It could have been so great. They could have been heroes. But no. The internet made us disconnected, but theyāre on another planet.
Maybe it was always like this, only now we can tune in at any time of day and hear the details. We watch, open-mouthed, as they get away with it. Criminal activity, noxious views, obscene gestures ā anything goes when you have all the money in the world and a platform to spew from.
Living in a permanent state of cognitive dissonance is exhausting. Let’s disobey, let off steam, take care of each other and never, ever, give up.
VIDEO CREDITS Directed and shot by Laura Kidd at The Createry, Nottingham, edited in The Launchpad. Additional filming and alien wrangling by Tim Bailey.
SONG CREDITS Written, produced, performed, and recorded by Laura Kidd in The Launchpad, Nottingham. 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
Spaceman Floating in your tin can Furious at everyone Will you go straight for the gun? Coulda woulda shoulda done Still you go Straight for the gun
Are we ecstatic or just numb? Pushing through the bodies as we run Boil the water slowly so we forget to scream Pick out the wrong side So we can just fight
Spacequeen Louder than you should have been Blowing it to smithereens Still you go Straight for the gun āUnbelievable scenesā Cos you go Straight for the gun
Are we ecstatic or just numb? Pushing through the bodies as we run Boil the water slowly so we forget to scream Pick out the wrong side So we can just fight
Itās too late Let your lies drag you under Tell me what you want now Can you tell me? Tell me what you want now Youāve got nothing to say anyway Tell me what you want now Itās all so strange, strange, strange Tell me what you want now Youāve got nothing to say Nothing to say Nothing to say
Spaceman Could have been the biggest bang But you go Straight for the gun Are we ecstatic or just numb? Pushing through the bodies as we run Boil the water slowly so we forget to scream
Pick out the wrong side So we can just fight Pick out the wrong side So we can just fight Pick out the wrong side So we can just fight
š My new Penfriend album “House Of Stories”Ā is available to order NOWĀ on super limited vinyl, CDs and KiT hybrid digital albums, with accompanying tees, hoodies and books. Get two songs in your inbox immediately, with another every month til the release date in April (before anyone else).
ā¤ļøĀ Join The Correspondent’s ClubĀ on PatreonĀ 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)
Songs can mend moments. Art stretches time, giving me a chance to walk back into the room and say what I wouldacouldashoulda. Giving me the power to walk out.
āEmotional Touristā is a fiery anthem* for anyone whoās suffered at the hands of bullies, creeps and narcissists. Fielding comments – or worse – on your appearance, your weight, your life choices. Painted into a corner by politeness, with an inability to believe someone could truly be that awful – and be doing it on purpose, too.
Just me? Sadly not.
11 years ago, faced with my soon-to-be-exās final attempts to extinguish my creativity I did manage to get out, but there was no blaze of glory. Real life is usually quieter than that.
I know I’m one of the lucky ones.
āEmotional Touristā is a chance for me to rewrite my story in that blaze of glory – 3 minutes 40 seconds of foot-stomping, fist-wielding synth rock.
Because when events from the past refuse to stay there, the only thing to do as a songwriter is stab them in the eye with the blade of truth.
āYou reap what you sow.ā
* PS: my rule on such bragging is: if someone else (who isn’t a friend and doesn’t live with me) calls the song an anthem, I can call the song an anthem…
VIDEO CREDITS Directed, shot and edited by Laura Kidd.
Additional filming and warmest encouragement from Tim Bailey, my actual hero (can you spot his lovely face near the end of the video?)
Paper house crafted by LK, with a cameo from the Christmas tree fairy Sarah-Jane Osborne made for me a few years ago, when I went by the name She Makes War. Thank you, S-J!
PS I’m playing my beloved Reverend Double Agent OG in this video.
SONG CREDITS Written, produced, performed, and recorded by Laura Kidd in The Launchpad, Nottingham. 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
You think Iām an emotional tourist But you donāt know how deep I go Holding tight, but Iām lost in this forest And thereās no sign of my hero So I guess Iāll just sleep in the snow
Itās like this – The lure of a late night kiss A situation that shouldnāt exist Now Iām trapped in a house in the humdrum With a cut-price narcissist – Now Iām trapped in a house with a poisoned mind
He tells me to give up my dream The thing Iāve wanted since I was 13 Or Iām not on his team Now thereās smoke in the house And I didnāt even think to scream
You reap what you sow, motherfucker / lazy lover Go Go, go
You think Iām an emotional tourist But you donāt know how deep I go Holding tight, but Iām lost in this forest And thereās no sign of my hero So I guess Iāll just sleep in the snow
Iām not finished
Thatās two years Iāll never get back Iām sick of hearing Iām too fat Iām too boring Iām too this Iām too that
He said I couldnāt make him feel That I shouldnāt write about whatās real Then he lit that match Oh well – whatās a girl to do?
