I released my debut album “Disarm” under the name She Makes War in September 2010. I’d been collecting the songs together for a couple of years, gradually focusing my mind, building my confidence and getting ever closer to making the music that was playing in my head a reality, a tangible thing others could listen to. Little did I imagine what adventures those songs would take me on, but I’ve enjoyed travelling around the world watching them take on a life of their own ever since.
As the fifth anniversary of Disarm came closer I started making plans to revisit some of the songs, tenderly reworking the tracks that feel the most resonant to my current self, and the ones I felt would benefit from a different sonic approach.
After releasing my third album “Direction Of Travel” I felt it was high time to roll up my sleeves and tackle songs from my debut that never fully realised their potential. It’s about wisdom and hindsight, I suppose.
As Kierkegaard said, “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
Stream the EP in full below, pick up your copy on CD and subscribe to my channel for more videos xo
Please don’t leave me yet… – “Please Don’t” Live from the Archive (2015)
Creativity Homepage Feature Letterbox Live performances“Please Don’t” performed live on vocals, guitar and violin at Ort Cafe, Birmingham, 24th March 2015.
This song appears on my 2016 album “Direction Of Travel”, released under the name She Makes War.
Violin by Simon Goff.
Recorded by Dan Hayward, mixed and mastered by Jay Chakravorty. Video by Blacklight Productions.
🎶 Browse my entire back catalogue – She Makes War and Penfriend – here.
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
I’d like to delete myself… – “Delete” Live from the Archive (2015)
Creativity Homepage Feature Letterbox Live performances“Delete” performed live on vocals, loop pedal and megaphone at Ort Cafe, Birmingham, 24th March 2015.
This song appears on my 2012 album “Little Battles”, released under the name She Makes War.
Watch the self-shot music video here.
Recorded by Dan Hayward, mixed and mastered by Jay Chakravorty. Video by Blacklight Productions.
🎶 Browse my entire back catalogue – She Makes War and Penfriend – here.
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
Is Twitter DEAD?! 108,142 tweets…now what?
Creativity Letterbox Music NewsI joined Twitter on 23rd November 2007 and am looking at losing touch with nearly 15,000 followers if the platform crumbles under the leadership of Elon Musk, or if I decide to leave first. Thanks for that!
In this video I talk about what fellow artists and supporters of the arts can do for each other now, and share thoughts on how I feel Twitter has changed the way we view other people.
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Have a lovely day! xo
“Not The Quiet Type” – Obey Robots
Creativity Letterbox Music News Releases Singles“Featuring the iconic guitar sound of Rat (Ned’s Atomic Dustbin) and the compassionate melodic arrangements of Laura Kidd (Penfriend / She Makes War), “Not The Quiet Type” implores the listener to stop chasing perfection and step fully into themselves and their perceived imperfections.”
No experience is truly wasted. Try, fail and try again. Be yourself, fall in love, get it all terribly wrong and get back up.
You’ve got this.
✅ Pre-order the Obey Robots album “One In A Thousand” now and receive this track immediately PLUS a new song in your inbox every six weeks leading up to the release date of 24th February 2022.
✅ Shop limited edition vinyl, signed CDs, cassettes, tees, hoodies, lyric books and guitar pick tins.
CREDITS
Produced by Laura Kidd in The Launchpad, Bristol. Mixed by Chris Sheldon at Red Cedar, London, mastered by Katie Tavini at Weird Jungle, Brighton. All music by Laura Kidd and Rat. All lyrics, arrangements, vocals, bass, and synths by Laura. All guitars by Rat. Drums by Max Saidi.
LYRICS
Goodbye, a little sigh
Sticking fingers in my eyes
Out of time, out of sight
So I’ll try another night
I won’t regret all the hours that I spent
I’m not here to make amends
I am not the quiet type
Destruction makes us stronger
We will always get it wrong
So fall to pieces, fall apart
We’ll stick it back together
Am I being interesting?
Turning cheek and fighting spin?
Finding comfort in my skin?
Imperfection’s always in
I won’t regret all the hours that I spent
I’m not here to make amends
No, I’m not the quiet type!
Destruction makes us stronger
We will always get it wrong
So fall to pieces, fall apart
We’ll stick it back together
Destruction makes us stronger
We will always get it wrong
So fall to pieces, fall apart
Then get back up
Destruction makes me stronger
I will always do my best
So fall to pieces, fall in love
We’ll stick it back together
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
How to keep going.
