Girls Twiddling Knobs
The #1 feminist music tech podcast, featuring deep-diving episodes into all things music production and home recording and fascinating guest episodes with women making music with technology, hosted by Isobel Anderson.
Girls Twiddling Knobs
EP#76: {Student Success} Owning The Title of 'Musician' with Lois Lelland
If you’ve ever struggled to own the title of ‘Musician’ this episode’s for you. Every single person has a slightly different definition of what actually makes a musician, but the reality of how and why we *feel* like one is often complex and even pretty misunderstood.
Inside this episode, Isobel sits down with pianist and Home Recording Academy alumni student, Lois Lelland, about why she struggled to feel like a ‘proper’ musician in the past and why that’s now totally changed. In fact, Lois is set to release an amazing new EP of compositions she has lovingly recorded and produced herself and she’s never felt so excited and confident as a musician.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{0:00} Intro
{03:43} Why Lois struggled to feel like a ‘proper’ musician
{09:11} When this began to change for Lois|{12:43} Starting to record her music from home
{17:18} Why Lois took part in Home Recording Academy not just once, but twice.
{26:09} The process of self-recording, producing and releasing her stunning debut
EP, Sepia.
{50:42} Collaborating with other musicians
{54:16} Episode Summary
Listen to Lois’ new album, Sepia >>
Follow Lois on Instagram >>
Ready to level up your music making with the powerful art of field recording? Download my new FREE Essential Gear Checklist to Start Field Recording With Your Smartphone >>
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Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey.
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00:00.00
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
On so welcome Lois to girls twidling knobs.
00:02.28
Lois
Thanks so much for having me I'm excited to be here.
00:07.49
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
It's a pleasure and um and we've got loads that we're going to talk about and to do with your music your journey and lots of other things. But first um, something I'm really curious about and something that's always kind of intrigued me is this term musician and I know that for you. It's something that you've had you know different relationships with um as things have progressed and changed with your music and can you tell me? Ah how how do you relate? What do you think of as that term musician. What is a musician and and are you a musician.
00:33.92
Lois
Um.
00:42.80
Lois
Um, am it's been a term that I've recently identified with even though I've played piano since the age of 8 and I think I a it was really through hre. That I kind of almost fail into myself calling calling myself a musician I think yeah playing the piano from such a young age. You kind of go through the grades and you you do competitions and it's all about being perfect and am I never really felt. Good enough ultimately and decided not to take music or kind of after school and to university because of that I just didn't feel like I had it was a place for me I didn't really think I was good enough really to to be there.
01:32.58
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Oh yeah.
01:37.40
Lois
And to go and pursue that am so what was what was that sorry a musician I think was someone who was famous and.
01:38.74
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
So in your head. What what was a musician Lois in your head at that time in your head at that time. What was a musician.
01:56.58
Lois
A made a living and um was competent and yeah, those things that I didn't feel not that I want to feel famous necessarily know. But and yeah, it's quite interesting as I kids like the musicians that you think of are you know.
02:03.47
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
And.
02:15.18
Lois
Ah, rock stars pop stars.
02:16.10
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, and it's funny isn't it because as a kid we do actually come into contact if we're studying music if we're fortunate and after studying music we do actually come into contact with a lot of different musicians because if you think about your piano teacher. They were a musician and I'm I imagining you thought of them as a musician right.
02:31.43
Lois
Um, am Yay No, you're right I definitely did and they were gay. There were she was a teacher and a musician ya who who who you know played. Other instruments and played with other people. Um Yay I Think they just felt quite separate to to all of that didn't quite click and.
02:55.90
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um, yeah, and something that's also quite interesting about this whole discussion is sometimes when I've talked to other people about this who haven't had a musical training. They will not feel like a musician because they haven't had a musical training even if.
03:10.22
Lois
Oh.
03:13.22
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
They've had lots of other success that you just described. They will feel well I'm not a real musician and yet you've gone through the grades you know.
03:19.71
Lois
Yeah, yay work. Yeah I think I definitely have a bit of a hang up that I didn't I you know I didn't study music at you know, Ah, ah, undergrads level. That's definitely. Been a bit of a ah well I'm not I'm not really a musician I didn't study it to any great depth or level. Um, yeah, and then I kind of gave up on music at several points as well stopped playing piano and things so that kind of confirmed confirmed it.
03:38.24
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Is me.
03:49.16
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Right? Yeah, yeah, so because you weren't doing it all the time throughout the whole of your life. So that made meant you weren't a musician suddenly? Yeah yeah, yeah, it's interesting isn't it. We have a lot of.
03:51.16
Lois
In a way that I wasn't.
04:01.17
Lois
Um, yeah, definitely.
04:06.80
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Quite Rigid ideas and and I think that people have very different ones as well and I think there's some that are quite universal like being paid for it. Um, then there's some that are much more. Um, yeah, subjective different people have different relationships.
04:13.44
Lois
M.
04:22.68
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
To it for example, like the whole grade thing if you haven't done the grades and you don't play an instrument to grade 8 standard or even grade 5 standard or something um or like you're saying you know if you haven't done a music degree or somebody else might be if you haven't um, played in front of people before you know you could have done all those things.
04:38.49
Lois
M.
04:42.56
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
And played very few live performances and so still felt like you weren't really a musician because people hadn't like witnessed you being a musician. So I think this is a really interesting discussion and I'm really glad that um that you have that you're able to kind of talk about it because.
04:47.58
Lois
A.
05:01.94
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
You've had quite a recent re What would we call it like a returbing bit. Yeah density shift. Yeah, um, so so it's great to kind of think about what was what did that word mean to you before? um.
05:05.11
Lois
Identity chef.
05:18.66
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
What do you think that word means to you now if somebody said what is a musician Lois. What would you say to them now.
05:25.68
Lois
That's a really really good question and I I would say somebody who plays music someone who makes music it doesn't even have to be on on a kind of formal big instrument. You know you can say your computer and create me I mean I've got a seven and a half year old son who sits on my on ableton with me and makes beats and things and he's quite musical. He's a musician. Yeah so um, yeah, that the the words itself and its meaning is definitely changed.
