➡️ I got excited about using Photoshop’s new Generative Fill tool to make AI versions of my album covers…then things got weird.
✅ Browse my back catalogue here please and thank you xo
➡️ READ: “AI Is a Lot of Work” on The Verge
Let’s talk ROBOTS // Tea & Empathy Ep 002
Creativity Letterbox Process
➡️ Let’s talk about my side project Obey Robots, answering your questions about how our album “One In A Thousand” was written and telling the story of the band name – Potsdam! Bike tour! Ghastly snappers with selfie sticks! I also unbox my awesome new microphone and show you some other exciting bits of post.
✅ Shop music and merch direct from meeeeee
➡️ This is Episode 2 of “Tea & Empathy” – watch the rest here
Cat Cobain!!!
Creativity Letterbox Music NewsI went to Rough Trade Nottingham in search of our Obey Robots album and found this instead!
Art by Niaski.
With hat tips to ace records by Sleaford Mods, Public Service Broadcasting and Self Esteem – click the links for podcast episodes with the last two 😎
We did it! Our #1 Independent Chart Album “One In A Thousand”
Creativity Letterbox Process
Obey Robots is a creative collaboration between myself – Laura Kidd (Penfriend / She Makes War) – and Rat (Ned’s Atomic Dustbin).
Our album “One In A Thousand” was released on 24th February 2023 and went into the Official UK Albums Chart at #14 and the Official Independent Chart at #1 the following week.
–> BUY YOUR COPY DIRECT and support independent music making!
This is fan power in action: we shared the album through emails, videos and social media. No press, no pluggers, no manager, label or agent.
Thank you for being part of this very exciting time!
“One In A Thousand” Running Punks Review!
Creativity Letterbox“Albert Camus believed that the individual could change society.
Kafka believed that society was too strong for that.
The problem is, Kafka never listened to Obey Robots.”
This is the absolute pinnacle of album releasing for me – Jimmy Watkins is a poet. I’ve never felt my work so well understood as when he runs along shouting into the camera, bursting with love and enthusiasm.
“Vocals shoot overhead like fighter jets – it’s like the Red Arrows turning up to your birthday party!”
“This is music rich in the confidence of their own skill…it’s fearless…it’s great for running to!”
“It’s kind of like having a rainbow in your spare bedroom.”
“This album really feels like optimism in the face of oblivion.”
WATCH: UK Album Chart Position Reveal!
Creativity Letterbox Process
Watch me and Rat learn about the chart success of our collaborative album “One In A Thousand” – a HUGE win for independent artists and independently-minded music fans everywhere!
THANK YOU SO MUCH xxx
First “band” interview with Diamond Dave!
Creativity Letterbox Process
Rat and I talked to the very lovely Diamond Dave from TotalRock about how the pandemic affected the emotional core of our album “One In A Thousand”, as well as how we recorded it, I talk about why I’m SO super DIY and Dave quizzes us on our touring plans…
Listen to the full interview here.
Stars and spangles: “Elephant”: the video
Creativity Letterbox Releases Singles
“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.
What’s happening in my life?!!
Creativity Letterbox Music News
Wednesday 15th February. Rat’s monster riff is unmistakable – but I can’t understand how it’s coming out of the kitchen stereo. I walk back inside the house, my puppy Luna bouncing along behind me.
She’s always like this when we get home: keen to get out into the garden after a few hours without humans, but keener to let us know she loves us very much. This dog wags with her entire body.
“Tim!” I shout back at my husband, who has a strange look on his face. He doesn’t get to hear my “holy sh*t what’s happening?!!!” voice very often, so it takes him a minute to join me by the sink, staring incredulously at the words on the DAB radio.
BBC Radio 6 Music
Now playing: Porcupine by Obey Robots
Leaving the radio on for the dogs while we went out to watch “Spinal Tap” at the Bristol Slapstick Festival has paid off. Gideon Coe is playing “Porcupine”!!!
Thursday 23rd February. An exciting email. Steve Lamacq’s producer is writing to see if they can play “Super Connected” on his show tomorrow. Um, sure!!! I ask how on earth they came across the track, and she replies that Steve found it, she doesn’t know how.
