New album out April 2025!

Find your copy in the SHOP x

Penfriend

Member Log In
Menu
  • Letterbox
  • Songs
  • Join
  • Gigs
  • Shop
  • Podcast
  • Contact
Skip to content

posts on ‘productivity’

I made this to make you smile

I made this to make you smile

by Laura Kidd Creativity Essays House Of Stories Letterbox Music News Productivity Space, Man
I made this to make you smile. I made this to provide 4 minutes of escape from stress and worry about life, the universe and everything. I made this to ... Read more
February 13, 2025March 9, 2025 Comment
This home recording essential might surprise you…

This home recording essential might surprise you…

by Laura Kidd Creativity Letterbox Mindfulness Process Productivity
Welcome to episode 2 of my Creative Spaces series! I met Ryan Hamilton online recently after his album release plan went very wrong…and I thought to balance out the industry ... Read more
May 3, 2023May 4, 2023 Comment
You NEED an email list (or need to join one!)

You NEED an email list (or need to join one!)

by Laura Kidd Creativity Letterbox Process Productivity
I’ve never understood why artists shy away from setting up an email list. Musicians, photographers, visual artists, writers – if you’re serious about sharing your work online, it’s WAY more ... Read more
April 6, 2023April 6, 2023 Comment
Creative Spaces: home studio tour with Rat from Ned’s Atomic Dustbin / Obey Robots

Creative Spaces: home studio tour with Rat from Ned’s Atomic Dustbin / Obey Robots

by Laura Kidd Creativity Letterbox Process Productivity
Finding space to be creative – whether that’s a physical space, a time of day or just a mindset – is so powerful. In the first of a new video ... Read more
February 23, 2023February 25, 2023 Tagged: obey robots Comment
Making music, telling stories and doing it yourself

Making music, telling stories and doing it yourself

by Laura Kidd Creativity Letterbox Process Productivity
Huge thanks Cassie Fox from LOUD WOMEN for inviting me onto Louder Than War radio to talk about the new Obey Robots record, my thoughts on DIY music and the ... Read more
February 20, 2023February 20, 2023 Tagged: obey robots Comment
How to keep going.

How to keep going.

by Laura Kidd Creativity Letterbox Productivity
Three steps to not quitting… 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 ... Read more
November 1, 2022November 1, 2022 Comment
Ukulele or cavaquinho? Adventures in Portugal

Ukulele or cavaquinho? Adventures in Portugal

by Laura Kidd 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
April 24, 2022April 25, 2022 Comment
“Paper Thin” – live one take performance

“Paper Thin” – live one take performance

by Laura Kidd 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
April 9, 2022March 31, 2022 Comment
Reading this could have made me give up on my music career…

Reading this could have made me give up on my music career…

by Laura Kidd 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
April 2, 2022April 19, 2022 2 Comments
Can I be honest with you?

Can I be honest with you?

by Laura Kidd 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
March 19, 2022March 22, 2022 Comment
Why I’m leaving The Launchpad

Why I’m leaving The Launchpad

by Laura Kidd 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
March 12, 2022March 11, 2022 Comment
The magic of live music, and being truly yourself

The magic of live music, and being truly yourself

by Laura Kidd Letterbox Mindfulness Process Productivity
I’ve been performing in rooms full of other humans since I was 7 years old, and touring since the age of 19. In this video I talk about how learning ... Read more
February 26, 2022March 11, 2022 Comment
The life-changing power of showing up

The life-changing power of showing up

by Laura Kidd Letterbox Mindfulness Process Productivity
Showing up – again, and again and again – is the simple but surprisingly effective reason I am currently finishing off my sixth album, working from my home studio The ... Read more
February 19, 2022February 19, 2022 Comment
5 ways I’m failing…and why that’s okay

