The chart results are in –

As I type these words, the results are in. It’s 5.51pm and I’ve been ignoring the internet all day, knowing that at some point a number will be assigned to my new album. It may well have been published somewhere online already, or is about to be.

So I thought I’d write to you before I read that number. Because, as I wrote to my Correspondent’s Club members this morning:

“We are not defined by things outside our control but by what we put into the world and how we carry ourselves. And I feel good about both of those things today.”

HUGEST thank you for your support and encouragement not only in this hectic week of album releasing, but since you first came across my work. It makes a huge difference knowing I have a friendly group of music fans to share my songs, words and videos with. You are appreciated.

Whatever numbers I read in a few minutes won’t change my belief in the album I shared with you last Friday, and the energy I have for continuing to create experiences around the songs on “House Of Stories”.

As I sang in “Emotional Tourist”: “I’m not finished”.

An album release is a new beginning, not just for those songs starting to find their homes in peoples’ lives and hearts, but for me to start the second hero’s journey of sharing them with people outside this lovely circle.

If you fancy helping me with that, I’ve created a webpage which gathers the album, videos and blog posts all in one handy place to easily share it with new people: http://penfriend.rocks/house-of-stories

Thank you!

Last time I put a record out (in 2023) it took so much out of me that I slumped into a long period where I didn’t write anything new. I’m not letting that happen this time.

Earlier this week I started excavating my piano from being surrounded by boxes of junk, and this morning I got myself set up to receive musical messages again. It feels good.

“Keep the channel open”, said Martha Graham. Too right.

I’m excited to keep sharing my new album “House Of Stories” with you in fun and creative ways over the coming weeks and months, but alongside that I’m commencing experiments for solo album 7.

Channel open. Let’s go x

Drum roll please…

“House Of Stories” is:

#2 in the Independent Albums Chart
#2 in the Downloads Chart
#4 in the Album Sales Chart
#10 in the CD Albums Chart
#11 in the Vinyl Albums Chart
#11 in the Scottish Albums Chart
#74 in the Official Albums Chart

And…it’s the fourth-highest charting new entry this week.

Wow.

THANK YOU. You did this!

Now: go and have a lovely weekend. You deserve it.

Love,
Laura xxx

Thank you for visiting!

Tap to get your FREE 12-track album + 31-page PDF zine of stories, photographs and artwork here.

My new Penfriend album “House Of Stories” is available NOW on super limited vinyl, CDs and KiT hybrid digital albums, with accompanying tees, hoodies and books. Music fans got it to #2 in the Official UK Independent Album Chart in April 2025. Bonkers!

Join The Correspondent’s Club on Patreon to receive quarterly bundles of art and members-only music plus extra perks + immediate access to my entire digital archive (digital and analogue memberships available)

Listen to my first Penfriend album “Exotic Monsters” and browse my back catalogue here.

If you make things too – or want to know more about the creative process – I’m sharing thoughtful weekly essays here on my experiments in art, music and life on Substack (and I won’t be at all offended if you prefer to read my stuff there rather than on this absolutely gorgeous website).

Chat with me on Bluesky, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

See you soon xo

PS yes, my songs are available everywhere else you listen to music online.
Just search for Penfriend, She Makes War and Obey Robots.

You could even subscribe here to send a message to the algorithm overlords that Penfriend rocks!

Better still

SEND ME FREE SONGS & STORIES

Share this:

This is what your copy looks like :)

by Laura Kidd House Of Stories Letterbox Music News Process

No, your local record shop does NOT have copies of my new album!

The ONLY place you can get “House Of Stories” on vinyl, CDs and KiT is my shop: https://shop.penfriend.rocks/collections/penfriend-house-of-stories

I’ve had several messages this week from people who want to support their local independent record shop and buy “House Of Stories” there – a lovely idea! – but in this case please support your local independent artist and buy direct from me

WHY LAURA, WHYYYYY???

