Taking small steps

Taking small steps

Letterbox Mindfulness Process

Comics class has been cancelled due to lack of interest, and my Zoom H6 Handy recorder won’t turn on. I managed to wipe the battery compartment clear of crusty white goo, but it was too late. The damage was done. Game over. I had some luck selling broken cameras on eBay a few years ago so I’ll see what I can get for the remains.

In 2022 I would have taken these slights personally; 2023 and I are just getting to know one another.

I keep forgetting about having had Covid. How lucky is that – I am so thankful that TOUCH ALL THE WOOD its obvious effects have already gone. I started the year gently, with daily yoga and meditation, but this week I went on three very huffy-puffy runs and am getting back into Blogilates routines.

I feel like a different person.

This morning (Saturday) I tried to sleep in past my 6am alarm, but just lay there wide awake thinking about writing and working out. So…I got up, worked out, and am writing.

I’ve written every day since 3rd January. Three longhand pages of whatever blah blah blah comes out of my brain first thing (aka Morning Pages), plus 30 minutes of timed writing in another notebook, sitting at my desk under the window. It’s still dark outside, and completely quiet, and the leaves from my Monstera plant make silhouettes against the slowly brightening sky.

Quiet is the thing I crave most, these days. I need to hear my thoughts.

It’s important to me that these sessions are analogue, because I always have something to show for them. The delight I feel looking at the photo at the top of this post is incalculable – and nerdy. I made those squiggles! I had those thoughts! I put the time in! I can do this.

I’m doing it. Taking small steps.

What small steps will you take in 2023?



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I’m proud and very thankful to be a fully fan-funded artist, so if you’d like to stay involved and continue to support the making of new music, writing and videos:

🎁 Get your FREE 12-track album + 31-page PDF zine of stories, photographs and artwork here.

❤️ Get immediate access to my entire digital archive (close to 200 tracks!) plus additional ongoing Member Perks by joining The Correspondent’s Club on Patreon!

🎸 Listen to my latest solo album “Exotic Monsters” and browse my back catalogue.

🎥 Watch my videos for adventures in sound & songwriting.

💬 Chat with me on TwitterInstagram and Facebook.

See you soon xo

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A fresh direction for 2023

A fresh direction for 2023

Creativity Letterbox Mindfulness Music News


A snoozy day, punctuated by washing piles of soft furnishings and spraying the entire house with Indorex. Surprise baths for reluctant pooches. Flea and worming tablets doled out a few days early. All just in case…but I had a feeling. Just writing about the thought of it makes my skin prickle. Ugh.

I’m still “off work”. I fell ill mid-November after going to see my first gig since 2019 (Gary Barlow’s one-man show – brilliant), so the end of year go-slow started early, but then, in early December – Covid. First-time Covid. Game over.

Unable to do much, I’m in rest and research mode: reading, writing, watching videos on topics that pique my interest. Today I watched videos about field recording and how to sample your own sounds, and made a list of the music production techniques I want to learn and practise in 2023.

Spurred into action, I bring my Zoom H6 recorder down from the studio for a cleanup. Since I paused my podcast this time last year I’ve rarely used it, and the machine has responded to its neglect by letting some batteries fizz and melt in their compartment. Cheers.

I bought a vat of white vinegar a while back for occasions such as these, but it’s probably in the shed, and it’s raining out, so I look for the next best thing. I waver between cider apple vinegar and white wine vinegar, and go for the latter to avoid staining. It works.

Rest is essential (I read that all the time), and I’m enjoying my cosy sofa duvet nest, but I’m starting to feel restless. I haven’t felt itching-to-get-started for months: overwhelmed, stuck and hopeless are three words that sum up much of my 2022. I’m finally starting to feel excited about making things again.

I think it’s because I’ve managed to stay away from external distractions long enough to hear the quiet voice inside urging me onto new and old topics of interest: field recording, sampling, cardboard art. Sculpting with air drying clay. Creating dioramas in boxes and box frames. Blogging! Twitter hasn’t been a satisfying place to write in YEARS and I still love reading (and writing) blog posts. Consider this one a statement of intent.

