My Video Gear – 2022
Creativity Letterbox
People often ask me what gear I use to make my videos, so I’ll keep this post up to date to save us time! Thanks for asking – but please ... Read more
Be more Kate Bush
Creativity Letterbox
Kate Bush’s 1985 song “Running Up That Hill” is top of the UK singles chart for the second week in a row, 37 years after release! After appearing as Max’s ... Read more
“Little Battles” mini gig experience
Creativity Letterbox
My second She Makes War album “Little Battles” just turned 10, so I celebrated with an online gig on 27th April 2022, welcoming you into the new Launchpad for the ... Read more
Make that thing! How I write songs and why I stay independent
Creativity Letterbox Mindfulness
Answering your questions on how I make things work as an independent musician, music producer and YouTuber in 2022, how I write lyrics, who I’d like to cover my songs ... Read more
Solitude isn’t selfish
Creativity Letterbox Mindfulness
Solitude is good for you – some would say it’s essential. I’ve been craving time alone lately, but got into the habit of spending all my days in the house ... Read more
Watch my latest livestream whenever you like!
Creativity Letterbox Music News News
Last Wednesday I invited friendly music lovers into the new Launchpad to celebrate the 10th birthday of my second album “Little Battles”. Hooray! Watch whenever you like: Set list: MinefieldsExit ... Read more
I’m singing on Miles Hunt’s new song “Things Can Change”
Creativity Letterbox Music News Process
+ Listen to ”Things Can Change” here on Bandcamp. + Watch the “Things Can Change” video here. In January 2022, one of my musical heroes invited me to contribute vocals ... Read more
Ukulele or cavaquinho? Adventures in Portugal
Creativity Letterbox Music News Process Productivity
I started playing the ukulele in 2008 after reading about George Harrison’s great love for the instrument, and have written many sad songs on it since. On a recent trip ... Read more
“Paper Thin” – live one take performance
Creativity Letterbox Music News Process Productivity
On 23rd February 2022 I played an atmospheric acoustic online gig on my Luna Dolphin ukulele and Boss RC30 loop pedal. This song was released on my third album under ... Read more
Reading this could have made me give up on my music career…
Creativity Letterbox Music News Process Productivity
If you battle your inner critic on a regular basis – this one’s for you. I received a standout email recently from a subscriber, and it was surprisingly freeing! Receive ... Read more
Can I be honest with you?
Creativity Letterbox Music News Process Productivity
I was delighted to be invited onto one of my favourite podcasts recently – The James McMahon Music Podcast. It was nerve-wracking being on the other side of questions for ... Read more
Why I’m leaving The Launchpad
Creativity Letterbox Music News Process Productivity
Hands up if you find working from home with your loved ones a *little bit* tough! Two full years of sharing a wall with my darling husband has come to ... Read more
Is it worth all this? 2022 plans + watch hours reveal
Creativity Letterbox Process Productivity
I share my music plans for 2022 – Obey Robots, She Makes War *and* Penfriend, oh my! – raise the question of live gigs plus discuss why on earth this ... Read more
7 down? Recording bass guitar for my new album at home – Captain’s Vlog 02
Creativity Letterbox Process Productivity
This month, I’m making an album with Rat from Ned’s Atomic Dustbin under the name OBEY ROBOTS and sharing the process in my Captain’s Vlog ⚓ I have 19 days ... Read more
How I record cover songs – “This Is The Sound”
Creativity Letterbox Process
In my twenties, I spent a few years running a covers band called Co-Star. Great name, right? Good work, Gareth the guitarist. I booked the shows, played bass and sang. ... Read more
HONEST (messy!) studio tour + recording an album in 19 days. Captain’s Vlog 01
Creativity Letterbox Process Productivity
I’m recording an album in 19 days! In 2019, my friend Miles Hunt from The Wonder Stuff put me in touch with Rat from Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, and our collaboration ... Read more
Resolutions don’t work. This does…
Creativity Letterbox Process Productivity
The 17th January is “Forget New Year’s Resolutions Day”. Did you know that? I believe everyone has the power to tweak and improve their lives, but there’s a far better ... Read more
Casey Neistat made me do THIS
Creativity Letterbox Process
I started making videos again this year after discovering Casey Neistat’s vlogs 6 years late! Here are the three big things I’ve learned from his videos, why I think filmmaking ... Read more
How to not suck at YouTube (like I did for 14 years)
Creativity Letterbox Process