Between 2018 and 2024 I did have my records in shops, placed there through a distributor, but due to limited space it’s super competitive trying to get them to stock even 1 or 2 copies…plus they obviously have to charge quite a lot for stocking it and selling it to you.

Printing beautiful vinyl costs me £££££, so the whole thing just wasn’t working out – especially when you were hearing about the records direct from me in the first place!

As a 100% independent artist with no job or funding outside of direct-to-fan record sales and my subscription club, I do everything I can to create beautiful music and merch collections to give the best experience of my work possible, while also paying for everything to be made in the first place. Without pre-orders for “House Of Stories”, there would have been no vinyl, no CDs, no anything else.

Last year I made the decision to quit my physical distribution deal and go back to only selling my music direct. Hello there!

WHY NOW???

All physical sales made by 7.30pm today count towards the Official UK Albums Chart result tomorrow, and all digital purchases made until 23:59 also count BUT ONLY IF YOU DOWNLOAD YOUR DOWNLOADS.

Thank you so much for supporting “House Of Stories”.

Next…would you consider forwarding this to a friend?

Love and huge thanks,
Laura xxx

SEND ME FREE SONGS & STORIES

Share this:

#28 in the Official UK Midweek Albums Chart!

by Laura Kidd House Of Stories Letterbox Music News

WHOAH. “My new album is “House Of Stories” is #28 in the Official UK Midweek Albums Chart.

And my name is mentioned casually alongside Taylor Swift, Doechii and Hawkwind in this news piece…

Thank you, amazing music fans!!!!!

This is my fourth midweek chart placement, and each time I marvel at how these albums I write and produce myself and release from my house via email and social media posts have sat amongst some of the biggest names in pop.

I mean…hi Elton and Brandi Carlile! I LOVE YOUR MUSIC. You met through a letter? That’s very fun. You’re PENFRIENDS too!

It’s even more amazing when you look at the numbers – if today’s chart was based on album sales (not streams), “House Of Stories” would be #4 today. NUMBER FOUR.

Oh hi Taylor Swift, greetings again Sir Elton, and hello Hawkwind! 37 studio albums….RESPECT.

It would bring me great joy to see my name in the pop charts at the end of this week, but what’s way more important is to acknowledge and appreciate the outpouring of love and support for this new collection of songs.

THANK YOU. None of this happens without YOU.

Music isn’t a competition. “House Of Stories” is my best album yet, and I’m so proud to share it with you.

If you don’t have your copy yet, it’s a great day to grab yours from my shop! Choose from four beautiful vinyl colours, CDs and KiT box sets. I’ve even made 3- and 5-CD bundles in case you’d like to give the gift of Penfriend to your friends

https://shop.penfriend.rocks/collections/penfriend-house-of-stories

LOW STOCK WARNING

* 75 signed vinyl left! https://shop.penfriend.rocks/products/house-of-stories-stripey-tights-vinyl-download-1

* 11 signed CDs left! https://shop.penfriend.rocks/products/house-of-stories-signed-cd-download-1

* 37 hardback books left! https://shop.penfriend.rocks/products/hard-back-photo-and-lyrics-book

Thanks so much for being here, you’re quite clearly my Top of the Pops.

Love,
Laura xxx

SEND ME FREE SONGS & STORIES

Share this:

“In The Light Sometimes” – Penfriend

by Laura Kidd House Of Stories Letterbox Music News Releases Singles

Your copy of my new album “House Of Stories” is waiting for you here, now shipping worldwide: https://shop.penfriend.rocks/collections/penfriend-house-of-stories

The album is available on super limited edition vinyl colours, signed CD and KiT hybrid digital format, with tees, hoodies and hardback books to accompany the music
https://shop.penfriend.rocks/collections/penfriend-house-of-stories

VIDEO CREDITS
Directed, shot and edited by Laura Kidd in The Launchpad, Nottingham.

SONG CREDITS
Written, produced, performed, and recorded by Laura Kidd in The Launchpad, Nottingham.
Mixed by Chris Sheldon. Mastered by Katie Tavini.