You reap what you sow, motherfucker / lazy lover Go, go I hope you know You reap what you sow So go
I hope you choke
You think Iām an emotional tourist But you donāt know how deep I go Holding tight, but Iām lost in this forest And thereās no sign of my hero So I guess Iāll just sleep in the snow I guess Iāll just sleep in the snow
You think Iām an emotional tourist But you donāt know how deep I go Holding tight, but Iām lost in this forest And thereās no sign of my hero So I guess Iāll just sleep And you can just weep in the snow
š My new Penfriend album “House Of Stories”Ā is available to order NOWĀ on super limited vinyl, CDs and KiT hybrid digital albums, with accompanying tees, hoodies and books. Get two songs in your inbox immediately, with another every month til the release date in April (before anyone else).
ā¤ļøĀ Join The Correspondent’s ClubĀ on PatreonĀ 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)
40 years after āLast Christmasā changed the festive singalong forever, āOur Last Christmasā is here to shed light and nuance on an innocent love story gone sour.
The fictional prequel to the biggest Christmas banger of all time, a festive tale of love, understanding and the particular resignation that, when you break a songwriterās heart, theyāre probably going to write about it.
We all get carried away sometimes, taking steps down a road that steals us further away from our true selves. That awkward, sinking feeling when we realise weāve made a mistake, led someone on with the best intentions. The conversation where we try to explain.
Like milk left out on a hot day, love can turn so quickly to something else, and – if youāre (un)lucky enough to be dating a songwriter – you brace yourself for the inevitable lyrical backlash.
Empathy is always an option, and my fictional retelling has it in spades, as our protagonist sends her spurned lover off with openhearted wisdom as she steps into her own changed future.
Itās easier to make a cartoon of someone who hurt you than to see their side of the story – and thereās always another side to the story.
āOur Last Christmasā is proof that we canāt always get what we want, but if we try sometimes we just might get what we need.
There’s always another side to the story.
Happy holidays! xxx
VIDEO CREDITS Directed, shot and edited by Laura Kidd.
SONG CREDITS Produced, performed, recorded and mixed by Laura Kidd in The Launchpad, Nottingham.
With HUGE thanks and maximum respect to George Michael for 40 years of musical inspiration.
I’ve never understood the “Whamageddon” thing, I love hearing “Last Christmas” and will happily spend every December in “Whamhalla” – see you there?
LYRICS
It’s our last Christmas Our last Christmas
My friends think you are trouble But I like your leather coat The bad boy in the kitchen With the world in every note
It’s our last Christmas Our last Christmas
But I don’t want you to go Not like this So give me one more kiss
You made a fuss of cooking But something won’t compute You seem to like my brother And I think your sister’s cute
It’s our last Christmas Our last Christmas
But I don’t want you to go Not like this So give me one more kiss
It’s honestly fine We’ll be just friends And I’ll tell my family
Promise me this Come over and give me one last kiss And promise you’ll write a global hit Come over and give me one last Christmas kiss x
š My new Penfriend album “House Of Stories”Ā is available to order NOWĀ on super limited vinyl, CDs and KiT hybrid digital albums, with accompanying tees, hoodies and books. Get two songs in your inbox immediately, with another every month til the release date in April (before anyone else).
ā¤ļøĀ Join The Correspondent’s ClubĀ on PatreonĀ 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)
“Elephant” by Obey Robots features on our album “One In A Thousand”, out 24th February 2023 and available here.
Someone said the thumbnail of this video makes me look like I’m in an episode of Doctor Who, and I am here for that.
VIDEO CREDITS Directed, shot and edited by Laura Kidd. Filmed in the corner of Rat’s messy attic in the Midlands and in the middle of Laura’s messy home studio in Bristol. Luna tried to get on camera, but it wasn’t the right time. Can you spot her in this one though?
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 and synths by Laura. Drums by Max Saidi.
š My new Penfriend album “House Of Stories”Ā is available to order NOWĀ on super limited vinyl, CDs and KiT hybrid digital albums, with accompanying tees, hoodies and books. Get two songs in your inbox immediately, with another every month til the release date in April (before anyone else).
