Girls Twiddling Knobs

Send us a textIn this deeply honest and reflective conversation, Isobel Anderson is joined by musician, educator and Radical Songwriting founder Rosie Bans to talk openly about the full journey of Girls Twiddling Knobs, from its beginnings as The Female DIY Musician to the decision to close the project after five years.This episode exists because this story was too complex, emotional and important to unpack alone. Rosie has been part of Girls Twiddling Knobs as a student, collaborator, team member and peer support, making her uniquely placed to hold this conversation with care, insight and challenge.Together, they explore:Why Girls Twiddling Knobs was started in the first placeChronic illness, disability, precarity and survival as a musicianBuilding a business with no capital, no safety net and no investorsGender inequality, anger, activism and the limits of individual changeBurnout, parasocial relationships and emotional labourWhy ethical online education is so hard to sustainThe pressure to scale, promise outcomes and commodify creativityWhy Isobel chose to step away rather than compromise her valuesWhat she would do differently if she started againReconnecting with artistic practice after years awayWhat comes next, and what success now meansThis is not a takedown or a farewell filled with regret. It is a clear-eyed reflection on care, sustainability, integrity and choosing yourself.If you’ve ever run a creative business, worked in the music industry, supported women in marginalised spaces, or wondered why so many meaningful projects struggle to survive, this episode will resonate deeply.📣 📆 Mark Jan 5-12 in your diary because that's when you can grab our "life changing" online programmes for the very last time and with a whopping 60% OFF (or more) in the Girls Twiddling Knobs CLOSING DOWN SALE 🤩 🎉 ---------------------------------------------------Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey.Watch this episode on YouTubeExplore more episodes here.Listen on Spotify.

Send us a textn this Ask Me Anything episode of the Girls Twiddling Knobs podcast, Isobel Anderson answers listener questions spanning music careers, collaboration, production, business sustainability, sound art, and gender equity in the music industry.Recorded as one of the final episodes before Girls Twiddling Knobs comes to a close, this conversation is candid, thoughtful, and deeply reflective. Isobel shares hard-won insights from five years of running a feminist music tech platform, alongside practical advice for artists, producers, educators and organisers working at the grassroots.Topics covered include:How to run a creative business without burning outSetting boundaries around time, money and energyWhen collaborations are no longer serving you and how to walk away professionallyFinding a co-producer when you are not part of established music circlesMaking a living as a producer or mixer todayCreating safer, more intentional spaces for women in songwriting and musicReducing noise in field recording, contact mic and hydrophone workThe thinking behind Isobel’s recent ceramics and voice installationWhat cis men can do to actively support gender equity in musicHow the Girls Twiddling Knobs podcast will be archived for future listenersWhether you are an emerging artist, an experienced practitioner, or someone thinking about building community in music and sound, this episode offers reassurance, honesty and practical guidance for navigating creative work on your own terms.📣 📆 Mark Jan 5-12 in your diary because that's when you can grab our "life changing" online programmes for the very last time and with a whopping 60% OFF (or more) in the Girls Twiddling Knobs CLOSING DOWN SALE 🤩 🎉 ---------------------------------------------------Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey.Watch this episode on YouTubeExplore more episodes here.Listen on Spotify.