HUGEST THANKS to The Correspondent’s Club. I can’t do this without you xxx

TYPEWRITER CREDITS
My beloved collection *currently* consists of:

Brother Deluxe 750TR (my first – a gift from my Grandad in the mid ’80s)
Olympia SM9 Olivetti Lettera 32
Adler Tippa S
Hermes Media 3 (French AZERTY version!)
Olympia SM3 (custom rose gold finish)

LYRICS

Cradling grudges I’ll grip til the end
Biting my tongue cos forever will mend
Keeping the peace with inscrutable men
Never again

In the light sometimes I fall to pieces
In the light sometimes
In the light sometimes

Grinding up gravel to spit at the sun
Simple affection can never return
Swallow my secrets
Protecting my home
Building my own

In the light sometimes I fall to pieces
In the dark sometimes I can’t believe it
You think I forgive you but I never mean it
In the light sometimes
In the light sometimes

SEND ME FREE SONGS & STORIES

Share this:

Warning: my legs and feet are visible in this video!

by Laura Kidd Creativity House Of Stories Letterbox Music News Process

Thoughts about stepping back – literally…

During the pandemic I remember reading an article about how one of the ways living in close proximity was changing peoples’ relationships was the lack of literal perspective. Standing close to loved ones all the time, rarely getting a chance to step back and see them as a whole person. It has an effect.

I’ve been pondering this while making and sharing music videos for my new album this year. I make my own videos: setting up lights, tripod and everything else I need to shoot, doing my best to make my weird and wonderful ideas come to life on screen, then editing them afterwards.

That’s what I do when I make music, too. “House Of Stories” is thoughtful, personal and completely me (and I can’t wait for you to hear it!) https://shop.penfriend.rocks/collections/penfriend-house-of-stories

It’s well-discussed that working with constraints makes you more creative. 3 minutes to tell a story in sound and song. Small budgets, basic equipment, small spaces. Using only what you already have.

But it can be hard to get the feet and legs in. It can be hard to show the full person.

“Emotional Tourist” was shot in my front room, in front of a variety of backdrops. I set the camera up behind my armchair to get a decent shot, but didn’t want to show the mess on both sides, plus my backdrop didn’t go down to the ground. No feet shots possible. Dagnabbit.

I tried to change this for “Space, Man”, hiring a studio in town so I could put the camera a bit further back. But the backdrop wasn’t wide enough again, so you didn’t get to see the white socks I wore to match my inflatable space rocket. I tried.

While filming for “The Life Of The Party”, there was a weird issue with the stage lighting. I couldn’t figure out why it was giving me a totally blue, blown-out face if the camera was set back too far.

If I was calmly filming someone else I might have been able to work it out; dressed in a party frock grasping a ukulele, I did what I always do…my best.

For “In The Light Sometimes” I decided to show the whole picture.

Last summer I spent 54 days in my attic home studio, The Launchpad, recording my new album “House Of Stories”. I decided to show the whole space; the constraints I turned into creativity.

It was only after I hung my new action camera off the attic latch for the top-down shot that I realised my feet would be on video for once. And, though my slipper game is STRONG, I decided to be dead posh for once and change into some nice shoes for the occasion.

This song makes me cry. I hope you enjoy the video.

“House Of Stories” is now shipping worldwide!

You can get your copy on vinyl, CD or KiT box set direct from me, with hardback story and lyric books, hoodies and tees also available.

Digital downloads are available from the “Downloads” tab in my shop too.

This album is not on streaming, and is not available from any record shops or online retailers.

This is 100% independently made and released music, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting what I do.

Love,
Laura xxx

PS watch the non-feety-leggy music videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjSzokSHVfQ2rSPH0Lq47f9UQXfudtWBp

SEND ME FREE SONGS & STORIES

Share this:

What rhymes with “bop hen”?!!

by Laura Kidd Essays House Of Stories Letterbox Music News

We’re really going for it this time…

Last week I wrote about how underground punk legend John Otway’s books and film have been inspiring me to cook up the most outlandish plan of my musical life so far.

