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

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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Guitar amp in a placky bag: my ancient VLOG 2008

by Laura Kidd Creativity Homepage Feature Letterbox Live performances

Back to 2008 again for episode 2 of my ancient vlog, featuring:

– my great big pre-gig nerves
– a guitar amp transported to my gig in a plastic bag on a bus (glamorous *and* professional)
– snippets of “Getting Nowhere” and “ghostsandshadows” live
– and my first EVER radio interview (conducted during my office job lunch break!!) where I talk about being an extra in “Extras” (singing with David Bowie!)

I started vlogging in 2008 – way before Casey Neistat! – but made two big mistakes:

1) calling it a vblog instead of a vlog, because I was being nitpicky about how if it was a “video blog” it should be a vblog not a vlog. Um, ok Past Laura, cool pedantry – but imagine if you’d tagged it with the word EVERYONE ELSE WAS USING…perhaps people might have watched!

2) not being consistent. I did make a decent amount of episodes, but then stopped because I was busy with other things. If I hadn’t stopped, who knows what it would have developed into. I’m especially annoyed with myself for listening to my ex-boyfriend who asked me “is this a music project or are you making a reality TV show?” I’m glad I used that as a catalyst for making my debut album, but it’s not all or nothing (and it was never a reality TV show).

ANYWAY, I’m delighted to be doing the YouTube thing now, and it’s fun to go back and appreciate some of the good things I made. It’s way too easy to write off our past endeavours as rubbish because we are better at doing those things now (and might still, often, wonder if we’re any good). I’m glad I saved these snippets and I hope you enjoy these trips down memory lane with me.

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.

🎶 My debut album “Disarm” and my second album “Little Battles” are available on limited edition coloured vinyl – for the first time EVER – plus CD/download from my shop.

🎶 Browse my entire back catalogue – She Makes War and Penfriend – here.

Have a lovely day! xo

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I’m out. Leaving Bristol after 10 years…

by Laura Kidd 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…

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Red hair and attitude – “A-Hole” Live from the Archive (2008)

by Laura Kidd Creativity Homepage Feature Letterbox Live performances

🎶 “Disarm” and my second album “Little Battles” are available on limited edition coloured vinyl – for the first time EVER – plus CD/download from my shop.

🎶 Browse my entire back catalogue – She Makes War and Penfriend – here.

This is a serious blast from the past, and I don’t even remember filming it, but I’m glad I did!

In 2008 I lived alone in a studio flat in Peckham (then I got my amazing dog Mister Benji and never lived alone again!), and was working hard to pull together songs for my debut album.

I recorded “Disarm” in winter 2009, so this is a very early performance of “A-Hole”, which is still one of my favourite songs from that album.

“Disarm” was released under the name She Makes War in September 2010. I made four and a bit albums under that name, putting music out from 2009-2019 before launching Penfriend in 2020.

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“I Need My Girl” – The National (cover)

by Laura Kidd Creativity Letterbox

Who better to tackle for my sad song challenge than The National?

This is the second in a regular segment called “Take a sad song and make it sadder” – comment with your suggestions for sad songs I can tackle next! xo

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Sailor stripes and vocal loops – “Olympian” Live from the Archive (2012)

by Laura Kidd Creativity Letterbox Live performances

Another previously unseen video from my sprawling archive, this live and loopy performance of “Olympian” was recorded in my first dedicated home studio space in South London in 2012. My friend painted the walls my favourite colour for me, but I forgot to push all the clutter *behind* the camera. Oops.

The loop pedal used in this video is the Boss RC20XL. I love the RC30 too. They’re all great, really. “Olympian” appears on my debut album “Disarm”, released under the name She Makes War.

🎶 “Disarm” and my second album “Little Battles” are available on limited edition coloured vinyl – for the first time EVER – plus CD/download from my shop.

🎶 Browse my entire back catalogue – She Makes War and Penfriend – here.

“Olympian”

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Thank you (yes, YOU) x

by Laura Kidd 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

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Live from the Archive – “Let This Be” and “Slow Puncture” from 2010

by Laura Kidd Creativity Letterbox Live performances

In June 2010, three months before the release of my debut She Makes War album “Disarm”, I was invited onto The Painter’s Radio Show for a chat and to play some songs.

I was pretty terrified, having never done such a thing before in my solo guise, but looking back across the years I think the hint of outward nerves are pretty sweet, really.

The songs in this video are “Let This Be” and “Slow Puncture”, both from my debut album “Disarm”, released under the name She Makes War. Scroll down for the DIY pop videos I made for each song!

🎶 “Disarm” and my second album “Little Battles” are available on limited edition coloured vinyl – for the first time EVER – plus CD/download from my shop.

🎶 Browse my entire back catalogue – She Makes War and Penfriend – here.

“Let This Be” starring Regé-Jean Page (yep!)

“Slow Puncture”

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Moog Grandmother FAIL – why does this synth hate me?

by Laura Kidd Creativity Letterbox Process

I spent one of the hottest afternoons known to humanity trying to get one decent sound out of my Moog Grandmother. You’ll never guess what happened next…

Join me – a complete Moog newbie – as I experiment with creating sounds on this incredible machine…with mixed results. And remember – there are no failed experiments!

Eagle-eared viewers might recognise “Long Shadows”. which appears on my album “Exotic Monsters”.

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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“Exotic Monsters” Live from The Launchpad

by Laura Kidd Creativity Letterbox Live performances

On 29th June 2022 I beamed an online gig from my home studio The Launchpad into the homes of lovely music fans all around the world, celebrating one year of my album “Exotic Monsters”.

Here’s the title track reimagined for solo guitar and vocals.

🎁 GET the live album here for a limited time only – pay what you want for digital, limited edition CDs also available

📼 Watch the full show here

“Exotic Monsters” is the title track of my album “Exotic Monsters”.

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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