Send us a textThe room glowed with warm orange light, a full house gathered to celebrate five years of Girls Twiddling Knobs and to witness a bold closing chapter. We brought a live panel to the stage to ask a deceptively simple question: are music technology skills truly crucial for women and gender-diverse artists? What followed was honest, funny, and disarmingly practical—stories about safety in studios, DIY learning, pricing your worth, and the power of choosing collaborators who actually listen.Karen Sutton (Oram Awards) mapped the tough terrain of funding and why mentoring fills the gaps that DIY routes can’t always bridge. Rooks, aka Jenny Bulcraig (2% Rising), shared how artists are rejecting microaggressions and confusion in sessions in favor of producers who offer clarity, consent, and better results. afromerm, aka Cecilia Morgan, unpacked how growing technical fluency turns doubt into calm agency on stage, even when met with patronising questions. Glade Marie (Saffron) spoke to intuition, community, and using brand gigs to bankroll creative freedom without apology. Together, we explored how tech skills change careers, why safer spaces are non-negotiable, and how to build sustainable models when institutions look away.We don’t pretend the landscape is fair. Arts funding is shaky. Industry gatekeepers still overlook what doesn’t fit a KPI. But the path forward is clear: learn the tools that center your voice, set boundaries around money and time, and build the rooms where more of us can thrive. As we prepare a short final season—answering why we’re closing and what we’ve learned—we’re archiving the work and passing the torch to the many initiatives pushing this movement forward.If you’ve ever felt othered in a studio, underpaid for your craft, or unsure how to start charging for your expertise, this conversation is a compass. Listen, share, and tell us the boundary you’re setting next. And if this resonated, subscribe, leave a review, and send the episode to a friend who needs it.📣 📆 Mark Jan 5-12 in your diary because that's when you can grab our "life changing" online programmes for the very last time and with a whopping 60% OFF (or more) in the Girls Twiddling Knobs CLOSING DOWN SALE 🤩 🎉 ---------------------------------------------------Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey.Watch this episode on YouTubeExplore more episodes here.Listen on Spotify.

Send us a text🎧 Listen on headphones 🎧 Some of this episode is recording in binaural audio.What does it really take to compose a work for a 12-piece post-minimalist ensemble—using vintage synths, robotic bells, and tape echoes?In this immersive episode of Girls Twiddling Knobs, we go behind the scenes of Time Loops, a bold and experimental project for Science Museum Group. Follow Isobel as she documents Shiva Feshareki and Sarah Angliss' compositional journey writing new commissions for Icebreaker Ensemble and vintage instruments like the EMS VCS4 synthesiser and Watkins Copicat. You'll journey from early rehearsals at Wysing Arts Centre to a spellbinding presentation at London’s Science Museum.🎧 Expect binaural recordings, tape loops, behind-the-scenes conversations, and honest reflections on what it means to create—and be left out of—musical history.🔗 Links To Go DeeperShiva Feshareki >>Sarah Angliss >>Thelma Rose >>Gavin Bryars >>Icebreaker Ensemble >>Science Museum Group >>Goldsmiths Electronic Music Studio >> Hugh Davies’s ShoZyg >>Digitana Electronics >> Asa Bennett >>Aris Solomon >>Ed McKeon >>Cathy Lucas >>Wysing Arts Centre >>---------------------------------------------------Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey.Watch this episode on YouTubeExplore more episodes here.Listen on Spotify.

Send us a text🎙️ What if classical music wasn’t meant to stay in its box?In this episode of Girls Twiddling Knobs, we meet violinist, composer and loop pedal artist Rebekah Reid, who’s pushing the boundaries of what classical performance can be.Blending classical, jazz and electronic music, Rebekah uses live looping and improvisation to create layered, genre-defying performances that feel both ancient and futuristic.🎻 We explore how she carved out her own artistic identity, the joy and vulnerability of solo performance, and how to stay creatively free in a world that often expects musicians to stay in their lane.✨ If you’re a musician, composer or creative who’s felt the pressure to “stick to the rules,” this episode will inspire you to start breaking them—with intention.🔗  LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE 🔗 Connect with Rebekah:Website >> Instagram >>🎛️ Beginner-Friendly Gear LinksBoss RC-1 Loop Station >>TC Electronic Flashback 2 Delay Pedal >>Roland SPD::ONE Percussion Pad >>Korg microKORG Synthesizer/Vocoder >>Yamaha P-45 Digital Piano >>Logic Pro (Mac DAW) >>Valhalla Supermassive (Free Delay/Reverb Plugin) >>TAL Reverb 4 (Free Plugin) >>📣 📆 Mark Jan 5-12 in your diary because that's when you can grab our "life changing" online programmes for the very last time and with a whopping 60% OFF (or more) in the Girls Twiddling Knobs CLOSING DOWN SALE 🤩 🎉 ---------------------------------------------------Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey.Watch this episode on YouTubeExplore more episodes here.Listen on Spotify.