I’m here today to tell you all about the logical next step in the story of my illogical, 100% independent music career.

If you’ve known me for any length of time, you know there is no “Team Penfriend”.

From writing, producing, arranging, recording and performing the songs on my albums (with ace guest musicians drafted in when needed), to laying out the text on the CDs and vinyl packaging, writing and designing the lyric books, shooting and editing my videos, building and maintaining my website, releasing the albums on my micro-label My Big Sister Recordings with all that entails, and walking your merch orders up to my local Post Office twice a week – hi, I am Team Penfriend.

With honourable mention to my beloved Tim who is very supportive and helpful (if you’ve ever seen one of my ads, he set that up), I’m the one running the whole shebang.

This is not a brag: I say this only to underline the absolute ridiculousness of my last two album releases going into the Official UK Albums Chart. Not the “glitter-grunge synth’n’guitar alt-pop” albums chart, but the full-on, overall, why-the-heck-are-ABBA-always-still-in-there? albums chart.

I love ABBA…but, come on!

In 2021, music fans like (and possibly including) YOU put my first Penfriend album “Exotic Monsters” at #24 in the overall chart and #5 in the Independent Albums Chart – the chart for artists on independent labels, from big ones you’ve heard of to very tiny one-person ones mine.

In 2023, music fans like (and possibly including) YOU put “One In A Thousand” (my collaboration album with Rat from Ned’s Atomic Dustbin) at #14 in the overall chart and #1 in the Independent Album Chart. NUMBER FREAKING ONE!

These numbers blow me away. Look what we did!

Between my efforts to make and share music and your absolutely stunning generosity and support, we can do huge things. And over the two years since my last album release I’ve received so many messages from people like (and possibly including) YOU telling me what fun it was to stick it to “the man”, and asking when are we going to do it all again?

Honestly, I talked myself out of writing this email a few times. And then I realised I was letting them win! These big powerful structures that we’re not meant to be cheeky towards, let alone pay a visit to. These places that aren’t meant for the likes of us, because we didn’t do it their way.

I was too busy making seven albums to schmooze the right people, and I don’t regret my decisions for a minute.

OK…we had a Top 30 album together. That was wonderful. Thank you!

Then we had a Top 20 album together. Unbelievable. Thank you!

Where do YOU think we should go next?

…

Top 10. I’m whispering. Should I say it out loud? Should I shout it?!

Could we? Shall we?

WHY try and get in the charts?

Because it’s FUN. Because it’s FUN-NY. Because I’m sick of only the people with huge amounts of financial backing getting all the things – radio play, multi-page magazine spreads, TV slots. Because it’s an example of the sort of big things I think we’re all individually capable of if we decide we’re going to go for it. Because it shows what a passionate community of music lovers care about, and thrusts it, albeit briefly, to sit alongside the mainstream.

Because it shouldn’t be possible for a 43-year old solo artist making music in a colourful Nottingham attic to have her name and made-up record label listed alongside ABBA.

Even though, wait, yes I THOUGHT so… (spot the ABBA Gold):

2023:

2021:

I don’t make music for the mainstream, I make it for you. And both times I’ve had albums in the Top 40 it’s been a victory for every single person who voted with their purchase of an album made by hand with loving care.

So, how do we get a Top 10 album in 2025?

This is the thing. Even though passive streams of big famous songs on playlists count as 1 chart sale per 1500 plays (!), and my streaming numbers are utter garbage because I refuse to advertise giant companies that don’t treat me well, this idea doesn’t feel thatridiculous.

Around 7,500 UK residents currently hang out on my big mailing list. And another 270 brilliant people are here. Hi!

So far, we have clocked up around 1400 chart-eligible sales from pre-orders of “House Of Stories”.

