“Super Connected” – Obey Robots

A song about the cognitive dissonance of feeling “super connected”: supposedly informed and part of a community via social media, yet deluded if we think typing words into a little box is enough to show empathy to people in very different situations to our own comfort. “If we’re super connected, why aren’t we all floating in the sea?”

✅ Pre-order the Obey Robots album “One In A Thousand” now and receive this track PLUS “Not The Quiet Type” 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.

VIDEO CREDITS
Directed and edited by Laura Kidd.
DOP – Sarah Smither.
Right-hand woman + set photography – Charlie Romijn
Set assistants/extras – Megan Green, Leanne Bond & Kit Crew-Gee
Set photographer – Kate Feast

Shot at Boom Satsuma, Bristol. Huge thanks to Freya Billington, Phil Zikking and David Neal.

SONG 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. Guitars by Rat. All lyrics, arrangements, vocals, bass, synths, drum programming and lead guitar by Laura.

LYRICS

I drew a target on the back of my neck
Cos some are more equal than others
Disaster junkies scrape bottomless feeds
As long as their self-satisfaction’s guaranteed

We hold on to life, like everyone tries
If we’re super connected
Why aren’t we all floating in the sea?

Stuck with myself, I run for my health
Cos these pretty flowers can kill you
Send bottles downstream in an alkaloid dream
Share in this delusion where no-one hears you scream

We hold on to life, like everyone tries
If we’re super connected
Why aren’t we all floating in the sea?

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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“And Peace” – (2019)

by Laura Kidd Albums Letterbox Music News Releases

When I decided to bring my She Makes War project to a close at the end of 2019, I created this eight-track retrospective featuring fan favourites from all four She Makes War albums. These songs were lovingly re-recorded in a stripped-back, intimate fashion in my home studio The Launchpad.

As I wrote at the time of release, “I want to celebrate a decade of independent music-making with the community who have encouraged me throughout the years. I’m so proud of the music I’ve made so far and so thankful for your ears and hearts! I put the choice of songs to a public vote in the summer, and thoroughly enjoyed getting to spend some time creating these new arrangements for you. Thank you x”

Stream the album in full below, pick up your copy on CD and subscribe to my channel for more videos xo

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“Disarm:15” – (2015)

by Laura Kidd Albums Letterbox Music News Releases

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

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“Not The Quiet Type” – Obey Robots

by Laura Kidd 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

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“Brace For Impact” – (2018)

by Laura Kidd Albums Letterbox Music News Releases

From 2009-2019 I made music under the name She Makes War, releasing 4 and a bit solo albums and playing nearly 600 shows.

“Brace For Impact” was the final full-length She Makes War album, released on 5th October 2018. Funded through Pledge Music and the generosity of music fans, it reached #15 in the Independent Album Chart and narrowly missed out on a top 100 placing in the Official Albums Chart. It was all very exciting for this indie artist!

As I said at the time, “I’ve never wanted to wait around for the old guard to validate and endorse me – my whole career has been about making the art I want to and finding a way to get it to people.” “I’m here to share my stories and show my audience I hear and see them too. It’s human nature, to want to know you’re not alone.”

Stream the album in full below, pick up your copy on CD or “dogface” splatter vinyl and subscribe to my channel for more videos xo

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Correspondent’s Club 008 – 24/8/22

by Laura Kidd Letterbox Music News Perks TCC

The eighth edition of The Correspondent’s Club quarterly music and zine bundle was created in August 2022. I reworked three songs from “Exotic Monsters” for a collection provisionally titled “from The Upside Down”.

The only way to get access to future Correspondent’s Club releases is to become a member – browse member perks here.

Track listing:

1. Dispensable Body
2. Loving Echoes
3. Long Shadows

Preview track: “Loving Echoes”

“Seashaken” by the sea

by Laura Kidd Creativity Letterbox Releases

In April 2022 I spent a week in the Setubal area of Portugal, travelling up to my beloved Lisbon for several day trips. One breakfast time, after reading about the cavaquinho, an ancestor of the ukulele, I decided to go on a musical treasure hunt to find an instrument to play my song “Seashaken” on – by the sea.

“Seashaken” 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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Correspondent’s Club 007 – 25/4/22

by Laura Kidd Letterbox Music News Perks TCC

The seventh edition of The Correspondent’s Club quarterly music and zine bundle was created in March 2022.

The only way to get access to future Correspondent’s Club releases is to become a member – browse member perks here.

Track listing:

1. Penfriend Two Deep Dive (44 minute new album demo talkthrough)

Live from The Launchpad 02/22
2. Shields And Daggers
3. Dear Heart
4. The Best
5. Paper Thin
6. Seashaken
7. Delete
8. Scared To Capsize

Preview track: Penfriend Two Deep Dive (taster)

Correspondent’s Club 005 + 006 – 21/12/21

by Laura Kidd Letterbox Music News Perks TCC

The fifth and sixth editions of The Correspondent’s Club quarterly music and zine bundle were released together in December 2021, comprising two zines and one CD.

The only way to get access to future Correspondent’s Club releases is to become a member – browse member perks here.

Track listing:

1. This Is The Sound (Battery Thinkers cover) – read more here
2. The Argonauts
3. My Battery Is Low And It’s Getting Dark (instrumental)
4. BASSFACE (instrumental)
5. Hotel Song
6. Seashaken with a little cold

Preview track: “This Is The Sound (Battery Thinkers cover)

Correspondent’s Club 004 – 4/8/21

by Laura Kidd Letterbox Music News Perks TCC

The fourth edition of The Correspondent’s Club quarterly music and zine bundle, created in July 2021.

An exclusive “Exotic Monsters” album commentary, made just for you x

The only way to get access to future Correspondent’s Club releases is to become a member – browse member perks here.

Track listing:

1. Intro
2. Exotic Monsters
3. Seventeen
4. I Used To Know Everything
5. Dispensable Body
6. Seashaken
7. Loving Echoes
8. I’ll Start A Fire
9. Cancel Your Hopes
10. Long Shadows
11. Out Of The Blue
12. Black Car
13. Thank you xo

Preview track: “Black Car (commentary)”