chapter.
 
 Beyond her own creative work, Divinity speaks passionately about advocating for women in music, especially instrumentalists who often face the harshest industry conditions. "You're the first to get cut, the least paid, nobody worries about you," she explains, highlighting why mentorship and visibility matter so profoundly. Yet her message ultimately transcends the music industry: "You can start over as many times as you want to. You can have as many lives and different lives as you want to."
 
 Join us for this intimate conversation about breaking barriers, finding joy in unexpected places, and the power of staying endlessly curious about what might come next. Whether you're a musician, a parent, or simply someone navigating your own career pivots, Divinity's journey offers inspiration and practical wisdom for charting your own path.

https://www.instagram.com/diviroxx/

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Many thanks to Anne Tello for her vocals on the theme song and to our sponsor 'Heard City'. 

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 What if some of the biggest moments in music history were shaped by someone most listeners have never heard of?

In this episode of She Creates Noise, Sarah sits down with Annette Barrett, whose 40-year career in music publishing reveals the invisible architecture behind some of the industry’s most important creative successes. From an early opportunity at Carlin Music to global leadership roles, Annette’s story is rooted in instinct, intelligence, and a lifelong belief that everything begins with a great song.

From working with legends like David Bowie, Madonna, Prince, and Elton John, to becoming the first woman appointed to the board of Warner Chappell Music, Annette shares the philosophy that guided her through decades of change: it all starts with a song.

She also reflects on her lifelong friendship with David Bowie, which began during art studies at the Sorbonne University in Paris, where Bowie was also a student. That connection offers rare insight into one of music’s greatest innovators and the creative fearlessness that changes culture.

Annette explains how her grounding in copyright law, combined with an artist’s sensibility, became the “magical combo” that shaped her success—helping writers protect their work while building meaningful careers.

Long before globalization became standard practice, she was connecting songwriters across borders and cultures. She shares the story of introducing Danish producer Cutfather to Nashville writers—an unlikely pairing that later led to a number one hit with P!nk and Keith Urban.

As co-founder and president of the Independent Music Publishers Forum, Annette continues championing independent voices, songwriter rights, and the next generation of creators.

A rich conversation about songs, strategy, originality, and the unseen people who help shape music history.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How music publishing quietly shapes major artists, hit songs, and long-term careers
• What Annette Barrett learned from working with icons like David Bowie, Madonna, Prince, and Elton John
• Why combining creative instinct with business and copyright knowledge can become a career superpower
• How global songwriting collaborations can lead to unexpected hit records
• Why mentorship, advocacy, and protecting songwriter rights still matter today

https://www.instagram.com/annettebarrett4022/

https://www.reservoir-media.com/

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Many thanks to Anne Tello for her vocals on the theme song and to our sponsor 'Heard City'. 

Check out https://www.shecreatesnoisepodcast.com for more episodes featuring women who power the music industry.

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