Shows
You, Me and An Album184. Laura Kidd Discusses Belly, StarSend us a textNottingham-based multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, producer, YouTuber and podcaster Laura Kidd (Penfriend, Obey Robots, She Makes War) joins Al to get him acquainted with Belly’s 1993 debut album Star. Laura talks about how she was first introduced to Star and how its uniqueness inspired her to follow her own musical path. She also revisits the time she performed Belly’s “Slow Dog” with Tanya Donelly as well as Donelly’s subsequent performance on “Paper Thin” from Laura’s Direction of Travel album (as She Makes War). Laura and Al wrap up with a discussion of Laura’s new Penf...
2025-04-161h 13
Social Media Escape ClubLaura Kidd talks selling albums, email list best practices, Patreon and moreGet on Laura’s email list here: https://penfriend.rocks/helloGet Laura’s music on Bandcamp!
2025-03-251h 13
Music Ally FocusHow can a completely independent DIY artist get an album to #14 on the UK chart? Laura Kidd did it, and explains howEpisode 103: Laura Kidd has been a fully independent artist for a long time – and her recent "Obey Robots" project managed to hit the UK albums chart at #14 (ahead of Artic Monkeys and Lewis Capaldi and just behind ABBA and Fleetwood Mac). It’s a hugely impressive achievement for a DIY/indie artist - so how did she do it? In this podcast she explains to Joe Sparrow how she used email, YouTube videos and Facebook ads to get chart success. She also talks about her deliberate choice to ignore fame, and how she instead looked to build a slow-burn, dire...
2023-04-0643 minYou, Me and An Album101. Rat Discusses Pale Blue Eyes, SouvenirsSend us a textRat — the guitarist for Ned’s Atomic Dustbin and Obey Robots — makes a return visit to YMAAA, and with a connection to his first visit. On Ep 29, he introduced Al to Public Service Broadcasting’s The Race for Space. Recently, Rat saw PSB live, and he was impressed by the support band, Pale Blue Eyes. He immediately went out and bought PBE’s debut album, Souvenirs, and now he is here to let us know why we should know this album, too. In addition to discussing Souvenirs, Rat talks about Obey Robots’ soon-to-be-released debut album...
2023-02-0555 min
The James McMahon Music PodcastEpisode 44: Laura Kidd, PenfriendI’ve been thinking a lot recently about how to grow this podcast, and my Substack - spoook.substack.com - and Spoook – the creative hub that bore it and so many of my other projects – and my comics, and the music I make. All the things. Actually, I should rephrase that. I’ve been thinking, not about how I can grow, but how I can connect.Part of this thought process has been inspired by Bristol based creative whizzbang Laura Kidd, aka Penfriend, aka She Makes War, aka founder of The Correspondent’s Club, aka host of the Att...
2022-03-1455 min
Penfriend's LetterboxGiving yourself permission to be creative - Matthew Caws, Nada SurfMatthew Caws has been playing guitar, singing and writing songs in Nada Surf since 1994. He is one half of Minor Alps with Juliana Hatfield. He’s from New York City but currently lives in Cambridge, England. Find out more at nadasurf.com.In this episode, we discuss how anxiety gets in the way of songwriting, the anomaly of artists being financially successful, what it’s like listening to the music you made a long time ago, how to keep writing interesting material when you’re happily married and ageing with your audience – when your existence is a mirror to...
2021-11-031h 23
DJ Tricky Kid in the MixLaura Kidd is PenfriendHappy Memorial Day! Joining us on this bank holiday is Musician/Artist & Independence Personified Laura Kidd. She’s just released her latest music project as Penfriend who’s debut album Exotic Monsters is racing to the top of the charts in the UK. Just the best chat with one of the most impressive, good willed and talented […]
2021-10-2640 min
Penfriend's LetterboxConnection and communion through music...talking to Grace PetrieVisit the deluxe show notes page for this episode at http://penfriend.rocks/grace - and read the transcript at http://penfriend.rocks/grace-tsAbout my guest: a folk singer, songwriter and activist from Leicester, UK, Grace Petrie has been writing, recording and touring relentlessly for more than ten years. Her unique takes on life, love and politics, and the warmth and wit with which they are delivered, have won over audiences everywhere, across the alternative, folk, political and comedy scenes. Visit www.gracepetrie.com for music and more.In this episode, we discuss the unique communion an...