05:47.41
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, oh.
05:58.85
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um, yeah, yeah, okay.
05:59.20
Lois
For me I remember m in 1 of the hot seats that we did in in the recent accelerator and h r m were in no it wasn't a hot seat. It was a sort of breakout room and I was sitting thinking gosh I think. Think I am a musician now because I've recorded my own music I play the piano and and there was a real moment. Oh that's that's what it is I do now? Um, so yeah.
06:29.15
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um, yeah, okay well I would love to know how did you? How did you get there? How did you get from feeling not like a musician to there.
06:38.73
Lois
Um, yay am definitely there I think I think music has always come back into my life through periods of illness or or depression. You know that it's always It's sort of always been a constant no matter how much I've put it to one side. It's always creeped back in somehow and it was really during lockdown and that I I was furloughed from my science job. So I went on to do a. Science degrees have always worked in labs and was furloughed during the pandemic. So I was found I was finding myself sitting down at the piano playing and and rating things and sort of having having that time and. To to realize a I wasn't really happy in my job and it was making me ill with for various reasons and um I was against so much enjoyment of it and it was like I want to try and and rate rate some music and get it to don't down somehow. Um. So that that's really where it came about and of course you go into kind of research mode on Youtube and on Google how to record my music from home and in your Instagram ad came up and really I think it was from authors a v bit before that I I got my.
08:12.50
Lois
Pieces recorded um by an engineer engineer and wasn't really happy with the quality of this recording sound and it was just just wasn't happy so it was like how do I figure out to do this on my own. Um.
08:23.10
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Okay, yeah, okay yeah I's gonna ask like what made you want to do it yourself because obviously um, you know if you're going through like you. You know you're describing some mental health stuff.
08:28.65
Lois
Yeah.
08:38.90
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
And um you and then you're even like embarking on writing music and I was wondering what was the story of like you then deciding right? Well I want to record it too. So you'd already had you'd already gone into a studio recorded it before is that right? Lois.
08:40.56
Lois
M.
08:46.13
Lois
A.
08:53.23
Lois
Yeah, and actually wasn't even a studio it was. It was the engineer's sister's piano in her house type thing so it just wasn't ideal knowing what I know now about sound treatments and and things. Um, so sorry what was the question.
08:59.19
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
I'm okay.
09:05.50
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um, no no I just I was just kind of getting a sense for um, what? yeah what had kind of given given you the impetus to to want to record yourself, not just write for yourself and you know.
09:09.36
Lois
But.
09:17.72
Lois
Yay! Well I think yeah I think I understood that people could record from home and that felt like a really good thing for me to do and quite an introvert in many ways and it kind of gives you quite.
09:20.41
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Try and process what was going On. Do the.
09:33.28
Lois
A lot of control over the sounds that you get and you don't have to try and describe what you're going for to somebody else and I think that thing of actually just being watched when your play really can change the the feeling that comes out as you play.
09:38.28
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Something. Yeah.
09:49.51
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
And.
09:51.53
Lois
And yeah, so I think I just knew that it was something that I wanted to try and learn to do. But I mean both financially as Well. It's much cheaper. It felt that that experience with that engineer felt like a real and expensive learning Carve Carve m. Actually that's that's not cost effective way of of recording music and and it's sort of knowing that all this technology is out there. It was just trying to learn how to how to do it.
10:13.15
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Who.
10:19.88
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, yeah, but it sounds like that was a really useful experience of recording with somebody else to help you understand Actually I I think I'd rather would do this myself and and also when you work with somebody in the future which I'm sure you will at some point. You will have learned a lot from how you do want to collaborate and how you do want to record outside of your own space.
10:40.34
Lois
Yeah, absolutely I have learned so much and it and it's that thing of like being willing to learn from mistakes as well. I think that's that was it was really useful.
10:49.91
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, yeah, so speaking of home. Um, Lois where are you based.
10:57.93
Lois
I'm based in a little village called Stanley just north of pay earth in Scotland and right beside the river teae its really is really beautiful and I live in quite a small house with my husband and a son. Um, my my recording studio is the piano as the kitchen and so quite ah, an interesting space to try and record in. So yeah.
11:26.17
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah I remember us was having a few conversations about how to work in that space and it was quite interesting coming up with like ideas for how to kind of Um, what's the word like partition off bits and sound treat it and and we got there didn't we.
11:37.13
Lois
Um, yeah I think well I've got recordings I think are good enough and so yeah.
11:43.49
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, yeah, and I think what's interesting is like you saying now after everything you've learned inside. Hra you can think back to previous times like recording on the engineer's sisters piano or something and being like oh that wasn't sound treated and you know.
11:59.13
Lois
Who.
12:01.55
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Actually now I'm making recordings that are sounding better because you're able to understand like I need to I need to make sure even if I'm recording in my kitchen I can make it sound good because of using sound treatment.
12:12.66
Lois
Yeah, absolutely and you know I mean it sounds like such a simple thing but I didn't know that before before learning it. So.
12:19.19
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, but but it's like what I always say you know when people search for home recording. What always comes up is like lists of mics which which is all fine and well. But if you haven't got your acoustics styled in then that's just going to be really frustrating.
12:30.90
Lois
Um, yeah.
12:37.20
Lois
Oh.
12:38.73
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
You know and you're never going to get the recording that you could do So um I think that's why and and that's why obviously having some kind of training in. It is really helpful in the process from a to B of recording is really helpful, especially from home. Um, but yeah I remember us talking about your kitchen and I remember you.
12:51.54
Lois
M.
12:58.62
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Like you would come back every now and then um obviously for our accelerator calls and you'd be like okay I tried putting this behind the piano and actually that's really sorted it and you know you were You were really experimenting weren't you in your space.
13:08.52
Lois
Um, yeah, definitely I mean we had all sorts of conversations about maybe we could put a curtain up around it and but I was like no, there's a fire rate behind me and like and so.
13:22.24
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um, like an opentove. Yeah.