ā¤ļøĀ Join The Correspondent’s ClubĀ on PatreonĀ 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)
Taut and propulsive, āElephantā marries the pop nouse of XTC with the stop-start dynamics of 00’s post-hardcore mainstays Hundred Reasons before opening up into the kind of shimmering chorus that would have shot Obey Robots to MTV stardom had it been the 90’s.
SONG CREDITS Produced by Laura Kidd. Mixed by Chris Sheldon. Mastered by Katie Tavini.
All music by Laura Kidd and Rat, all lyrics and arrangements by Laura Kidd. All vocals and bass by Laura, all guitars by Rat. Drums by Max Saidi.
Ratās guitars recorded by Dan Austin. All other instruments recorded by Laura in The Launchpad, Bristol.
Single artwork by Laura Kidd, robot illustration by Alex Tillbrook.
LYRICS
Newspaper shouts that weāve had enough The radio says weāre all out of love Donāt let them take what you worked hard for Slaving away for your family Thereās nothing left for the strangers who bleed Hold tight to the things that you value
Thank your lucky stars Look to the future Thereās freedom in guitars
We try to get it right Fight the forces on the other side Just a little longer Unbandaging our eyes Count the seconds as they crystallise Itās just a little further
The government says weāre overrun They get a break while you soldier on Cos you donāt have the life that you deserve Youāre working hard for your family Thereās nothing else, you believe what you read This wasnāt given to you on a plate
Donāt politicise Stick to the music Dance for a little while Always scraping the barrel Parroting lines Iāve never felt so angry
We try to get it right Fight the forces on the other side Just a little longer Unbandaging our eyes Count the seconds as they crystallise Itās just a little further
Weāre wasting time Donāt want to feel so bad Weāre wasting time And it was all we had
We try to get it right Fight the forces on the other side Just a little longer Unbandaging our eyes Count the seconds as they crystallise Itās just a little further
We try to get it right Fight the forces on the other side Just a little longer Unbandaging our eyes Losing hours as they hypnotise Itās always a little further than we can
š My new Penfriend album “House Of Stories”Ā is available to order NOWĀ on super limited vinyl, CDs and KiT hybrid digital albums, with accompanying tees, hoodies and books. Get two songs in your inbox immediately, with another every month til the release date in April (before anyone else).
ā¤ļøĀ Join The Correspondent’s ClubĀ on PatreonĀ 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)
“Porcupine” by Obey Robots features on our album “One In A Thousand”, out 24th February 2023 and available here.
The only reviews I care about are from music fans…here are some words on “Porcupine”:
“Damned fine. Catchy, driving tune allied to pleasingly daft day-go visuals” – author Ian Rankin
ā90s guitar mated with 80s synth to make a 2023 musical gem of a baby. love it.ā – TheHousePanther
āan absolute hoot!ā – Jo
āYou Robots know how to party!ā – Joe
āAwesome riff, hilarious video, cracking song! Love it!!! ā – Gary
āSO FUN! Love this!ā – Wendy
āKiller riff, great vocal, and a hugely fun video to go with them. Well played, again. This album is going to be a belter.ā – Matt
āPink wafers for the win.ā – PupGeorge
āThat was absolutely bonkers and I love it!ā – Vince
āWhat fabulous nonsense! I will practice dance moves for any live performance you put on – even if I’m not attendingā – Shane
āevery part of this is utterly delightful!ā – Dan
āI am a porcupine!ā – Jez
THANK YOU
I’d had this video idea in mind for months, and when it came time to make it a reality the timing was perfect.
New Year, new outlook. It was time to throw off the bad bits of 2022 and be as utterly silly as we liked. Who cares?
I’m a porcupine! You’re a porcupine!
The song is about defensiveness (particularly on the internet); our seemingly innate urge to throw up our spikes right away to defend ourselves by caricaturing the opposition, magnified by addictive media.
We’re told “there’s nothing new under the sun”…bring me another song containing the words “erethizontidae” and “hystricidae” accompanied by a video featuring a cardboard robot party in the local village hall and I’ll agree with you!
VIDEO CREDITS Directed and edited by Laura Kidd DOP – Sarah Smither Camera and lighting assistant – Miles McDowell Set photography, porcupine creation and general wonderfulness – Tim Bailey Costumes by Rat & Laura (obviously!) Filmed at Shirehampton Public Hall, Bristol
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 and synths by Laura. Drums by Max Saidi.
š My new Penfriend album “House Of Stories”Ā is available to order NOWĀ on super limited vinyl, CDs and KiT hybrid digital albums, with accompanying tees, hoodies and books. Get two songs in your inbox immediately, with another every month til the release date in April (before anyone else).
