Following last week’s epic binaural finale episode, Isobel is back for one last music tech chat to bring Season 05 of Girls Twiddling Knobs to a close. This final wrap up episode is the perfect way to get a whistle stop tour of any episodes you might have missed and glean any final little golden nuggets from the last few weeks. This season, we've had some of the most amazing guests including NYX, DJ Paulette, Cathy Lane, Josephine Zwaan and many more, and they've all shared their skills,...

Ready for a binaural sound adventure? We’re wrapping up S05 of Girls Twiddling Knobs with an extra-special episode where, together, we take an immersive binaural deep dive into the ecosystem that is NYX. NYX are often described as an electronic drone choir and are a group of women and non-binary vocalists and non-vocalists who use music technology to create dense, musical creations and performance experiences with artists such as GTK alumni Gazelle Twin, amongst many others. Recorded live...

Have you ever questioned the way that music technology software is designed? And how the tech tools and gear we use might look and feel completely different if they were designed by different humans (i.e. not just predominantly white, cis, heterosexual men living in the West). Well, this question didn’t just bother today’s guest, producer and researcher, Josephine Zwaan. It led her to write a masters thesis that totally reimagines how a DAW could behave through the lens of African philosophy,...

Feeling overwhelmed by all the recording software choices? Been using the same DAW for a while and feel like it’s time to switch it up? Haven’t started recording your music because you don’t have the right gear? If so, this episode is a MUST LISTEN because we’re breaking down the pros and cons of a variety of recording softwares and demystifying this often overwhelming decision. If you’re curious what software Isobel uses, you also won’t be disappointed because inside you’ll learn her top...

It’s not easy growing a career in the arts but it’s down right tough if you’re living with a disability too. In this episode, Isobel is joined by journalist, digital producer and disabled rights activist Meg Fozzard to discuss the challenges disabled artists can face, the things the industry can do better and strategies Meg has developed over the years to grow her career whilst having a disability. Inside, you’ll gain some really practical knowledge on things like access riders and funding...

If you’ve ever wondered what music mastering is, how to get your music mastered or even get into mastering yourself, this podcast episode is for you because Isobel is joined by Weird Jungle mastering engineers Katie Tavini and Izzy McPhee. Between them, they’ve racked up credits with We Are Scientists, Bloc Party, Frankie Morrow, Ash, Waverly, Arlo Parks and so many more.  But what’s also interesting about Katie and Izzy is that they met through the amazing Saffron studios’ mentoring scheme....

It’s common to hear people make the case for initiatives and spaces that help women become more confident with music tech. And many women will say they wished they had more confidence when it comes to music production, mixing and the whole recording process. But what if this pursuit for more confidence was actually further sabotaging the progress of women with music technology? What if, instead, we need to be questioning the whole focus on confidence itself? In this solo episode, Isobel...

If you’ve ever felt stumped as to what to do with all those field recordings you’ve been making… Or like experimental music sometimes lacks a human touch… this episode is a must listen because Isobel is joined by Cathy Lane, an artist, composer and academic inspired by everyday experiences and, in particular, how ‘hidden histories’ can be investigated from a feminist perspective. Inside, Cathy shares so many gems from her vast experience and knowledge as one of the most highly regarded...

Have you ever recorded in a studio and felt like time just slipped away? Or maybe you wished you’d felt more comfortable or like you were using the time better? If so, this episode is not to be missed because Isobel is joined by Brighton based producer and engineer, Phoebe Bentham, who’s sharing her top tips on preparing like a pro for your next recording studio session.  Inside, Phoebe also discusses her route into production and engineering, her love of microtonal music, how she went about...

Do you struggle with perfectionism? We totally get it - it can be easy to put off recording your music out of the belief that every single element of it needs to be perfect. It can also be tricky to find time to dedicate solely to making music; so perfectionism combined with limited time can make it really difficult to actually sit down and get the music made.  Inside this episode Isobel discusses the importance of taking ‘imperfect action’ when making music, and explains how using the...

DJing is still a pretty white, male industry, but when this week’s guest, DJ Paulette, first began spinning vinyl in Manchester’s nightclubs in the 90s, black women DJs were few and far between. Winner of the DJ Mag’s Top 100 Lifetime Achievement Award, DJ Paulette's career has spanned over two decades and multiple locations. But inside this candid conversation, Paulette also shares the personal path she’s trodden along the way. Paulette shares the real sense of threat she felt DJing as a...

With Season 05 of Girls Twiddling Knobs dropping on August 17th, Inside this trailer Isobel gives you a teaser of what you can expect inside each episode over the next few weeks. Remember to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode and don't forget to enter our Season 05 competition where you could win an audio interface and some of our exclusive Girls Twiddling Knobs merch line too. Full details on how to enter >> https://femalediymusician.com/s05-competition Boss it in...

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...

[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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

“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...

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...

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...