13:25.77
Lois
Um, yeah, but that that part of it was actually really was really fun because you get to be really creative about how you can set your space up and sort of experiment I mean because as. Ah, said earlier that I've got a science background So is that thing of like treating it as a bit of an experiment and seeing sort of finding the results and and kind of yeah, just adjusting things to to make it to make it work and I think I think I'm really I'm really clear that you know it's not.
13:42.18
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
And then.
13:58.36
Lois
It's probably not an ideal space to record such resonant instrument. But what I've got is is good enough and it was that sort of willingness to take action to keep trying to to find it and I I think yeah, really like I've you can hear.
14:07.46
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, yeah.
14:15.85
Lois
From the beginning recordings to what I've managed to record Now there's a realition and and the quality of sound. Um, yeah, hugely. Yeah, yeah, and I'm really I'm really proud of that.
14:18.94
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
And that must feel really satisfying for you Lois that's your that's your development like that's your learning you know? Yeah, you should be and I want to come back to something you just mentioned there like It's not your kitchen is not what a textbook place to record in like nobody's going to say oh yeah, record piano at home record your kitchen and um, but you said something I think's really important that you're like but I I still took action I didn't let that stop me. Um, can we talk a little bit about that because. I see this so often with lots of musicians when they they see there's ah, a restriction there they see there's something that could be a barrier and that can stop so many musicians in their tracks of um, you know it could be writing it doesn't have to be recording could be any part of the creative process. But. Obviously in the context of girls twilling knobs. It can really stop a lot of musicians moving forward and getting a recording that may not be done textbook perfect. But it's still like you were saying before good enough. In fact, probably much better than good enough. But. You you kept moving forward now. Can you tell me about that process because also I know that you went through Hr a twice didn't you and I know you had quite different experiences. The 2 times. So. Well maybe let's talk about that First. What were your different experiences the 2 times you went through hra.
15:42.25
Lois
Um, yeah I did yeah.
15:53.71
Lois
Um, so the first time was an October twenty to one and it was it was a lot. It was a lot of learning. It was quite overwhelming. M.
16:09.22
Lois
And I was still in that space I mean that was when I still wasn't ah calling myself a musician. So I think I think I turned up really willing to learn but hadn't quite managed to take much action and also I think.
16:13.10
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
And then.
16:23.26
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
So.
16:27.14
Lois
Think Ultimately, what was happening was that there was like huge imposter syndrome and happening in being in a space with quotes real musicians. Um I felt really I Really think felt really out of my depth but still really wanting to be.
16:41.22
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
So.
16:46.16
Lois
To record home. So it was this real kind of fish and pe but I you know I listened the first time round I listened to all of all of the all of the teachings and I showed up to you know your Facebook lives and I think things were just sort of percolating a.
17:00.49
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, yeah.
17:03.96
Lois
And and I was learning even even though it wasn't taking action and I think there's an element of ah it was going into the winter as well and I always my midly dips in the winter. So I think there was a whole bunch of stuff like that happening also and so and a and a tried.
17:06.20
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Oh.
17:15.23
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yes, yeah.
17:23.53
Lois
You know I made some recordings and I was like oh that that just sounds rubbish. That's really crap. This is just another thing that I'm not going to be able to do a added to this long long list in my head of things that I've failed at.
17:28.56
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um, yeah.
17:34.91
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, oh God Yeah I mean that's such a horrible feeling isn't it when you're like oh another thing that hasn't worked out another thing that I've also you know thrown a lot of energy and a bit of money out and all that stuff and oh it hasn't worked out.
17:42.86
Lois
Yeah, yeah. Okay.
17:52.49
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um, and and I I think there'll be people listening who are in that space lowest like there'll be people who are listening to this episode who have tried recording at home. It hasn't sounded how they want it to and they and so many people stop at that point and and can you imagine.
17:55.32
Lois
A.
18:10.80
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
And can you just for 1 minute like imagine what the difference if you'd have just stopped at that point.
18:14.55
Lois
I Kind of can't imagine it because so free I am just no but am yeah think I I would have yeah no I don't know I'm really struggling to think about that because I don't like.
18:33.60
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
It would It would have been different because I mean I I know obviously and obviously you know that you carried on you know it is great and obviously we're we're going to hear all about that and we've and you've got some beautiful music that we're going to chat about as well. But um.
18:33.50
Lois
Her.
18:38.38
Lois
I did.
18:44.00
Lois
Free.
18:48.72
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, it's just for anyone who's listening who's like that's how I feel well please listen to the rest of this episode because this is this is what can happen when you keep going because the reality is is that everyone's first recordings are going to sound a bit crap.
19:01.76
Lois
M.
19:03.90
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Like like every time you try and ride a bike. You're going to fall off every time you pick up a guitar at the beginning. It's going to sound pretty crap. Um, the first time you try and snog someone you're going to be bit crap like.
19:16.36
Lois
And.
19:17.15
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
It's always going to be a bit crop at the beginning. Um, and you had that too Lois I mean god knows I had I had that at the beginning of course. Um, and and you had that moment where you were like oh god I've just but this this another thing that I thought I could do and I can't and that's a horrible feeling. so um so yeah
19:22.33
Lois
M.
19:27.83
Lois
E.
19:36.96
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Thanks for sharing that and I hope that if anyone's listening and is there I hope you cut you, you take all the distractions away and just listen to this episode because this will show you how important it is to keep going anyway. Even if it feels imperfect even if it feels like you don't know what you're doing. Um so Lois yes, so you had you.
19:43.12
Lois
A.E.
19:56.40
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
You'd gone through that. What made you hang in there though.
20:00.35
Lois
What made me hang in there M I think several things I think part of me was like no I'm not going to let this defeat me I'm not goingnna let this be another thing that I just leave and forget about and you know.
20:11.84
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Ah.
20:18.74
Lois
Regret and I I turned forty this year so it was a bit like what are you doing with your life if you don't try if you don't take action. You know what? almost like what's the point and so there was a bit of.
20:37.83
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um, yeah.