I’ve signed up for a Cartoons and Comics evening class in town. I’m thinking about creating sample packs using sounds from my solo albums so far. Instead of reminding myself of all the things I didn’t manage to do in 2022 and dragging them all along with me, I’m starting a fresh new list for 2023.

My break includes my YouTube channel: after successfully uploading videos for 52 weeks in a row I’ve stepped back to ponder my next move. I want everything I do to be part of a coherent world I create – I don’t want a hugely successful YouTube channel about cheese, delicious as that may be. It’s a fun challenge to make videos that fit with what I already make, packaging them with the right thumbnail and title to pique the interest of viewers who might not know me yet, as well as those who do.

A phrase pops into my mind, a fresh direction for the year ahead: “adventures in sound and songwriting”. That sounds like a fun year.

Will you join me? xx

NEXT

I’m proud and very thankful to be a fully fan-funded artist, so if you’d like to stay involved and continue to support the making of new music, writing and videos:

🎁 Get your FREE 12-track album + 31-page PDF zine of stories, photographs and artwork here.

❤️ Get immediate access to my entire digital archive (close to 200 tracks!) plus additional ongoing Member Perks by joining The Correspondent’s Club on Patreon!

🎸 Listen to my latest solo album “Exotic Monsters” and browse my back catalogue.

🎥 Watch my videos for adventures in sound & songwriting.

💬 Chat with me on TwitterInstagram and Facebook.

See you soon xo

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Why I went to Lisbon and didn’t post about it on social media

Why I went to Lisbon and didn’t post about it on social media

Creativity Homepage Feature Letterbox Mindfulness

In October 2021 I embarked on a solo trip to Lisbon. After retreating into my home – first during a series of lockdowns between March 2020 and January 2021 and then, voluntarily, being super careful for the rest of the year – I tested the waters with my first trip abroad since touring Europe in 2019.

I’m a huge fan of solo travel, whether that’s close to home or further afield. It’s such a great opportunity to do, see, eat and drink whatever *you* want to, as well as to think deeply, appreciate your own resilience and plan for the future without any distractions, without making all those micro-adjustments we rightly or wrongly do when we’re with our loved ones.

In this video I also share some thoughts on the immediacy and addictive nature of social media sharing, whether that’s caring or, perhaps, wearing, and share some photos from my trip.

I’m very thankful for any opportunity to travel like this, and don’t take it for granted at all.

Lisbon is a magical place, I hope you get to visit some time xo

Join my mailing list for free songs and stories, subscribe here for future videos and get involved from the start of Penfriend album #2 by joining The Correspondent’s Club.

Have a lovely day! xo


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I WAS DOXXED: What to do when online criticism goes too far

I WAS DOXXED: What to do when online criticism goes too far

Letterbox Mindfulness Process

I’d been planning to make a video about how to deal with cruel comments on the internet – and then I got doxxed on Twitter.

Doxxing is when someone publishes private information about you on the internet, usually with malicious intent. Someone created a fake Twitter account pretending to be me, and sharing my phone number. This is a criminal offence, and I reported it to the police.

In this video I talk about how it feels to receive cruel comments online, how I’m shifting my mindset to try and learn how better to deal with them, plus the steps you can take if someone impersonates you or shares your personal information on social media. And hey, how about we all try to be more kind?



Join my mailing list for free songs and stories, subscribe here for future videos and get involved from the start of Penfriend album #2 by joining The Correspondent’s Club.

Have a lovely day! xo

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I’m out. Leaving Bristol after 10 years…

I’m out. Leaving Bristol after 10 years…

Letterbox Mindfulness Process

It’s time for a new adventure: I talk about why I’m leaving Bristol after 10 years of making music here, reveal the terrible mistake I made four months ago, and muse on where I’m going next…



Join my mailing list for free songs and stories, subscribe here for future videos and get involved from the start of Penfriend album #2 by joining The Correspondent’s Club.

Have a lovely day! xo

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Thank you (yes, YOU) x

Thank you (yes, YOU) x

Letterbox Mindfulness

I’ve been handling some really neggy comments recently, and I’m exhausted.

After a long day of batting away the words of nasty strangers and thinking about where I’d prefer to be spending my energy, I felt inspired to write this short piece to appreciate YOU. Thank you xo


Here’s my little poem:

I want to say thank you – yes, thank YOU
For being you. For being someone who
Taps play on a video, clicks “like” when you like stuff
Spends time seeking out new music
Because nothing is ever quite enough
for your curious mind –
and there’s always something new and exciting to find
– and hey, thanks for saying hi sometimes.