Thank you!

To have a chance of getting into the Top 40, we need to find loving homes for another 1500 copies of the new record in the next FOUR weeks.

To get into the Top 10, it’s another 3000 copies on top of that.

Is this totally ridiculous, or is it a fun idea?

There are enough of us here to make this happen, even without the help of other people around the internet. But you know I love creating experiences around my album releases, so I’ll be busy with blog posts, videos and live events over the next few weeks for all to enjoy. I hope you’ll join me!

“House Of Stories” is an album that celebrates age, experience and personal power. In the 20 years since I wrote the first two songs that appeared on my debut album (“I Am” and “ghostsandshadows”), my life has completely transformed.

From strumming my guitar on a bed squashed into the corner of a tiny bedroom in a dirty shared house in South London to making music and videos in my colourful attic home studio in Nottingham, with all the adventures I went on in-between, making the songs I wanted to make sound exactly how I wanted them to and finding creative ways to share them with you has been utterly life-changing.

Taking my music projects into my own hands was a necessity from the start – with no manager / label / agent, no industry help of any kind (moral or financial!), I have always funded everything I’ve made through freelance work and huge amounts of support from music fans crowdfunding and pre-ordering my albums.

I’m so grateful for what I’ve managed to build with your help. Thank you.

More than anything, I know “House Of Stories” is my best album yet, and I’m excited for you to hear it.

The second verse of the title track goes like this:

“Trapped in our warm bodies
Still brimming with hope
Reaching the highest places
We think we can go”

In 16 years of releasing music online I’ve learned that interesting things can happen when I spend my time in positive, generous ways. But even greater things can happen when you decide on a destination.

I’ve decided.

I’ll leave you with this helpful quote by Normal Vincent Peale, the writer of “The Power Of Positive Thinking”:

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars”.

You may recall I have a rocket ship at my disposal.

See you on the moon?

Love,
Laura xxx
https://shop.penfriend.rocks/collections/penfriend-house-of-stories

SEND ME FREE SONGS & STORIES

Share this:

I blame John Otway

by Laura Kidd Essays House Of Stories Letterbox Music News

Four weeks from today I am releasing my sixth solo album “House Of Stories”: my celebration of age, experience and (hopefully) wisdom.

Helping me face up to ghosts from my past, the new songs are for anyone who’s felt trapped in the wrong four walls – literal or metaphorical, caused by others or self-imposed.

My musician pal Charley Stone¹ visited the Launchpad a few weeks ago to help me create a full-length album video and audio podumentary. Among her insightful comments and questions she described some of the tracks on “House Of Stories” as “soothing”, which I took as a great compliment.

I will never pretend everything’s okay in my songs, but the more music I make the more I want to leave you feeling hopeful and included. I love creating experiences within, around and leading up to my music releases (hence these posts), and I’ll always keep inviting you to get as involved as you want to.

Speaking of which…

Last year I shared a video where I decided to think Very Big Indeed², declaring that in the year 2027 I will be headlining Shepherd’s Bush Empire.

Titled “It’s time to set some ridiculous goals”, I made it to choose optimism over pessimism, to dream big instead of opting for pragmatism all the time. Not sitting back and wishing for things to happen to me, but directing my efforts in exciting directions that seem out of reach, so I can work very hard to try and get there.

In the comments, Correspondent’s Club member David told me about a fellow musician called John Otway³.

“The list of things he’s made happen in his career, by pretty much just saying he’d do it, is clear evidence you can make amazing things happen.”

I was excited. I devoured everything I could find online about John, watched his Netflix film, ordered both of his books (and immediately read them both) and even sent him a friendly email to say thank you for the inspiration.

And so it’s John Otway’s (and David’s) fault that I’m gearing up to unveil the most outlandish plan I’ve cooked up so far in my 28 years of making music.

I’ll tell you more next Friday.