20:38.45
Lois
Think there was a bit of fire in my Bailey and but I also think I think there's there's more There's um I knew that H Charry was a space I really wanted to be in I knew there was support there m. Both with yourself and with and people that I met on on the course. Um, yeah, there was just this sort of quiet determination and this and it was really the kickstarter that you held early.
21:11.92
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, because that was a totally new challenge I hadn't done that before.
21:13.52
Lois
This year am that I think that ultimately was the turning point for me because you did it was over 4 days five days yes so it was this really intensive period and I remember my.
21:22.39
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um, it was it was five days yeah Yeah
21:31.50
Lois
And my family were away for the weekend so had all this time and space to really get absorbed into it and immediately you know ordered the foam panels and that I needed and that I hadn't I'd put off pitter off I was.
21:49.16
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um, yeah, yeah, yeah.
21:49.53
Lois
Is too expensive was what it you know those thoughts that was just like no let's do this if you're not going to try um and then I made some recordings that night and you know the the first night and I was like oh actually yeah because I had changed things that brought. Cushion like sofa cushions through to the kitchen and really kind of try to cocu the piano up and and it was the the groups sort of breakout rooms and and there that I just started to feel a bit more comfortable and there was all this support and I think the big thing with the kickstarter was that and what.
22:11.23
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah.
22:27.55
Lois
Ah, almost like well support. What's your project What and and so there was a real learning of process within m.
22:28.42
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, yeah, we really go through that and create in quite a lot of detail in the kickstarter don't we were. We're like let's break down. What are the things you want to record how long is that going to take whoop.
22:40.94
Lois
Oh.
22:43.78
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
What's the process. What's the end game. It really gets you to think about the big picture but breaking it down. Yeah.
22:49.33
Lois
Yes, So those small chunks learning that the the processes of you know those steps to to where you ultimately want to get to something just really Clicked. Um, and I took action and then. You had to call out for alumni students to be part of an accelerator group and I was like heck yeah and I'm so so glad that I invested in myself in that way because I have got an ep out of it of a home recorded.
23:09.24
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
A bit. Um, yeah.
23:22.33
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, and it sounds so cool I mean I want to? So yeah I really want to talk with access a lot of things I want to talk about with the new recordings that you've done but just thinking about like that second time going through hra because if anyone's listening just to clarify you get lifetime access to the course.
23:22.90
Lois
Piano A yeah so.
23:29.46
Lois
Who.
23:42.18
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
You can go through it as many times as you want but like you're saying I put a call out for the last time I opened up enrollment I said to ah my alumni students you can come and join the live delivery again and this that time I added a kind of accelerator version where you got group coaching on Zoom as well. So um, and that was the first time I'd done that and so you decided to do that and um and what was it that changed I think the big thing that I remember you saying was I've actually taken action this time and I see from what you were just from your face. Even.
24:11.30
Lois
Yeah, yeah.
24:17.51
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
But also obviously from the recordings that were coming out of it. You're like this is making such a big difference that I'm here and I'm taking action and I see it so often that um, people will find it really hard to even if they start a course or they start even coaching with someone 1 to 1 um, it's. That's still not gonna solve the the thing of you taking it like you have to take action too. You have to come and meet that process halfway so it really felt like that next time round you were like actually no I'm I'm all in and I'm doing it and I'm gonna do it.
24:39.90
Lois
E.
24:54.13
Lois
Ah.
24:54.66
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Regardless of whether I feel comfortable or not regardless of whether I feel like I know what I'm doing regardless of how successful it feels I'm just going to go through the steps and do it is that fair to say.
25:05.28
Lois
Yeah, yeah, no absolutely. Um, but yeah that there's that thing of I had to step into that taking of action which I did but I was only able to do that because of the environment that was provided for me within the accelerator group. So there was a real.
25:13.87
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um, yeah.
25:18.79
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yes.
25:23.38
Lois
Um, you know it sort of takes 2 to party a 2 to dance. You know it was a real sort of give and take thing and I'm just so so glad that that I did it and that you offered it and yeah, just fill of so much gratitude and.
25:40.71
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, I'm really glad you did it loest because what's emerged is um yeah, the beginnings of what from what I've heard you know the beginnings of a wonderful new new album and is that what what your work is was it as an album or is an in ep.
25:52.78
Lois
Um, and I think this is this is definitely an Ep m yeah this is a collection of so of pieces that are a moment in time of my past and that that was then and.
25:57.97
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah.
26:08.13
Lois
Um, going on to new things.
26:08.30
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, fantastic. Okay, so maybe you could tell us a bit about then how this new ep started forming um, was it something that had you written the material before you were kind of taking action and going through Hr a again or is this all. Stuff that is quite new.
26:29.20
Lois
The the pieces were written like I said I had them recorded by by someone else. Um, and yeah yay, Um, and actually bits bits of the.
26:34.83
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um, so these were the same. You'd recorded the same pieces with that person before yeah and now you were rerecording them. Yeah.
26:45.93
Lois
Bits of them. You know I had written like coming up for 20 years you know they had been sort of hanging around and but yeah during during the pandemic I was able to actually structure them into into pieces. Um, yeah.
26:49.28
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
I.
26:59.56
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Oh.
27:05.32
Lois
So I'm going to cough excuse me.
27:06.58
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um, yeah, no problem. Yeah, so so that they'd been kind of forming for a while. Um and then so during Hra you started recording them. You obviously had and you dialed in your sound treatment a lot more. So obviously then you could start recording and be like oh that sounds good and then I don't know about you but when I get that that those foundations of the the track done then you feel like a lot of big weight is lifted and you can then get a bit more creative with the next.
27:23.83
Lois
Um.
27:37.71
Lois
Yeah, definitely and it. It felt very much like the recording is just one tiny part of the whole kind of production and and that felt really new and exciting.
27:38.88
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Stages.
27:53.94
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah.
27:55.98
Lois
As well because um, yeah, and it and actually the productions They just taken taken much more time as well because it's It's their new skills that need to be practiced and and learned but something you said.
28:06.97
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Spend.
28:14.64
Lois
I loved was that you know you can use your software as an instrument as well and really craft craft sound. Um and that yeah that that was super helpful and I think I've done that m.