I know how.
This shouldn’t be happening – and I don’t mean that in a surprised, self-deprecating, I can’t believe this is happening to me sort of way.
I DIDN’T SEND ANYONE THE SONGS TO PLAY ON THE RADIO.
This is happening because of YOU. People talk – and it appears there are still some very passionate music lovers working in the higher echelons of radio, interested in checking out the things people like you are talking about.
In the days after sharing the news of these radio plays, I hear from the two people responsible. People who decided to write into 6 Music and tell them about our songs. Fans of my work who just wanted to do something to help.
Scott and Andrew – THANK YOU. What a treat!
“One In A Thousand” by Obey Robots is out NOW, and it feels like great timing. This week, the hashtag #unsignedandcrap trended on Twitter, in backlash to Radio X DJ Chris Moyles’ ignorant words about independent artists.
Blah.
This entire album campaign has played out purely through these emails, videos on my YouTube channel and posts on social media. No pay-to-play, no pay-to-get-played. Just word of mouth from independently-minded music fans. That’s people power!
Over the 14 years I’ve been sharing my music online, I’ve been shown time and time again by loyal music lovers that there is space – and enthusiasm – for the things I make. Yet, every time I’m about to share a new album I can never quite believe it’s going to go well.
I would never release a single note of music I didn’t believe in, but we’re all experiencing hard times at the moment and we have to be realistic about what’s sustainable and what’s respectful.
Manufacturing physical products costs a lot of money, and no-one wants to live surrounded by boxes of their unsold vinyl, t-shirts and pick tins – but I don’t expect everyone to be able to buy things.
You’ll always be able to access the things I make in low or no-cost ways, but this whole cottage industry relies on there being enough people in a position to contribute.
So far it’s working…so thank you again!
Your support for this new record has been overwhelming, and I’m so grateful. Releasing new music in this fashion is complicated, and exhausting, but it’s been brilliant to be able to invite Rat along as a guest on my tiny record label this time around. The last time he released a new album it was on a major label – but he said this is just as exciting, and he’s really enjoyed being more hands-on with this project and getting to talk directly to you.
Over to Rat for his thoughts on sharing new music with you:
“How do I feel about the album coming out?
Surreal… a definition by the Cambridge dictionary – strange; not seeming real; like a dream: sums up how I’ve felt all week. The fear is real. it’s been nearly 30 years since I’ve released any new music and this is the first time I’ve ever released music that wasn’t with the Ned’s.There is also an overwhelming happiness that we’ve done it… we really have done this!!!
“Let’s make an album” is seeing the tip of Everest above the clouds… what lies beneath to get there is a colossal task in itself, a journey for which I will be forever grateful to Laura for.
Some folks have said they’ve never seen me this happy in a long time, and they are right in saying that.”
Thank you so much xxx
Get “One In A Thousand” here.
Album release week events
Letterbox“One In A Thousand” is out TOMORROW – get your copy here and help us smash into the UK Top 20…can we do it?!!!
We’re going to have some fun in the next few days, and you’re invited:
Friday 24th February, 5pm – Correspondent’s Club Zoom with Laura, 5pm (members-only)
Monday 27th February, 7pm – “Elephant” video premiere + livestream with Rat & Laura
Tuesday 28th February, 8pm – Tim’s Twitter Listening Party (with Tim Burgess of The Charlatans)
Here’s how to take part:
If you have a Twitter account
1) Head to Twitter and follow me (HTTP://twitter.com/penfriendrocks) and Rat (HTTP://twitter.com/rat_ned)
2) Join us at 8pm on 28th Feb by going to https://twitter.com/search?q=%23timstwitterlisteningparty… (make sure “latest” is selected) and refreshing the page as you listen to the album on your streaming service of choice OR on CD / vinyl / cassette obviously!
OR if you don’t have a Twitter account
1) Join us at 8pm on 28th Feb by going to https://twitter.com/search?q=%23timstwitterlisteningparty… (make sure “latest” is selected) and refreshing the page as you listen to the album on your streaming service of choice OR on CD / vinyl / cassette obviously!