To tide you over…I made a rare appearance on a music podcast! Thanks to sharing my music and writing on Substack, I made contact with Tim and Chris at New Sounds Union, who asked brilliant questions and made me feel right at home (I find these things nerve-racking when I’m not doing the editing).

Titled “How an independent artist tops the charts”, my episode is available here. I talk about how 10 years in the school orchestra led me towards arranging and producing my own songs, why I think doing stuff and keeping going is most important and how amazing music fans are (thank you).

Back at Penfriend HQ, the HOS goodies are starting to arrive – I love this part of releasing albums!

** VINYLLLLLL **

The four publicly available vinyl colours are looking absolutely stunning!

** CLOTHING **

The sample tees and hoodies were printed this week by local Notts printer Phil at Whitewater Design & Print and I’m just glad I don’t have to choose between them…thanks to Jessica Wild and Daniel Catt for the beautiful designs!

I won’t be printing many more tees / hoodies than have been ordered by the end of next weekend, so make sure you secure your size ASAP (XS-4XL available).

** KiT Hybrid Digital Format**

The KiT samples arrived from Seoul this week, coinciding with a mention of “House Of Stories” in Music Week!

It’s true, HOS will be the first completely independently released chart-reporting KiT album in the UK…very exciting.

Watch my short explainer video and get your copy here.

** AND… **

• I’m expecting the CDs to arrive next week ready for signing, hooray!

• The 21-track demos and rarities collection is being printed as I type…

• I’m having a blast putting the lyric, photos and story book together, and there are only 100 copies left at the time of writing.

** FINALLY… **

Calling Nottingham / adjacent / further afield adventurous gig lovers – the last 21 tickets for my birthday shindig on 31st May at Rough Trade Nottingham are available here.

I’m looking forward to sharing my newest, most ambitious adventure with you next Friday.

Big love and thanks,
Laura xxx

Whose excellent album “Here Comes The Actual Band” is available here.
↩︎
Watch that here.
↩︎
Get inspired by John here. Warning: reading this website, buying his books and watching his film might make you do something OUTLANDISH.
↩︎

SEND ME FREE SONGS & STORIES

Share this:

Sometimes it’s better to wait

by Laura Kidd Creativity Essays House Of Stories Letterbox Music News

Ten days ago I wrote 1,208 rather self-pitying words about my situation as an independent musician. I was tired, perhaps a little burned out, and feeling overwhelmed by the big structures making everything so much more difficult every time I do this (the existence of streaming, rising costs of producing physical goods etc etc blah blah blah).

To be fair to me, I was waking up every day at 6.30am with a clench in my stomach, thoughts racing. I’d lie there and decide right away the day ahead was absolutely impossible. I could only fail, so what was the point in trying to get through my To Do list?

I’d close my eyes and hope for sleep to return, waking late and annoyed with myself for missing the gym – again.

Luckily for me – and for you – this meant I didn’t have the time or energy to return to those words, shape them into something more coherent and share them with you. A week later I scanned through them and realised they were working-out-words, not words to be read by others, and I blushed a little at the self-indulgence of considering publishing them in the first place.

This year I’ve tried to get into a regular practice of writing more not necessarily to share more writing, but to do more thinking.

Writing is how I figure stuff out, which means there are no wasted words, but when I see those words piling up in my Scrivener sidebar a part of me (the part that also panics about money all the time) wants to make the most of them, because writing is also how I intrigue, tempt and persuade people to listen to the music I make.

Creating albums is my main thing, but if I hadn’t worked writing into the heart of it all I wouldn’t be making such a go of it, I’m sure.

As someone who appreciates honesty on the internet, I don’t want to hide my tough times under a fake sheen. I’ve always made a point of sharing my process as a self-taught music / video / audio producer, because I want others to see an example of the possibilities available if they put the time and effort into the thing they really want to do.

I don’t believe in only sharing happy days and successes, because it paints a warped picture of things, but I decided long ago that it’s important to me to bring optimism to the online spaces I spend time in. And when I’m writing to supportive music fans, busy with their own trials and tribulations, health issues, financial struggles and all the rest, why on earth would I want to complain directly to them about how hard it is for me sometimes?