28:17.59
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah.
28:28.14
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, yeah I can hear that and that the first track that I'd love to play is um so we is ceaseswell. Um, and I know that on Cswell you know you can hear in the composition that obviously.
28:36.24
Lois
Co.
28:43.64
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Very very influenced and inspired by the way that the sea the movements of the sea. Um, but also you have a field recording of the sea and I can tell that you know you're kind of exactly what you said that the recording of your instrument is the first step and then there's all these other.
28:58.15
Lois
M.
29:02.20
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Avenues you can go down and I think that um yeah, like you were saying it was very liberating to think of your Daw You know your your studio and your computer as an instrument because a lot of the time we think well everything has to be done a very uniform way. And if you get anything wrong then it's a failure and it's going to sound rubbish. But there's no room for creativity personality individualism in there, you know, but but that's just not the case you know and um and I love the fact that you've been able to really take ownership of the production.
29:23.80
Lois
Um.
29:36.97
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
And the mixing and all you know all those elements as well because they can be just as creative if you allow them to be and also I think if you're in a space that allows you to to be creative with them too. Um, so we're going to listen to the first section of C Swell Lois um
29:47.10
Lois
E.
29:56.96
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
And then we'll have a little chat about how you went about not just recording the piano part but the c as well. Okay, so that was seeswell and just a little section. So Lois how did you go about recording the piano first.
30:01.21
Lois
Great.
30:11.13
Lois
M So They I ultimately made a Dane M a little little cocoon round the piano with M phone pads and with M low view. Be camp a lot and I've got really quite good. High quality sort of sleeping bags and and things like that. So I I made a kind of right over my head and down the back. Um, so it was really like a den. Um, so was quite.. It was quite cozy and kind of womblike and coooned.
30:36.73
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Great, Perfect. Ah amazing.
30:46.49
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
I mean.
30:50.58
Lois
I am so that that's kind of how I recorded the actual piano in my.
30:54.94
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
And when you're thinking about like I know that sometimes people struggle with and recording piano in terms of do they use more? Do they have more than one mic where do they position the mics angling did you have to kind of experiment with that as well.
31:09.88
Lois
Um, um, yeah, definitely so it was on your recommendation that I got a pair of M Mics and stereo mics and it was really about and my my.
31:18.50
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
In.
31:22.81
Lois
I opened night. It's an upright piano that I have so I opened it up completely and took the panels off and it was really just about trying to find the right place forward or back or you know up or down and I think I found a sweet enough space to to place them.
31:33.95
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah.
31:41.45
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um.
31:42.14
Lois
And Yay so it it's yeah, it's quite. It's quite funny being in this little because you don't I didn't write the music in this little dark little warm space. So I felt quite different playing the pieces under there and but it was quite fun.
31:50.77
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, yeah, yeah, and then I know that your piano. Well I think I saw you've got a new piano now Lois is that right.
32:00.10
Lois
M.
32:04.57
Lois
Um, yes I do yes. Ah yes, that's a very nice word. Yeah, so actually I was.
32:06.19
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
But the piano that you recorded these on they were your old one and and that's quite. It's got a lot of character hasn't it I Love it like ah yeah.
32:17.58
Lois
I was gifted this piano a few years ago and because I just had had ah a digital piano I'm sorry kicking around not really being played with and I found that I actually started playing the piano again when we had this real piano in the house but this piano had it. You know I got.
32:19.26
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Do.
32:30.66
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah.
32:37.50
Lois
Tunener in and he he said it's been really neglected and it's never going to be on pitch and the strings will just break. It's going to cost thousands to read to restring it so there was sort of this moment through my HRJourney was like.
32:49.50
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um, no.
32:56.89
Lois
Well I need to practice my recording skills and why don't I just try and record this beat up bold piano and see if something really interesting and meaningful and beautiful. Can can come out of of something a bit knackard and old and be up and I think there's um.
33:09.91
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um, yeah.
33:16.20
Lois
There's a Japanese phrase called so waby s saby I don't know if I pronounce that right? but it's the idea of seeing beauty in the imperfections and that that's been my whole thing for recording this piano.
33:28.44
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um, that's great. I'm so glad to hear that Louis because that could have been another moment where you're like well there's no point you know because so this again this happens to so many people that they'll feel.
33:34.79
Lois
Yes.
33:40.52
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
It doesn't even have to be a piano. It could be well I've only got garage band so there's no point in me recording because Garra's band is crappers't it. Everyone's told me that and you know or or I've only got a crappy little mic that doesn't um, doesn't sound good. But if you still go through all the motions of recording you'll learn so much about recording so that.
33:42.60
Lois
Are.
33:59.00
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
When you if if you want to upgrade because I love the piano that is on these recordings Anyway, I understand why you would also want to have you know a piano that is in tune perfectly and all that stuff. But then when you upgrade you've got all of that learning all of those skills under your belt.
34:04.00
Lois
Um.
34:17.89
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
You've done all that learning. So now you can just record that piano with that beautiful mic or with that really expensive software. Not that you need it and you know and and you'll just be so you know streaking ahead. So I'm really glad that you didn't let that stop you because also what's come out is these really beautiful.
34:29.20
Lois
Yeah, absolutely.
34:37.17
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
I Think you have found the beauty and the imperfection of that instrument and I do think that instruments they they have a soul in in a way you know call.
34:37.73
Lois
He.
34:43.36
Lois
Yeah, yeah, she was called carra and she hoped it only because someone in her past had had scribbled in Cara like had hched it in. So yes, it's really interesting kind of getting to know a piano and how to record her and.
34:55.11
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Ah.
35:00.82
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah.
35:02.30
Lois
And things and but what you were saying there. I've recently come ah come across a sort of phrase MOfM is a oh my goodness I'm forgetting. It am who yeah who do you have to be. In order to do what you want to do in order to have the desired result and I've always in in the past that it's always been the opposite round that I've thought about things you know it's like I need to have this in order to be this in order to do that. So It's a real main Shift Mindset shift.
35:29.66
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Is yeah yeah.