2021-09-291h 32
Penfriend's LetterboxMusic as a tool of unity - Rou Reynolds (Enter Shikari)Get my FREE 12-track album + 31-page zine http://penfriend.rocks/helloVisit the deluxe show notes page for this episode: http://penfriend.rocks/rou.Read the text version: http://penfriend.rocks/rou-tsRou Reynolds is a vocalist, songwriter, composer, author and award-winning producer, best known for fronting Enter Shikari. Formed in 1999, the band are known for making outspoken, genre-spanning music accompanied by explosive live shows.In this episode, we discuss pre-album writing anxiety and ways to get started on new projects, exploring subjects matter from songs in a more expansive way, the reality of being a supposed "Myspace band"...
2021-09-151h 04
Penfriend's LetterboxCelebrating a breadth of voices in music - Miki Berenyi (Piroshka / Lush)Get my FREE 12-track album + 31-page zine http://penfriend.rocks/helloVisit the text version of this episode at http://penfriend.rocks/miki-tsContent warning: this is a very joyfully sweary episode so probably not best listened to in the presence of kids.About my guest: Miki Berenyi is a singer, songwriter and guitarist who first became known in the late ’80s and ’90s as a member of Lush, and currently makes music in Piroshka.In this episode, we discuss how Miki was a huge inspiration for teenage wannabe-musician me, what it's like for her starting a new ba...
2021-09-011h 31
Penfriend's LetterboxEp46: Ginger Wildheart on creating a you-sized shape in the world of musicVisit the deluxe show notes page: http://penfriend.rocks/gingerRead the text version: http://penfriend.rocks/ginger-ts.Thanks for listening! Attention Engineer is a show where I share deep conversations with fellow artists about creativity, grit and determination. My aim is to consistently remind you - and remind myself - that creativity really is for everyone. Let’s kick that inner critic where it hurts!.About my guest: Ginger Wildheart has been busy releasing music since the late 1980’s: as the leader of British rock band The Wildhearts, as a...
2021-08-181h 06
PODCASTER#41 – Laura Kidd / Attention EngineerMusic artist and producer Laura Kidd, AKA Penfriend, is the host and creator of Attention Engineer. A podcast where she chats with other musicians and artists about their own creative processes and inspirations. Listen to Attention Engineer wherever you get your podcasts.Penfriend’s new album Exotic Monsters is out now: https://penfriendrocks.myshopify.com  Follow Laura:Twitter: https://twitter.com/penfriendrocksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/penfriendrocksWebsite: https://penfriend.rocks  Follow Podcaster:Tw...
2021-08-1211 min
Penfriend's LetterboxEp45: Mary Spender on finding a smarter route to a full-time music career and building a huge fanbase on YouTubeVisit the deluxe show notes page: http://penfriend.rocks/maryRead the text version: http://penfriend.rocks/mary-ts.Thanks for listening!.About my guest: combining her sultry voice and electric guitar to create rock songs infused with blues and soul, Mary Spender’s songwriting showcases her virtuosic style of guitar playing as well as her wide vocal range. Mary has amassed over 46 million hits on her YouTube channel, with nearly half a million subscribers watching her weekly videos, predominantly targeted towards guitarists and singer/songwriters..She...
2021-08-0448 min
Penfriend's LetterboxEp44: Ken Stringfellow (The Posies / R.E.M. / Big Star) on saying "yes"Thanks for listening! Attention Engineer is a show where I seek to make the best use of my own valuable time and attention by having deep conversations with fellow artists about creativity, grit and determination. My aim is to consistently remind you - and remind myself - that creativity really is for everyone….because it really is. Let’s kick that inner critic where it hurts!.About my guest: A fixture on the music landscape, indie and otherwise, since the debut of his band The Posies in 1988, Ken Stringfellow has over a quarter century of expe...
2021-07-211h 31
Penfriend's LetterboxEp43: Lou Barlow (Sebadoh / Dinosaur Jr / The Folk Implosion) on building a body of work...however the f*** he wants toVisit the deluxe show notes page: http://penfriend.rocks/louRead the text version: http://penfriend.rocks/lou-ts.Thanks for listening! Attention Engineer is a show where I seek to make the best use of my own valuable time and attention by having deep conversations with fellow artists about creativity, grit and determination. My aim is to consistently remind you - and remind myself - that creativity really is for everyone….because it really is. Let’s kick that inner critic where it hurts!.About my guest: a founding memb...