At the start of this year I decided to try out this “word of the year” thing I’ve seen people talking about. The first word that came to mind is “gratitude”, and the moment it flashed up in my brain hole I experienced the resistance my 20’s and probably 30’s self would have felt if someone had suggested it.

“Urgh gross what?”

I took that as a sign to face up to my discomfort, and to use this word to try and reframe my world. It’s been very helpful so far.

My feelings do matter – as do yours – but whatever I’m going through I am healthy, I am well and I am living my absolute dream of creating whatever the hell music I want and figuring out ways to send it out into the world to find the people who will love it the most.

Feeling the feelings and writing the writing are essential tasks on my busy To Do list, of course, but sometimes it’s better wait and make sure I’m showing up with something interesting / useful / not too whiny.

I am free, I am grateful, and I can write overly long sentences whenever I like.

Thank you for reading – I’m grateful for you, too.

Love,
Laura xxx

SEND ME FREE SONGS & STORIES

Share this:

“The Life Of The Party” – Penfriend

by Laura Kidd House Of Stories Letterbox Music News Releases Singles

Get this song PLUS THREE more immediately when you order your copy of my new album “House Of Stories”, out 18^th April 2025.

The album is available on super limited edition vinyl colours, signed CD and KiT hybrid digital format, with tees, hoodies and hardback books to accompany the music
https://shop.penfriend.rocks/collections/penfriend-house-of-stories

A song for the introverts, for the bruised hearts, for the blushing ones fed up with holding it all inside.

Sometimes the past won’t let us go, but if we turn and face it, we can take action to dull the blows. We can heal ourselves.

This is a call to tell our stories – to ourselves and others. Our voices matter.

I wrote this song in one day in October 2023. Sometimes a song falls from the sky, and my job is to catch hold of it and nurture it.

This song helped heal me. Now it’s yours.

THANK YOU.

VIDEO CREDITS
Directed and shot by Laura Kidd at The Carousel, Nottingham, and edited in The Launchpad. Additional filming and warm support by Tim Bailey.

SONG CREDITS
Written, produced, performed, and recorded by Laura Kidd in The Launchpad, Nottingham.
Piano by Jay Chakravorty.
Drums by Max Saidi.
Mixed by Chris Sheldon.
Mastered by Katie Tavini.

HUGEST THANKS to The Correspondent’s Club. I can’t do this without you xxx

LYRICS

When did the light fade out of your eyes?
When did the life drain out of mine?
Now when the storm comes I’m ready to run
How do you explain what we’ve become?

Just wait
Don’t leave yet
Don’t second guess

I’m not the life of the party
I’m the light, I’m the light, I’m the light

I dream of a birthday – on my birthday
Chocolate cake in my hands – don’t take my hand
The gentlest fiction for my crash land

It shouldn’t surprise me – you surprise me
The mess that we’re in – this mess we’re in
Cos if it’s not raining it’s threatening – is threatening

Don’t leave
You’re never known me
Just listen

I’m not the life of the party
I’m the light, I’m the light, I’m the light

Where did the love go out of your kiss?
Why does it always come back to this?

I’m not the life of the party
I’m the light, I’m the light
I’m not the life of the party
I’m the light, I’m the light
I’m not the life of the party
I’m the light, I’m the light
I’m the light

SEND ME FREE SONGS & STORIES

Share this:

My #1 album is two years old…and I have something to tell you

by Laura Kidd House Of Stories Letterbox Music News

It’s two years since my collaboration album “One In A Thousand” topped the Official UK Independent Albums Chart, and I have something to tell you.

Something strange and magical happens when people come together to make music. There’s an unexplainable connection that means the songs written could never have existed without exactly those people being involved, at exactly that time and in exactly that way.

That’s what Obey Robots is. And here’s what we made.