35:40.80
Lois
Um, so yeah, learning to record this piano has definitely changed my approach to many different things.
35:49.31
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
That's very cool and I and I agree with that statement that a lot of the time it is about approaching like changing the way you approach something and that will then lead you to being in that place that outcome you know, whatever it is. Waiting for something external to Change. You'll be waiting forever. But there'll always be things that could change someone else will tell you need to change for you to do a certain thing but it's it's people who you know say okay I'm going to work with what I've got.
36:07.34
Lois
Um, yay.
36:22.72
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
I going to see what happens with what I've got and at the very least I'll learn something. That's people who really make move forward and and and experience change in their lives I think and and obviously you're here to work that you know how you've that relationship to the word musician has changed so much Lewis Lois
36:25.20
Lois
Yeah.
36:30.92
Lois
I.
36:42.30
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
And it seems like that's happened because of taking action before you felt like a musician.
36:44.91
Lois
Yes, absolutely it did to that the they did to shift came after in the taking of action. Yeah.
36:49.76
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
But yeah, because you need to you need to model it for yourself. You need to observe yourself being a musician which is kind of what you did like how empowering is it that you that you were able to walk into that kitchen see that den that you've made.
37:00.83
Lois
Um.
37:08.64
Lois
Um.
37:08.73
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Know that you've made it because of you know, understanding about the way that sounds going to behave in that space. Experimented all the mic positioning um invested the time and also your resources that you had in the mics. All that kind of stuff. Um, although I'm sure you would say it is vastly less.
37:12.28
Lois
Yeah.
37:27.30
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
An investment than if you'd gone into a studio and um and obviously very rewarding in terms of what you've learned and what you've achieved but it's so empowering to to so observe yourself doing that for yourself.
37:39.42
Lois
Yeah, and I think it's really important to stop and just take take note of what what I've what I've done what you can do and definitely.
37:48.81
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, yeah, so let's talk a little bit about the um the C recording that you've got in that um I know that like as we're recording this this is going to go out ah of far in the future.
37:57.80
Lois
Um, yeah.
38:03.25
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
But as we're recording this interview Lois we've just done the art field recording weekend. So this feels very relevant. Yeah.
38:07.62
Lois
Um, yeah, that was awesome. Yeah, absolutely and which um I have to say was was a fantastic and weekend spend with really wonderful people and and late the creativity that came out of it was was.
38:16.21
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um, yeah.
38:21.81
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
It was incredible. Isn't it. Yeah, just the amount of recordings and then the amount of crazy experimenting that happened as well. It was brilliant. Yeah, so obviously though before that weekend you'd you'd been interested in this and and field recording. So.
38:24.35
Lois
Just the main boy. Yeah, it was law cool. Yeah, it was so cool.
38:41.24
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
On this track seeswell you've got a recording of the sea. So can you tell us about how you made that.
38:47.10
Lois
Yeah, so and this so so the the the piano part. Um, you know it. It didn't set I didn't have the intention of I want to write a track about the c and this is how it's going to sound and it just sort of came out and I was like oh that makes me think of the c. So thought wouldn't a bit nice if I just put a little bit of um water water into so I have ah mzoommhfourn recorder and half for many years actually so there's always been this inkling to record things and try and try and do it m.
39:02.24
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um.
39:16.90
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
You know.
39:21.49
Lois
But on holiday in the summertime there we went up to a beautiful place in the entire peninsula called Skipness I've been there a few times beautiful cottage and the cottage is our end of a road with its own Beach. Um. So Lots of sea time and I knew I wanted to record the the sea at Skip nests and I was like oh I could use that for for seaswell and but it's also really windy up there. So um, there was a lot to contend to trying to find a little kind of cove.
39:55.26
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, yeah.
39:57.13
Lois
Just to get this E and not not not too much of the wind. Um, but I've since learned that there's things put in and production that you can do to kind of minimize that which has been great and so actually when I listen to those recordings of the sea. It really takes me back to that holiday and the things that we did there and.
40:05.82
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah.
40:15.89
Lois
You know where actually on the coast I was when when I took the recordings and you know my husband and I gone for a beautiful walk and so he's just kind of right at my side as well. So it's funny how sound really can take you back to to a memory like that.
40:30.59
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, yeah, and it's amazing how because actually that was something that came out in the art field recording weekend was this sense of kind of um. Letting go of control as well as well of of what you're recording. So obviously when you're outside and you're recording. It's not controlled things will happen and you you capture them or you don't um, but then also that everyone will have such a different reaction to those recordings and so it's so it's so wonderful to be able to make. Music that has that really personal relationship for you or that memory for you. But there's someone else will hear that and it will remind me of their holiday down and I no dungeonness like if anyone holidays in dungeonness maybe um or Cornwall or whatever you know it.
41:09.80
Lois
Yeah.
41:17.22
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
It will remind them of something totally different, but just as meaningful.
41:19.10
Lois
Yeah, definitely I Think that's the power of music isn't it. It can really take you anywhere you want to you want to be your goal.
41:27.64
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, yeah, um, so there's another track that we're going to listen to and it's called Arc So let's listen to um, a little section that I might go into the middle of Arc actually because.
41:34.48
Lois
Um.
41:38.90
Lois
A.
41:40.84
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Really like some of the sounds that come in later on so we'll listen to a little bit from the middle. Okay, so that was a little bit of arc now something I really like about this track Lois which and I hadn't heard this track before and you sent it over before this interview so it was nice to hear something new from you as well.
41:52.21
Lois
And.
41:58.89
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
And what I really like about Arc is that you can really hear the um, the kind of ah what's the word like well the imperfections in the piano like you can hear it kind of but I love it I Love it so much I wouldn't want it to be any other way. You can hear the clicking and the clacking.
42:07.25
Lois
Hey.
42:16.79
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Of I put it's like you pressing the pedals down and some of the keys must be a bit stuckk and you know but I think that sounds really really beautiful and then I love the more electronic sounds that come in towards the middle and when that first sound that comes in.
42:17.40
Lois
Um, yeah, yeah.