Creativity Letterbox ProductivityThree steps to not quitting…
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Limited live album release + “Devastate Me”
Letterbox Live performances Music NewsI performed nine songs live on the internet on Wednesday 26th October 2022, and am making the studio quality recordings available for a short time only.
The theme of the show was “Sad songs to make you feel better”. It’s all a lot at the moment, isn’t it, and I’ve always found writing and listening to supposedly sad music very cathartic. So, far from being a depressing time, it was a chance to hang out with a friendly bunch of music fans and feel our feelings.
GET THE ALBUM on a pay what you want / can basis. This is a limited release – only available publicly until 13th November.
Watch the full livestream here.
PS “Devastate Me” first appeared on my 2018 album “Brace For Impact”, released under the name She Makes War.
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.
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LYRICS
This is a song for the heavy hearted
Lost friends and the dear departed
Kiss like a cannonball
Handle your alcohol
We disappear so quietly
Devastate me
We’re crying out, so eager to please
Devastate me
Sign up and enjoy the static
Scream along cos we’re so dramatic
Does the world need this piece of you?
Easy to speak but it’s hard to be heard
We’re not so wonderful
Mortalis digital
Watching ex-lovers age
Blood on my internet page
We disappear so quietly
Devastate me
We’re crying out, so eager to please
Devastate me
We disappear so quietly
Devastate me
We’re crying out, but nobody sees
Devastate me
We disappear so quietly
Devastate me
We’re crying out, so eager to please
Devastate me
We disappear so quietly
Devastate me
We’re crying out, but nobody sees
Devastate me
If “Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift was indie rock…
Letterbox Live performancesIntroducing a very special guest backing vocalist!
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Have a lovely day! xo
LYRICS
I have this thing where I get older but just never wiser
Midnights become my afternoons
When my depression works the graveyard shift
All of the people I’ve ghosted stand there in the room
I should not be left to my own devices, they come with prices and vices, I end up in crisis
Tale as old as time
I wake up screaming from dreaming one day I’ll watch as you’re leaving ‘cause you got tired of my scheming – for the last time
It’s me
Hi
I’m the problem, it’s me
At teatime
Everybody agrees
I’ll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror
It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero
Sometimes I feel like everybody is a sexy baby
And I’m a monster on the hill
Too big to hang out
Slowly lurching toward your favorite city
Pierced through the heart but never killed
Did you hear my covert narcissism I disguise as altruism like some kind of congressman
Tale as old as time
I wake up screaming from dreaming
One day I’ll watch as you’re leaving and life will lose all its meaning – for the last time
It’s me
Hi
I’m the problem, it’s me
At teatime
Everybody agrees
I’ll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror
It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero
I have this dream my daughter-in-law kills me for the money
She thinks I left them in the will
The family gathers ‘round and reads it
And then someone screams out
“She’s laughing up at us from hell!”
It’s me
Hi
I’m the problem, it’s me
It’s me
Hi
I’m the problem, it’s me
It’s me
Hi
Everybody agrees
Everybody agrees
It’s me
Hi
I’m the problem, it’s me
At teatime
Everybody agrees
Lead me with your lovely lies – “Butterflies” live from Lightship95 (2011)
Creativity Homepage Feature Letterbox Live performances“Butterflies” performed live on the Lightship95 music studio boat on the River Thames, November 2011.
This song appears on my 2012 album “Little Battles”, released under the name She Makes War.
At the end of 2011 I assembled a temporary band of superstars in their own right to showcase four songs from my upcoming second album “Little Battles”. We spent a whole day filming on the Lightship95 music studio inside a pink boat moored on the River Thames, and this is one of the songs we played.
Band members:
Milly McGregor – violin
Dr Kat Arney – harp
Video shot so beautifully by Ed Christmas, edited by Laura Kidd.
Audio recorded and mixed by Jarrad Hearman, mastered by Ian Shepherd.
🎶 Browse my entire back catalogue – She Makes War and Penfriend – here.
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
Two new Penfriend tees (and SIX TYPEWRITERS)!
Letterbox Live performancesThese will be sent out week beginning Monday 24th October – get yours here.
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