We all start somewhere! Bridgerton superstar Regé-Jean Page played a Bowie-inspired zombie clown in my first music video in 2010 BRILLIANTLY, but even he couldn’t save my YouTube channel… Musicians ... Read more
What is a podcast? Where to find them and how to listen for FREE
Creativity Letterbox Process
I’ve been making a podcast for two years, and have been harbouring a funny feeling that not everyone knows what a podcast is, how to find them and how to ... Read more
My burnout recovery tips – completing the stress cycle
Creativity Letterbox Mindfulness Process Productivity
I’ve been dealing with burnout for a few years on and off, and learning about completing the stress cycle recently has really helped me. In this video I talk about ... Read more
Making more time for creativity | Getting up at 6am for a week
Creativity Letterbox Mindfulness Process Productivity
I decided to challenge myself to get up at 6am every day for a week – and it changed my life! Join me for a week in my life as ... Read more
I only did it for him | Garden cleanup time-lapse
Creativity Letterbox Mindfulness Process Productivity
Join me as I clear my overgrown back garden so my elderly dog Mister Benji can use it, PLUS enjoy oddly satisfying timelapses! Accidental passionfruit! Gnomes lost in the undergrowth! ... Read more
BUT is it any good? How to assess your own creative work
Creativity Letterbox Mindfulness Process Productivity
It can be really hard to make stuff – but once you’ve got started, how can you assess your own creative work? Is it any good? We all want to ... Read more
How I get stuff done! | 5 steps to achieve any goal
Creativity Letterbox Mindfulness Process Productivity
Consistency is the habit that separates people who say “I wish I could…” from those who actually get on with it and put in the work. It’s not glamorous and ... Read more
How to stop your inner critic from holding you back
Creativity Letterbox Mindfulness Process Productivity
Your inner critic is the annoying voice inside your head that whispers mean things to you. It’s holding you back from trying new things, putting yourself out there and living ... Read more
I’ll Start A Fire (18/5/21)
Creativity Homepage Feature Letterbox Music News Releases Singles
I'll Start A Fire (single) by Penfriend Release date: 18th May 2021Label: My Big Sister Recordings GET THE SONG + Click to download pay what you want/can from Bandcamp.+ Get ... Read more
Seventeen (23/4/21)
Creativity Homepage Feature Letterbox Music News Releases Singles
Seventeen (single) by Penfriend Release date: 23rd April 2021Label: My Big Sister Recordings GET THE SONG + Click to download pay what you want/can from Bandcamp.+ Get three album tracks ... Read more
Black Car (“Exotic Monsters”)
Creativity Homepage Feature Letterbox Music News Releases Singles
To my great delight and excitement, this song is featured as “The Weather” on “Cecil in The Big City”, Episode 208 of the Welcome To Night Vale podcast, 15th May ... Read more
Cancel Your Hopes (5/3/21)
Creativity Homepage Feature Letterbox Music News Releases Singles
Cancel Your Hopes (single) by Penfriend Release date: 5th March 2021Label: My Big Sister Recordings GET THE SONG + Click to download pay what you want/can from Bandcamp.+ Get “Cancel ... Read more
My song is in a film!
Creativity Letterbox Music News Process
Most songwriters dream of one day having their song in a film soundtrack, and I’m fizzing with delight that “Dear Heart” appears in 21st century rom-com Modern Persuasion, directed by Alex ... Read more
Exotic Monsters (22/1/21)
Creativity Homepage Feature Letterbox Music News Releases Singles
Exotic Monsters (single) by Penfriend Release date: 22nd January 2021Label: My Big Sister Recordings GET THE SONG + Click to download pay what you want/can from Bandcamp.+ Get “Exotic Monsters” ... Read more
Chasing the mountain
Creativity Homepage Feature Letterbox Mindfulness Productivity
Sometimes I wonder why I spend my time in the ways I do. A life’s primary occupation builds up through an infinitesimal series of decisions – what we wanted to ... Read more
Inspiration is for amateurs
Creativity Homepage Feature Letterbox Mindfulness Process Productivity
The thing that’s got me through the ups and downs, the fear, the uncertainty, the confusion, the anger, the frustration and the sheer bizarreness of 2020 is the daily routine ... Read more
Beware Of Darkness, online gig this Sat + why I’m launching a podcast
Creativity Letterbox Mindfulness Music News Podcast Process
Art by @grandfunkrev This morning I got up early to do yoga in the living room before walking the dogs round the block in the blazing sunshine. On returning home ... Read more
Let me tell you a story…
Creativity Homepage Feature Letterbox Music News Process
When I was a little girl, one of my favourite possessions was a shoebox that I filled up with bits of paper, envelopes and leaflets gathered from wherever I could ... Read more