42:32.63
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um, that's not the piano. It really reminds me of an opera by Philip Glass um called beauty I think it's does you call it beauty and the beast or does you call it laella laettet. Um, but it's the opera he did for beauty and the beast basically and it's incredible. But it really what that that.
42:35.44
Lois
O.
42:46.10
Lois
Um, yeah.
42:50.81
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
The track arc that you shared really reminds me of it because it's got these kind of electronic tones that do these in Beauty and the beast. It's supposed to sound like the clock striking. In fact, it does have I think the clock striking but just those kind of um.
43:03.56
Lois
Ah.
43:09.45
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Scales and the arpeggios and it really reminded me of it. But I Love how you've got this very natural and it sounds so natural that piano because it's so imperfect in a beautiful way so you can't help but know that it's this very kind of um, soulful organic. Real instrument and then you've got these electronic textures that just make it feel very Otherworldly. So I really enjoyed listening to that. Um, can you tell us a little bit about Arc and why it's called Arc as well.
43:36.54
Lois
Um, oh thank you so much.
43:44.68
Lois
Yeah, well I guess the name came out of the the shape of the phrases within it. Um, you know it's It's quite kind of moves kind of in an archy sort of a way I don't know if I'm disgraiving that well enough.
43:59.49
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah I understand what you mean because it's got a lot of like rises and falls in it doesn't it. Yeah.
44:00.71
Lois
M.
44:05.30
Lois
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely in. So in fact that it was an interesting composition because it just kind of arrived. You know and fullyly formed So that that was kind of cool I've never really experienced that before.
44:22.56
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
And.
44:24.83
Lois
So That was it just kind of was here one day all of a sudden M. But there was something there always felt like there was something missing from it and am. Just decided to get a little bit experimental and um, add some electronic sounds kind of experimenting with midi and I think I think what's happened with Arc is that it it feels like a bit of a.
44:57.24
Lois
Sort of a downward spiral into madness almost as is is um, yeah it I just I Just really enjoyed putting their parts together and like you said it was that that I think what is successful about it is that the the marriage between.
45:01.22
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um.
45:16.32
Lois
Really imperfect natural kind of real like really real piano and these sort of other worldly kind of I think it just as an interesting piece I don't I don't know how to describe.
45:19.20
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
And.
45:26.86
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Well, the other thing I like about it is that all of those extra kind of electronic surreal sounds and and Motifs they're very very subtle I Love that about it. You could have gone really kind of thrown everything at the canvas but you haven't.
45:38.17
Lois
A.
45:44.75
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
You've just selected some little touches that come in here and there and I think that's what makes it really strong because it just makes it feel very. There's a confidence in how you've composed that and produced that and also then as a piece it just makes it feel. Um.
45:54.86
Lois
You.
46:03.12
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Ah, just just like a kind of natural evolution but something that yeah, that does take you somewhere quite different from where it starts. Um, yeah.
46:11.86
Lois
Yeah, and that's awesome feedback. Thank you so much and I ah think it's something I I'm I'm ah I feel like I'm beginning to develop a stylele um as well. It's it's not just about the the acoustic piano and.
46:20.41
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
And.
46:27.70
Lois
You can do so much more and and it's like that you know I didn't I didn't throw a whole bunch of things at it. It's It's very held back and I think I think that's part of my evolving style as well is that actually that's fine. You know you don't It doesn't need to be bills and and vessels. Um.
46:31.33
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, yeah.
46:39.78
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Oh yeah, no no I think.
46:47.45
Lois
I think I think I think that's my personality I think I'm I'm quite quiet but I have quite am you know, dark dark thoughts bonkers thoughts kind of a lake being taken away to different universities and worlds and um.
46:57.19
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um, yeah, yeah.
47:07.80
Lois
That I mean that feels very fulfilling as well. Just to see the sort of style evolving.
47:11.55
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, yeah, no I think that's really amazing because again coming into this whole like what's a musician and I think that it I mean in terms of what's a producer or what's a composer or what's an artist producer or however, you might want to think of it.
47:20.97
Lois
Um, yeah.
47:29.87
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
I Think having that Sonic signature which can evolve and change and also take different forms but there's a like I said before there's a confidence in being able to say I'm intentionally using these things I'm not throwing everything at the canvas. Um, and.
47:43.73
Lois
Are.
47:47.97
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, when I heard arc as I oh this is really cool. This is really interesting and I'm really glad for you Lois that it feels like your practice is evolving and not just your piano but your your recording and production practice is evolving into something that feels very you you know.
47:56.37
Lois
He.
48:04.70
Lois
E a.
48:07.23
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
That's very cool and I think that's like that's like the next level isn't it. That's the next level of not just learning these skills but then making them your own.
48:17.45
Lois
Um, yes, absolutely Yay am I'm feeling like quite emotional at that because I think that's you know it sort of nice to have someone reflect back. What internally is happening and yeah.
48:34.76
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, no pleasure. Um, no and and it's really nice to it's really nice to see like it's amazing for me to have watched that process in you Um, and and I think you know coming back to what we were talking about before of like the.
48:34.95
Lois
Thank you.
48:43.24
Lois
E.
48:52.37
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
It's only through taking action that you've then really felt like you have stepped into this place of really owning the title of musician but also seeing yourself evolve into the next level you know and i. I'm sure for you Lois it's like feeling like you're unlocking the potential the artist that was always inside.
49:11.61
Lois
Yay Death Most definitely is like this creative Beast has been unleashed somewhere and and and it's always it feels like it's always tried to to come out and I've always fished it down. You don't show your feelings. Um.
49:21.30
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Oh yeah.
49:28.48
Lois
So you know and that and that that's helped inform my mental health as well because and yeah I'm just you know I'm being myself I'm I'm learning how to view myself ultimately and yeah, it's huge. Yeah.
49:31.18
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
The.
49:40.70
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, yeah, how massive is that? yeah and I think that you know you know how you were saying that the first time you went through Hra um, you didn't necessarily take ah as much action as.
49:46.27
Lois
Definitely.
