Matthew 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 an...
Nov 03, 2021•1 hr 24 min
Visit the deluxe show notes page for this episode at http://penfriend.rocks/grace - and read the transcript at http://penfriend.rocks/grace-ts About 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 scene...
Sep 29, 2021•1 hr 33 min
Get my FREE 12-track album + 31-page zine http://penfriend.rocks/hello Visit the deluxe show notes page for this episode: http://penfriend.rocks/rou .Read the text version: http://penfriend.rocks/rou-ts Rou 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...
Sep 15, 2021•1 hr 5 min
Get my FREE 12-track album + 31-page zine http://penfriend.rocks/hello Visit the text version of this episode at http://penfriend.rocks/miki-ts Content 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 t...
Sep 01, 2021•1 hr 32 min
Visit the deluxe show notes page: http://penfriend.rocks/ginger Read 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: ...
Aug 18, 2021•1 hr 6 min
Visit the deluxe show notes page: http://penfriend.rocks/mary Read 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, predomi...
Aug 04, 2021•48 min
Visit the deluxe show notes page: http://penfriend.rocks/lou Read 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! . Ab...
Jul 07, 2021•49 min
Content warning: two brief mentions of suicide, in the context of having lost friends. . Visit the deluxe show notes page: http://penfriend.rocks/shingai Read 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 creativit...
Jun 23, 2021•1 hr 22 min
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. . 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 e...
Jun 09, 2021•1 hr 7 min
Step backstage and hear more about the making of my new single "I'll Start A Fire". . My new album "Exotic Monsters" is out nowwwwww! http://penfriend.rocks/exoticmonsters . Thank you for listening! xo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit penfriendrocks.substack.com...
May 22, 2021•5 min
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 thr...
May 19, 2021•1 hr 28 min
Step backstage and hear more about the making of my recent single "Seventeen". . Get three songs immediately when you order my new album at http://penfriend.rocks/newalbum . Get "Seventeen" pay what you want/can here. . Thank you for listening! xo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit penfriendrocks.substack.com...
May 15, 2021•6 min
Step backstage and hear more about the making of my recent single "Black Car". . Get three songs immediately when you order my new album at http://penfriend.rocks/newalbum . Watch the video at http://penfriend.rocks/blackcar . Thank you for listening! xo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit penfriendrocks.substack.com...
May 15, 2021•7 min
Thanks for listening! Visit penfriend.rocks/stephen for the deluxe show notes for this episode, and head to Bandcamp to dive into Stephen's incredible back catalogue. . In this conversation, we discuss the importance of making music that’s for you first, the strange and inappropriate uses of “You’re Gorgeous” in pop culture, from Prince William to Barack Obama, how Bandcamp is the best internet version of DIY and the awkward glamour and excitement of making a million-dollar music video with Holl...
Apr 14, 2021•1 hr 28 min
Thanks for listening! Visit http://penfriend.rocks/davidb for the deluxe show notes for this episode, and head to http://field-music.co.uk to pick up the new album “Flat “White Moon. . In this conversation, we discuss how inspiration is overrated, and having to work on your idea doesn’t make you a worse artist (plus it’s fun!), the importance of sharing our experiences, to help younger artists have the encouragement we didn’t get ourselves, being prepared for the highs and lows of releasing albu...
Apr 07, 2021•1 hr 27 min
Thanks for listening! Visit penfriend.rocks/ryan for the deluxe show notes for this episode. . Ryan Miller is the lead singer and guitarist of alternative rock band Guster. Formed in 1991, Guster have released eight studio albums, performed with symphony orchestras and played a LOT of gigs. Since co-writing and scoring the film “Nobody” with Rob Perez, Ryan has composed music for “Safety Not Guaranteed”, “The Kings Of Summer”, “The Fundamentals Of Caring”, “Mr Roosevelt” and “The Last Summer”. A...
Mar 31, 2021•1 hr 24 min
Thanks for listening! Visit http://penfriend.rocks/sananda for the deluxe show notes for this episode, and head to http://sanandamaitreya.com to pick up the new album "Pandora's PlayHouse". . Artist, composer, arranger, producer, multi-instrumentalist, entrepreneur and Post Millennium Rocker Sananda Maitreya had his light switched on at the age of 2 by the music of the Beatles and has been a fool for music ever since. His debut solo album, “Introducing the Hardline” was released in July 1987 und...
Mar 24, 2021•1 hr 10 min
Visit the deluxe show notes page: http://penfriend.rocks/danz Read the text version: http://penfriend.rocks/danz-ts . Thanks for listening! Visit http://penfriend.rocks/danz for the deluxe show notes for this episode, and head to http://zdanz.com to explore her musical world. . In this conversation, we discuss digging deeper to make the most meaningful music you can, why your creative ideas have to light you up, the whys and wherefores of changing a project name as a solo artist; how reinventing...
Mar 17, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Thanks for listening! Visit http://penfriend.rocks/eliza for links to Eliza's work and collect two free Penfriend songs while you're there. . In this conversation, we discuss how the pandemic forced Eliza to deal with her true nature, planning the perfect productive day for maximum music making, health and emotional wellbeing, the self-imposed pressure of picking the right sized font, EPs versus albums as an artistic statement, and building a sustainable music career while always being willing t...