ā¤ļøĀ Join The Correspondent’s ClubĀ on PatreonĀ 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)
Originally released in December 2020, āLet It Snowā wasnāt just the first Obey Robots single, it was the first song we completed (in December 2020!).
It was a test:
-> can we make music together? -> do we love what we made? -> does anyone want to hear it?
If the answer to the first two questions had been ānoā, you would never have heard of Obey Robots. And if the answer to the second question was āyesā, the answer to the third question would never stop me anyway.
Happily, the answer to the second question was HELL YES! – and the overwhelmingly positive response from music fans was the icing on the cake. A cake full of riffs!
For this new video, I decided to invite you in to get a sense of what the collaboration process was like for Rat and I.
By December 2020 weād only met in person twice, so all communication was by email and occasional Zoom calls. We were always speaking from our individual creative spaces, which I think helped us both to feel more confident talking to someone we didnāt know that well.
I got so used to seeing Rat on my computer screen that it still surprises me when we meet up – heās very tall!
Most of the video was shot using Quicktime player. Weāve all grown perhaps too familiar with the particular quality of footage you get on video calls, so I wanted to retain that to bring you right into the middle of things.
All the footage up to the instrumental was shot individually and separately: me in my home studio, Rat in his. And then – well, I donāt want to ruin the plot twist, youāll just have to watch!
Being creative doesnāt require fancy equipment or a big team of people. You can achieve a lot with just an idea, some basic gear and the drive to complete something. Thatās how our album was made, and how everything else weāre sharing is being made. Thatās how Iāve always worked.
This is real people making real music about real things. I hope you enjoy it.
š My new Penfriend album “House Of Stories”Ā is available to order NOWĀ on super limited vinyl, CDs and KiT hybrid digital albums, with accompanying tees, hoodies and books. Get two songs in your inbox immediately, with another every month til the release date in April (before anyone else).
ā¤ļøĀ Join The Correspondent’s ClubĀ on PatreonĀ 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)
A song about the cognitive dissonance of feeling āsuper connectedā: 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. āIf weāre super connected, why arenāt we all floating in the sea?ā
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-satisfactionās guaranteed
We hold on to life, like everyone tries If weāre super connected Why arenāt 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 weāre super connected Why arenāt we all floating in the sea?
We hold on to life, like everyone tries If weāre super connected Why arenāt we all floating in the sea?
“Featuring the iconic guitar sound of Rat (Nedās 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.
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 Weāll stick it back together
Am I being interesting? Turning cheek and fighting spin? Finding comfort in my skin? Imperfectionās always in
I won’t regret all the hours that I spent I’m not here to make amends No, Iām not the quiet type!
Destruction makes us stronger We will always get it wrong So fall to pieces, fall apart Weāll 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 Weāll stick it back together
“I’ll Start A Fire” is a song about causing a ruckus even while everything is going wrong, cutting bad connections and ignoring all the noise in order to be free and express ourselves honestly. Taking whatever personal power we still have and making something with it, stopping ourselves from stopping ourselves.
As soon as Iāve decided Iāve got all the songs lined up for an album, I can rely on one or two cheeky musical ideas to come along and demand my attention.
“Iāll Start A Fire” was the first of two songs I wrote in September 2020 that jostled for a space on the record (the second was “Black Car”), and Iām so glad they did.
Giving yourself permission to be you can be one of the hardest things, and has really been a process for me, but itās brought great joy and fulfilment to my life in recent years. I highly recommend giving it a try.
CREDITS
Written, produced, performed and recorded by Laura Kidd at The Launchpad, Bristol. Drums by Max Saidi. Mixed by Dan Austin. Mastered by Katie Tavini. Artwork by Alex Tillbrook, concept by Laura Kidd.
LYRICS
I stole a car in a dream And now Iām feeling paranoid Well I spent so long ignoring my instincts Now Iām searching to destroy
Iāll start a fire while the world burns Iāll start a fire, Iāll start a fire
So I sink these heavy words in a diary And take them all to heart Gonna build myself a fortress of vanity And then Iāll fall apart
Iāll start a fire while the world burns Iāll cut connections while the planet turns Iāll start a fire cos it seems weāre elbow deep In cheap banalities Iāll start a fire, Iāll start a fire
Iāll start a fire while the world burns Iāll cut connections while the planet turns Iāll start a fire cos it seems weāre elbow deep In cheap banalities Iāll start a fire, Iāll start a fire
THANK YOU for visiting my website!Iām Laura Kidd, a music producer, songwriter and podcaster based in Bristol, UK. Itās great to meet you.