49:56.60
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
But you have you know the last kind of few months but what you said is really important as well. It was all going in. It was all percolating and we we all have our own journey and I think the fact that you are still showing up and there was a fire in you that then that was like I'm goingnna I'm going to come and I'm going to listen to this crazy lady on my.
49:56.77
Lois
You.
50:16.16
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Computer even if I just turn up for Isabel's lives you know? and even if I just watch the content like of the course you ah a lot of us need to do that. We need that stage as well of just being like okay, what's the what's the territory here and I'm just going to kind of be here and and observe it.
50:18.11
Lois
Um, yeah.
50:29.70
Lois
Yeah.
50:34.69
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
And then you were ready when it was your time and when the time was right for you. You were ready to then take action. Um, and and I know that there'll be people listening who really needed to hear about your journey Lois because they may still be in that phase where they've made that first or second or tenth recording.
50:50.65
Lois
Um, yeah.
50:53.54
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Does not sound how they want it to and you are proof that when you take action. That's when you start feeling confident. That's when you start owning that title. That's when you start really defining your own Sonic signature and that's when you start moving on to that next level and being able to actually then go off to some stuff.
50:59.11
Lois
E.
51:13.44
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
That maybe felt impossible before because when you have an ep that you're releasing suddenly you actually can show up as a musician to other people to the rest of the world and people can connect with your music. So I really want to know Lois. What's the plan for the ep are you planning on releasing when you planning doing that I will not accept you not sending your music off to late junction and night tracks on Bbc Radio 3 have to do that. It's perfect for it.
51:37.96
Lois
Okay, okay I will take a note of that the the Isabel What is I.
51:47.45
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Ah, um, so yeah, what's the plan.
51:52.40
Lois
I Am they then the immediate plan is to get them mastered I want somebody to to do that for me and am in the process of applying for funding for that which I never would have thought of doing without the knowledge within your course. Um.
51:59.56
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Fantastic. And.
52:08.73
Lois
So that's the plan by I hope I I plan to really sit as an Ep M early next year and I know.
52:14.16
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Great. So that actually could be when this this is episode is due to go out around January Twenty Twenty Three so amazing amazing okay
52:23.37
Lois
Perfect perfect. It will be Ill will be out there waiting for listeners and yeah, so that's very cool. Um.
52:32.93
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, great. So you're you're planning on releasing it and um, and yeah just I guess then seeing how how that goes and I think you were saying that you're already kind of new ideas are percolating. New musical ideas are perculating have you got? yeah.
52:47.76
Lois
Yes, definitely there I've got of a several things I need to rate a list and see what that My prior priority is but and I've got a couple of collaborations coming up that have come through Hre which is very exciting.
52:50.62
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
An idea of where you're going to go next in that way.
52:59.72
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um, and oh ah, how cool what through other students in the in the community. How cool.
53:07.20
Lois
Um, yes, yeah, so it's it's it's really interesting when you join HR you automatically get this network of colleagues and um, a lot of them have turned into really beautiful friendships and as well and.
53:15.39
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah. Yeah, it is a ridiculously amazing Community isn't it. Yeah yes, I'm really glad to hear that that's that's been meant friendships and musical collaborations.
53:25.93
Lois
Yeah, it's it's wonderful. A yeah m.
53:38.50
Lois
Yeah, yes, it's really cool. Um, so basically I've got lots to be getting on with but I need to meet some decisions about what comes next. But definitely yeah as as you said earlier I've got this new piano that is now that will be on pitch the next time it's.
53:39.59
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
I don't. Must.
53:55.63
Lois
Tune And and the reason I did that is because these collaborations started to come up look I Really want a natural sounding acoustic Piano I was like I I can't do it for you because I can't get it. You know my piano is not in tune and it never will be so again, it's about.
53:55.89
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Ah.
53:59.67
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
You.
54:09.51
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
So and so this is like people saying I need a piano on my track or something Can you record that from home and send it over to me. Yeah, that's so brilliant that you can do that from from your house.
54:13.60
Lois
Taking.
54:19.11
Lois
Um, yeah, yeah, a yeah, it's amazing and and yeah I'm working with a student that's in or a nature alumni sorry that's in Austria and.
54:27.93
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah.
54:33.29
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
What.
54:35.26
Lois
You know so sort of all these worldwide connections and and things so I'm really excited about that. But's it's quite yeah, it'll be ah, another learning curve almost working with a clients. You know it's like what what do they want it to sound like so that feels like a good step.
54:44.75
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, yes, yeah.
54:53.75
Lois
Next step to learn as well. Yeah.
54:53.99
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, definitely oh well. Lois I mean I wish you all the best of luck with all of the exciting things that are coming up in the future. Not least releasing the cp what have you got an idea for what you're going to call it.
55:08.59
Lois
I Think that the name has changed a lot. But I think it's going to be called Sepia and the reason is because it's a really old beat up sounding piano but also the pieces come from a time on my life where you know that that was the past.
55:16.71
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Sepia Oh I Love that I Love that.
55:27.90
Lois
Um, looking back on it through a Cp lens you know and I've I've changed and evolved and that was a moment in time then and the next things are going to be a bit a bit different. So.
55:31.20
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Um, hello. Um.
55:39.91
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Yeah, oh that's that really makes a lot of sense. Yeah, so okay, well if if the name changes. Obviously you will let me know and I will update the show notes for this episode if anyone's listening I think ah I really want to listen to the rest of Lois's
55:45.80
Lois
Yeah.
55:52.69
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
New ep we have linked to it with the show notes you can go and check it out there. Um Lois thank you so much for sharing your experience of learning to record. Um and and also your relationship how it's changed to the term musician. Um. And I just want to say a massive massive congratulations. Well done massive respect for everything that you've taken on you've learned you've taken action. Um, and you've really gone on ah a very kind of I'm sure at times challenging but really rewarding journey. And thank you so much for sharing that with everyone because I know it will have been really valuable for people listening to this podcast.
56:34.62
Lois
You're so welcome. Thank you so much for for asking me.
56:38.72
girlstwiddlingkn0bs
Well.