Mar 10, 2021•1 hr 17 min
The song that took 15 years to write...sort of. How Radiohead's minidiscs and Barbara Kingsolver galvanised an old song idea into what became the theme tune for this show! . Get this song plus two more immediately when you order my new album at http://penfriend.rocks/newalbum . Watch the video at http://penfriend.rocks/cyh . Thank you for listening! xo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers o...
Mar 06, 2021•6 min
A peek behind the songwriting curtain at my synthy single "Exotic Monsters". . Get this song plus two more immediately when you pre-order my new album at http://penfriend.rocks/newalbum . Watch the video at http://penfriend.rocks/monsters . Thank you for listening! xo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit penfriendrocks.substack.com...
Mar 06, 2021•6 min
Thanks for listening! Visit http://penfriend.rocks/liela for links to Liela's work and collect two free Penfriend songs while you're there. My album pre-order just launched too at http://penfriend.rocks/newalbum <3 . In this conversation, we discuss learning to give space to other aspects of life as a touring musician, evolving as an artist – letting go of the ego-driven side of being on stage while still being in love with singing and words, the life-changing power of meditation – Liela’s ex...
Mar 03, 2021•1 hr 21 min
Thanks for listening! Visit http://penfriend.rocks/mike for links to Mike's work and collect two free Penfriend songs while you're there. . In this conversation, we discuss how a teenage Cat Stevens inspired a slightly younger teenage Mike Batt to write songs, blagging versus reaching - using projects to teach yourself how to do the thing you've been hired to do, savvy negotiating - how refusing a one-off payment to write for The Wombles while broke led to great things, what it feels like to bet...
Feb 24, 2021•1 hr 26 min
Thanks for listening! Visit http://penfriend.rocks/liz for links to Liz's work with The Beths and collect two free Penfriend songs while you're there. . In this conversation, we discuss the value of establishing creative rules for songwriting and making videos, touring New Zealand during the pandemic, and Beths' bassist Ben's secret breakfast blog, the success - and shelf life - of an indie band, coping mechanisms for happier touring - why The Beths always take a cricket bat on the road and the ...
Feb 17, 2021•1 hr 12 min
Thanks for listening! Visit http://penfriend.rocks/rlt for links to Rebecca's work and collect two free Penfriend songs while you're there! . In this episode, we talked about how becoming a solo artist and making exactly the work she wanted drastically changed Rebecca's mental health, how dancing brought RLT back to her body, bridging the gap between Slow Club and Self Esteem and bringing her joy, becoming a badge entrepreneur - how designing badges and fulfulling her own merch during lockdown h...
Feb 10, 2021•1 hr 8 min
Thanks for listening! Visit http://penfriend.rocks/david for links to David's work and collect two free Penfriend songs while you're there! . In this episode, we talked about how David's brush with the music industry, how he survived a breakdown to create a thriving career as a lone wolf figure, why pumping content into the world isn't beneficial for popular music and song as an art form, and why we shouldn’t judge artists on the quality of their accountancy. I also quizzed David on his brillian...
Feb 03, 2021•1 hr 32 min
Thanks for listening! Visit http://penfriend.rocks/kat for links to Kat's work and collect two free Penfriend songs while you're there! . In this episode, we talked about what it's like to do well on the biggest TV talent show going, and how Kat built an independent career afterwards, how failure and setbacks bring a whole new world of possibility, and the mental health impact of losing the validation of a live audience during the pandemic. Also, how some sage advice and support from Amanda Palm...
Jan 27, 2021•1 hr 11 min
Visit penfriend.rocks/robi n for links to Robin's work, and get two free Penfriend songs when you sign up to my mailing list. . All music in this series is by yours truly, and the song at the end of this episode is my collaboration with Rat from Ned's Atomic Dustbin. Get "Let It Snow" as a pay what you want/can download and pre-order the limited edition pink 7" vinyl / CD at http://penfriend.rocks/let-it-snow . Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Th...
Dec 16, 2020•1 hr 35 min
Visit penfriend.rocks/rat for links to get hold of our new song PLUS tickets for Ned's Atomic Dustbin live in London and Stourbridge in 2021, and get two free Penfriend songs when you sign up to my mailing list. . Ned’s Atomic Dustbin are an English rock band formed in Stourbridge, West Midlands, in November 1987. Formed at sixth-form college, the band recorded their first album while some of the members were still teenagers. . From these humble beginnings, the band went on to sign to Sony Music...
Dec 09, 2020•1 hr 33 min
An artist of enduring international acclaim and a justly revered lyricist, Thea Gilmore’s musical settings have taken many ingenious detours in the 22 years since the release of her debut album, Burning Dorothy. Uncategorisable, whip smart and unafraid to speak her mind, her Twitter bio reads “Singer. Songwriter. Tall bird. Corruptor of words”. . Visit penfriend.rocks/thea for the posh show notes with links to explore her work, and get two free Penfriend songs when you sign up to my mailing list...
Dec 02, 2020•1 hr 9 min
