“Oh no, not another one!” I hear you cry, as Meta’s Twitter-like new social media platform Threads takes hold. I’ve been having a nice time on there, but wanted to offer this alternative viewpoint that applies to all social media platforms.
AI RUINED my album artwork! Photoshop Generative FAIL
Creativity Letterbox Process
➡️ I got excited about using Photoshop’s new Generative Fill tool to make AI versions of my album covers…then things got weird.
✅ Browse my back catalogue here please and thank you xo
➡️ READ: “AI Is a Lot of Work” on The Verge
Let’s talk ROBOTS // Tea & Empathy Ep 002
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➡️ Let’s talk about my side project Obey Robots, answering your questions about how our album “One In A Thousand” was written and telling the story of the band name – Potsdam! Bike tour! Ghastly snappers with selfie sticks! I also unbox my awesome new microphone and show you some other exciting bits of post.
✅ Shop music and merch direct from meeeeee
➡️ This is Episode 2 of “Tea & Empathy” – watch the rest here
Why being yourself is ALWAYS the best choice! Du Blonde x Penfriend // Creative Spaces 003
Creativity Letterbox Process
Welcome to episode 3 of my Creative Spaces series. Strap in for some big laughs, and bear in mind…there’s swearing.
We talk about Beth’s essentials for recording albums from home, how painting the walls with pink cow print affected their creativity, and how much we both absolutely adore fielding unsolicited comments from internet people with no music credentials. Hi, Jeff2789!!
Explore Du Blonde’s world here.
UNBELIEVABLE. Solidarity with Billy Nomates / Tor Maries // Tea & Empathy Ep 001
Creativity Letterbox Mindfulness
AKA how not everything is for you, and how music criticism is different from bullying. I share a few thoughts on the barrage of abuse Tor aka Billy Nomates received for doing THE JOB SHE WAS HIRED TO DO by Glastonbury Festival / BBC 6 Music on the weekend. She earned that slot!
This is the first in a new series called “Tea & Empathy” – use the comment section to send me any questions you’d like answering, or topics you’d like to suggest for future episodes xo
PS yes, I suppose this first one is “Beer & Empathy” – it was too hot in Paphos for tea!
How selfies fixed my self confidence (gear + how & why to)
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➡️ Not every person you see on the internet is super confident – I’m certainly not! A few years ago I decided I wanted to make a change, and taking self portraits using my camera, a tripod and a wireless shutter release button connected to my phone has made a HUGE difference to my ability to share my thoughts online.
I made this video to encourage you to at least think about giving it a try yourself: I talk about the mindset behind it, list the basic equipment you need and show exactly how I do it!
Life is too short to let our perceived visual imperfections get in the way of sharing our voices to help others, so please leave a comment with any questions you have about anything discussed in this video.
You can do this!
Love, Laura xxx
PS click through to YouTube to get links to my friend Jane’s book plus all the equipment I talked about
I waited TEN YEARS for this!
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➡️ I’ve been livestreaming solo music performances for 10 years, using lots of different setups. Some worked well, some were a nightmare. It’s hard to focus on your performance and find time to experiment when things aren’t plug-and-play – enter the Boss Gigcaster 8!
🎶 Get Gigcaster 8 / 5 here.
I was super excited to try this out, and I’m thankful to Roland/Boss for sending me this incredible piece of gear as a gift. Please note: I was under no obligation to say anything nice, or anything at all, and my opinions will always be honest.
✅ Watch my full performance of “Olympian” here
✅ Watch my previous livestream setup video here (Logic Pro X into OBS + tips on how to play to no-one)
📹 STREAM WITH STREAMYARD
Record videos / podcasts with remote guests and livestream to multiple platforms.
+ Get a 14-day free trial with my link
How to use a loop pedal. Vocal performance of “Olympian” (Boss RC-30 via Gigcaster 8)
Creativity Letterbox➡️ This performance was live-streamed on Saturday 10th June 2023 as a test of the Boss Gigcaster 8 – huge thanks to Roland/Boss for the gift!
➡️ This song appears on my debut album “Disarm”, released in 2010 under the name She Makes War. Browse my back catalogue at http://shop.penfriend.rocks
Subscribe to my channel for more xo
This home recording essential might surprise you…
Creativity Letterbox Mindfulness Process ProductivityWelcome to episode 2 of my Creative Spaces series!
I met Ryan Hamilton online recently after his album release plan went very wrong…and I thought to balance out the industry kerfuffle we should have a deep chat about creativity, music recording and how your space can affect your work. So we did!
We talk about how easy it is to record your own music, which three things Ryan considers essential for recording, where songs come from and the magic word to use in your lyrics to bump up your streaming numbers 🤣.
Ryan also talks about Death Cab For Cutie’s Ben Gibbard, and the story behind “I Will Follow You Into The Dark”…and there’s even a cameo from Justin Hawkins!
Watch more “Creative Spaces” videos here, and subscribe to my channel for more xo
Do something different.
Creativity Letterbox MindfulnessIn September 2021 I was burned out and feeling super sad – so I decided I had to do something completely different. A one-off surf lesson led to my first outdoor swim…and in October 2022 I found myself in Marseille!
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➡️ Places I mention in this video:
The Wave, Bristol – aka “man-made wave…place”
Swimming locations shown:
Clevedon Marine Lake
Cromhall Quarry (Gloucestershire)
Dosthill Quarry (Tamworth)
Lake 32 (Cotswold Water Park, Wiltshire)
Praia da Rainha, Cascais, Portugal
(I also swam in Estoril…more on that in a future video)
Vivienne Rickman runs regular wild swimming experiences in Snowdonia – I highly recommend!
In Marseille I swam at:
Calanque de Podestat
Calanque de Sormiou
Plage du Prado
And I stayed at L’Appartement in Sormiou which is where I met my gorgeous guard dog friend Oknit.