You. You’re the one I think about
Every time I get my camera out, and write my notes
And think of ways to help or entertain you
The way that, for me, others do.

In this circle of encouragement
And love
And understanding
And human experience
And documenting
And supporting 
All to try and make sense of our place on this big wonderful planet.

I want to thank YOU
For supporting me to make
The things I hope will add something good to a world
We all take from
It’s about filling the well
And filling it well
With songs, stories and creative encouragement
From me to you

Because you help me so much and so I want to, simply,
Thank you xxx



Join my mailing list for free songs and stories, subscribe here for future videos and get involved from the start of Penfriend album #2 by joining The Correspondent’s Club.

Have a lovely day! xo

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A week in my life as an independent artist VLOG

A week in my life as an independent artist VLOG

Letterbox Mindfulness

I wanted to share an average week in my life as an independent artist BUT it went slightly off track because I got a new puppy!!

I still got a lot done though, so join me behind the scenes of this self-employed musician, artist and video maker creating things in my home studio and making direct connections with music fans via the internet.

Join my mailing list for free songs and stories, subscribe here for future videos and get involved from the start of Penfriend album #2 by joining The Correspondent’s Club.


THANK YOU for visiting my website! I’m Laura Kidd, a music producer, songwriter and podcaster based in Bristol, UK. It’s great to meet you.

Get your copy of my new album “Exotic Monsters” right here.

+ Get two free songs immediately when you sign up for thoughtful letters about art and music.

+ Join my Correspondent’s Club for exclusive member perks, and to power the making of new music, videos and more.

+ Browse episodes of my music podcast “Attention Engineer” here and subscribe via your favourite podcast platform.

+ You can also follow me around the web, on YouTubeTwitterInstagram and Facebook.

Have a lovely day xo



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Plans change…

Plans change…

Letterbox Mindfulness

…meet Luna the 8-week old Cavapoo puppy from Wales who’s taken over my life. I love her. Tim loves her. Albydog loves her and guards her while she’s sleeping. My heart!

In this video, I use my 41st birthday as a benchmark to compare my January 2022 plans with what’s happened since, talking about what’s gone awry, what’s changed and what’s coming from Obey Robots, She Makes War and Penfriend.

I also discuss what it’s like to be a monetized YouTuber, what I’ve earned so far (oh, the £££!) and what it feels like to have stuck to a weekly upload schedule for 27 weeks in a row.

Plus…puppyyyyyyyyy! Subscribe here for future videos and get involved from the start of Penfriend album #2 by joining The Correspondent’s Club.


THANK YOU for visiting my website! I’m Laura Kidd, a music producer, songwriter and podcaster based in Bristol, UK. It’s great to meet you.

Get your copy of my new album “Exotic Monsters” right here.

+ Get two free songs immediately when you sign up for thoughtful letters about art and music.

+ Join my Correspondent’s Club for exclusive member perks, and to power the making of new music, videos and more.

+ Browse episodes of my music podcast “Attention Engineer” here and subscribe via your favourite podcast platform.

+ You can also follow me around the web, on YouTubeTwitterInstagram and Facebook.

Have a lovely day xo



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For anyone feeling overwhelmed…

For anyone feeling overwhelmed…

Letterbox Mindfulness

I made this video to help. I’ve been feeling completely overwhelmed lately, and I know I’m not the only one. World events can make it feel like our “first world problems” don’t matter, but grief, stress and sadness can be a very heavy load. It can be hard to take care of our physical and mental health, whatever level of privilege we enjoy.

In 2019 I was gifted a bag of poppy seeds at one of my gigs, and this week they’ve been instrumental in helping me find a way forward. 2022 hasn’t been a great year, and that’s ok – I’ll keep trying to keep trying, and I hope you will too x (ps scroll down for the transcript)


I’ve been feeling completely overwhelmed lately. Personal and professional disasters and disappointments have been having unexpected effects. Big sadness, migraine auras, social anxiety, burnout.

I feel…stuck.