How it happened

I’ve been a solo artist since 2010, with my sixth album due out six weeks today. After playing in lots of bands as a teen and in my 20’s, I decided I wanted to explore my own inner world without compromising with multiple other people, and it’s been a really fun creative adventure.

In 2019 Rat (the guitarist from Ned’s Atomic Dustbin) came across the video for my song “Drown Me Out” on YouTube. He was spending some time recording his guitar ideas with Miles Hunt of The Wonder Stuff, and asked Miles if he’d heard of me. “She’s a friend”¹, M replied, before introducing us by email.

As you can imagine, I was beyond delighted to discover that the songs I’d been putting out into the world since 2010 had impressed one of my favourite guitarists. We decided to see what we could make together and, building on his brilliant source material, I wrote and produced the songs that became “One In A Thousand”, emailing each new finished section to Rat over email to ever more enthusiastic responses.

Fun fact: I’ll never forget cutting up the “Porcupine” guitar riff, layering instruments and vocals to make a spiky song and then completely forgetting to send it to Rat for a few weeks. But it was worth the wait

How it went

Every time I finish an album I hope that it will go and do *something* in the world, but I never know what that *something* will be.

“One In A Thousand” was the first time I totally gave up on trying to get reviews and radio play, because I knew that talking directly to music fans was all I was interested in spending my energy on. And after his major label experiences, I know Rat was excited by the DIY nature of the way I’ve been doing things since first sharing my music online in 2009. He was fully on board, and I worked very hard with the release to make sure his trust in me was not misplaced!

I hoped “One In A Thousand” would have an impact, but we could never have predicted the warm wave of support that we received. October 2022 to March 2023 was a very exciting time, and that’s all down to the generous support of music fans.

Our totally independently produced and released record went to #14 in the Official UK Albums Chart and #1 in the Official Independent Albums Chart – and we have the trophies to prove it.

What the heck?!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH

So, what’s next?

Every time someone asks when the next Obey Robots album is coming out, or when we’re going to tour, it’s a huge compliment. Thank you.

It feels like the right moment to say that neither of these things are currently happening. We never planned to tour, and we never planned to start a band.

Rat is developing some music with another collaborator, which I’m excited to cheer on from the sidelines, and as you may have picked up from this post, my whole life is about making albums into the long-distant future.

My new album “House Of Stories” is out on 18^th April, and I’ve been releasing a new single and video every month.

If you’re a “Porcupine” fan, start with “Space, Man”

And as for Obey Robots: never say never, but we honestly have no plans for anything at the moment except a regular video chat to stay in touch.

We still have CDs, a few cassettes and the last tees and hoodies in my shop.

We both hope “One In A Thousand” continues to find its audience into the future. I’m so proud of what we made. Massive thanks always to Milo for putting us in touch, and to Rat for the YouTube binge that brought us together, and the wonderful guitar demos!

Love,
Laura xxx

PS get your copy of “House Of Stories” here. SIX WEEKS WOO

I met Miles in 2011 after a gig where I sang backing vocals for another musical hero, Carina Round. A real pinch-me-am-I-dreaming? moment. He and Erica Nockalls took a copy of my debut album home and have stayed in touch ever since. They say never meet your heroes, but some of them are absolutely wonderful humans. ↩︎

SEND ME FREE SONGS & STORIES

Share this:

Category: House Of Stories

The chart results are in –

NEXT

This is what your copy looks like :)

NEXT

#28 in the Official UK Midweek Albums Chart!

NEXT

“In The Light Sometimes” – Penfriend

LYRICS

NEXT

Warning: my legs and feet are visible in this video!

“House Of Stories” is now shipping worldwide!

NEXT

What rhymes with “bop hen”?!!

We’re really going for it this time…

NEXT

I blame John Otway

NEXT

Sometimes it’s better to wait

NEXT

“The Life Of The Party” – Penfriend

LYRICS

NEXT

My #1 album is two years old…and I have something to tell you

NEXT