2021-07-0749 min
Penfriend's LetterboxEp42: Shingai (Noisettes) on finding creative freedom through generosityContent warning: two brief mentions of suicide, in the context of having lost friends..Visit the deluxe show notes page: http://penfriend.rocks/shingaiRead the text version: http://penfriend.rocks/shingai-ts.Thanks for listening! Attention Engineer is a show where I seek to make the best use of my own valuable time and attention by having deep conversations with fellow artists about creativity, grit and determination. My aim is to consistently remind you - and remind myself - that creativity really is for everyone….because it really is. Le...
2021-06-231h 22
Bristol: Behind The HeadlinesEpisode 6: Penfriend, food shopping and stonemasonryMartin Booth and Ian Downs once again go behind the headlines. This week, guests are Laura Kidd, aka the musician Penfriend; David Pavon of El Colmado, a shop on Gloucester Road which has been named one of the 50 best food stores in the world; and stonemason Shane Cameron, who is currently hard at work restoring the Bristol Beacon.
2021-06-1631 min
Headliner RadioE118: Laura Kidd | Exotic MonstersLaura Kidd, aka Penfriend, tells Headliner about her brand new record, Exotic Monsters, and talks us through her creative process.
2021-06-0931 min
Penfriend's LetterboxEp41: Juliana Hatfield on drawing without lookingThanks for listening! Attention Engineer is a show where I seek to make the best use of my own valuable time and attention by having deep conversations with fellow artists about creativity, grit and determination..About your host: I'm Laura Kidd, a music producer and solo artist releasing music as Penfriend. Come and grab two free songs plus letters about art and music from http://penfriend.rocks/hello .My aim is to consistently remind you - and remind myself - that creativity really is for everyone….because it really is. Let’s ki...
2021-06-091h 06
Penfriend's LetterboxEp40: Laura Kidd (Penfriend) quizzed by Miles Hunt (The Wonder Stuff) on "Exotic Monsters" and always going deeper...Welcome to a very special episode of the podcast, where my friend Miles Hunt of The Wonder Stuff turns the tables on me and steals the host microphone to quiz me on my new album "Exotic Monsters"! .In this conversation, we discuss being a doing person - how completing little projects gives me energy, the role of letter writing in my life from childhood to now, taking the time to get things right in your work, so they won't haunt you forever, facing up to your ghosts, and finding new freedom through music..
2021-05-191h 28
Curious e-MotionRich Huxley on 'integrity'An exploration into 'integrity' with musician Rich Huxley, delving into artistic integrity in the music industry and the wider picture of what 'integrity' means for our lives and those of our communities.This episode includes some brilliant music recommendations too:
Hope & Social - check out their lockdown E.P. - S.E.N.T
Sampa the Great - one of Rich's favourites is 'Final Form'
Confidence Man
Penfriend (Laura Kidd)Send us your thoughts on integrity - email us on hello@curiousmotion.org.uk
2021-04-2037 minYou, Me and An Album2. Mike Lord Discusses John Cale, Fragments of a Rainy SeasonSend us a textMike Lord from Tabletop Genesis drops in to discuss one of his favorite albums, John Cale’s Fragments of a Rainy Season. He talks about his podcast, how he got into John Cale, and why he really loves this album in particular.You can find out more about Tabletop Genesis, including links to their podcast, at http://tabletopgenesis.com/. You can find Mike on Twitter and Instagram at @zorknapp.At 2:56 of this episode, I made a reference to Steve Hackett of Genesis smashing a wine glass in his hand (I...
2020-12-2856 min
Penfriend's LetterboxEp18: Miles Hunt (The Wonder Stuff) on how Covid-19 stopped him from quitting the music businessVisit the deluxe show notes page: http://penfriend.rocks/milesRead the text version: http://penfriend.rocks/miles-ts.About my guest: Miles Hunt (The Wonder Stuff) on how Covid-19 dashed his hopes of leaving the music business and becoming a truck driver (and why he wanted to quit in the first place), how writing your autobiography can help mend relationships that went bad and why we should probably just turn the internet off..About your host: I'm Laura Kidd, a music producer and solo artist releasing music as Penfriend...
2020-10-141h 21