And then the news. Horror and helplessness. Truly awful things are happening all around the world, and I can’t do anything to help. In the face of all that, what do my little first-world problems matter?

Do you ever feel this way?

Yesterday, I looked out into my overgrown garden and I saw something magical had happened. Rising majestically from an aggressive clump of spiky weeds taller than me – poppies. Two big, juicy, glorious, decadent poppies.

In 2019, I tried gardening for the first time ever. I’d got bored of describing myself to myself as someone who just didn’t know what to do with plants, so I rolled up my sleeves and I had a go.

Later that year, after one of my gigs, I was presented with a little bag of poppy seeds. A lady who’d been following my gardening adventures through my quarterly zine wanted to share the fruits of her own flowers.

I was so touched. What a cool gift.

She told me to plant them in winter, but I was away touring pretty relentlessly that year, and didn’t get round to doing anything with the seeds. When I realised I’d missed my chance, I stored them somewhere safe for next year.

2020 happened, and I couldn’t find the seeds.

2021 happened, and I tidied up the shed at just the right time of year to find the poppy seeds and scatter them in the garden. I assumed their life force had already faded, but I felt guilty about not trying.

So I tried, and look! Poppies! And more poppies on the way!

Before today, I havedn’t touched this garden since last August when I cleared it for my beloved Mister Benji to recuperate in after his big operation. Since he left us, it’s been too much to even think about dealing with.

2022 hasn’t been a great year, and grief, stress and sadness can be a very heavy load.

But now, seeing these gorgeous flowers just going about their business, shooting up towards the sky, I’ve been inspired to get back into gardening again. I think it might be my first step towards becoming unstuck.

And I wouldn’t be feeling just like this, right at this moment, if it weren’t for the generous gift of the poppy seeds.

Look how we can affect each other.

Look how we can help each other.

Look how we can raise each other up and give each other hope through little acts of kindness.

And look at the beauty that exists in this incredible world of ours.

We all need nutrients, water and light.

We all need hope: space to grow, something to look forward to.

We all need to clear the weeds once in a while, and remind ourselves of what’s important.

You matter. I matter. This matters. We can’t do everything, but we can do something.


THANK YOU for visiting my website! I’m Laura Kidd, a music producer, songwriter and podcaster based in Bristol, UK. It’s great to meet you.

Get your copy of my new album “Exotic Monsters” right here.

+ Get two free songs immediately when you sign up for thoughtful letters about art and music.

+ Join my Correspondent’s Club for exclusive member perks, and to power the making of new music, videos and more.

+ Browse episodes of my music podcast “Attention Engineer” here and subscribe via your favourite podcast platform.

+ You can also follow me around the web, on YouTubeTwitterInstagram and Facebook.

Have a lovely day xo



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Make that thing! How I write songs and why I stay independent

Make that thing! How I write songs and why I stay independent

Creativity Letterbox Mindfulness

Answering your questions on how I make things work as an independent musician, music producer and YouTuber in 2022, how I write lyrics, who I’d like to cover my songs and who my dream collab would be (spoiler: Massive Attack / The Prodigy / UNKLE!).

Thanks for such great questions! Head to Barnsdale Wood, Rutland Water to see these gorgeous bluebells for yourself.


PEOPLE AND ARTISTS MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO

Thomas Truax – handmade instruments and great songs
Shaun Hautly – Ace YouTuber

Broken Down Golf Cart – brilliant music and animated videos

My fave new recording artists
Wet Leg
Wallice
Faye Webster

My favourite Bristol artists
Silver Stairs of Ketchikan
Thought Forms
Emily Breeze
Milkie

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Subscribe to my channel for more videos xo


THANK YOU for visiting my website! I’m Laura Kidd, a music producer, songwriter and podcaster based in Bristol, UK. It’s great to meet you.

Get your copy of my new album “Exotic Monsters” right here.

+ Get two free songs immediately when you sign up for thoughtful letters about art and music.

+ Join my Correspondent’s Club for exclusive member perks, and to power the making of new music, videos and podcast episodes.

+ Browse episodes of my music podcast “Attention Engineer” here and subscribe via your favourite podcast platform.

+ You can also follow me around the web, on YouTubeTwitterInstagram and Facebook.

Have a lovely day xo



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