5 ways I’m failing…and why that’s okay

by Laura Kidd Letterbox Mindfulness Productivity
I’m doing my best – but I’m failing in several areas of my life at the moment! I made this video to talk about why that’s okay, and why I’ll ... Read more
January 29, 2022January 28, 2022 Comment
Is it worth all this? 2022 plans + watch hours reveal

Is it worth all this? 2022 plans + watch hours reveal

by Laura Kidd 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
January 22, 2022January 22, 2022 Comment
7 down? Recording bass guitar for my new album at home – Captain’s Vlog 02

7 down? Recording bass guitar for my new album at home – Captain’s Vlog 02

by Laura Kidd 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
January 16, 2022February 12, 2022 1 Comment
HONEST (messy!) studio tour + recording an album in 19 days. Captain’s Vlog 01

HONEST (messy!) studio tour + recording an album in 19 days. Captain’s Vlog 01

by Laura Kidd Creativity Letterbox Process Productivity
I’m recording an album! In 2019, my friend Miles Hunt from The Wonder Stuff put me in touch with Rat from Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, and our collaboration project OBEY ROBOTS ... Read more
January 8, 2022February 4, 2023 Comment
Resolutions don’t work. This does…

Resolutions don’t work. This does…

by Laura Kidd 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
January 1, 2022January 3, 2022 Comment
My burnout recovery tips – completing the stress cycle

My burnout recovery tips – completing the stress cycle

by Laura Kidd 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
September 25, 2021September 24, 2021 Comment
Making more time for creativity | Getting up at 6am for a week

Making more time for creativity | Getting up at 6am for a week

by Laura Kidd 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
September 11, 2021September 10, 2021 Comment
I only did it for him | Garden cleanup time-lapse

I only did it for him | Garden cleanup time-lapse

by Laura Kidd 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
August 21, 2021August 24, 2021 Comment
BUT is it any good? How to assess your own creative work

BUT is it any good? How to assess your own creative work

by Laura Kidd 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
August 14, 2021August 24, 2021 Comment
How I get stuff done! | 5 steps to achieve any goal

How I get stuff done! | 5 steps to achieve any goal

by Laura Kidd 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
August 7, 2021August 24, 2021 5 Comments
How to stop your inner critic from holding you back

How to stop your inner critic from holding you back

by Laura Kidd 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
July 31, 2021August 12, 2021 3 Comments
I’ve been finding everything really hard lately

I’ve been finding everything really hard lately

by Laura Kidd Letterbox Mindfulness Productivity
Friends, I’ve been finding everything really hard lately. I have a lot to feel fortunate for – not least the ongoing generosity and support of my Correspondents, THANK YOU! – ... Read more
September 17, 2020January 14, 2021 16 Comments
Chasing the mountain

Chasing the mountain

by Laura Kidd 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 infinite blend of factors – what we wanted to ... Read more
July 16, 2020February 5, 2025 7 Comments
Inspiration is for amateurs

Inspiration is for amateurs

by Laura Kidd 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
July 9, 2020January 15, 2021 6 Comments
Album update: how not to get overwhelmed by big projects and the danger of endless lists

Album update: how not to get overwhelmed by big projects and the danger of endless lists

by Laura Kidd Letterbox Mindfulness Process Productivity
“Old Tape” image by Ozant Liuky from Pixabay Suddenly, I find myself with only a little bit of an album to complete.You might know I started writing this new collection of songs in ... Read more
June 18, 2020January 14, 2021 1 Comment
You are not a number (and neither am I)

You are not a number (and neither am I)

by Laura Kidd Homepage Feature Letterbox Mindfulness Minimalism Process Productivity
NEWS THIS WEEK“Attention Engineer” episode 4 is available now, featuring my conversation with songwriter Frank Turner! Recorded on the precipice of the UK lockdown backstage at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Frank ... Read more
June 11, 2020January 15, 2021 7 Comments
  • Shop
  • Letterbox
  • Join
  • Songs
  • Podcast
  • Contact

All content © Penfriend