Image source: Female DIY Musician
In an industry where women and non-binary individuals have often been marginalized, Girls Twiddling Knobs—a podcast founded by Isobel Anderson—aims to create a space where their voices are heard, valued, and celebrated. Through the podcast, Anderson highlights the importance of gender representation in music production, while also addressing the technical and cultural barriers that often hold women back from fully immersing themselves in this field.
One of the core themes of Girls Twiddling Knobs is Anderson’s commitment to breaking down these barriers. She focuses on providing technical knowledge that is often inaccessible to beginners, from techniques like side-chaining to vocal production, making sure that the podcast helps newcomers learn the skills they need to be successful in music production. Her goal is to ensure that more women feel confident stepping into the world of sound engineering and production.
“It’s so important that we as humans are given the tools and given the space to make things, and with me, that just so happened to be mainly through sound, audio, and music.”
Self-Doubt and Gender Bias in the Music Industry
Like many women in the music industry, Anderson faced her own struggles with self-doubt and gendered expectations placed upon her early in her career. She admits that starting out, she often relied on male counterparts for mentorship, which reinforced the idea that certain spaces within music production weren’t meant for her.
Anderson’s early experiences mirror those of countless women in music production, where a sense of imposter syndrome and external doubt can prevent them from pursuing their passions. In a response to common mental health challenges that female music producers face, Anderson responds, “I think there’s a lot of self-doubt and internalized misogyny. A lot of kind of doubting our opinions, our abilities, our capacity, our gut feelings.” Through the podcast, she’s committed to tackling that inner critic head-on—not just for herself but for the many women who tune in.
Girls Twiddling Knobs became a vehicle for Isobel not only to address these doubts but also to open up conversations around them. She emphasizes how critical it is for women to take ownership of their own skill sets and creative processes, without feeling they must conform to the existing norms that often marginalize them.
Representation Beyond Personal Experiences
Beyond technical skills, Girls Twiddling Knobs is part influenced by Anderson’s personal experiences as a woman in the music industry. She has faced a range of challenges—from overt misogyny to microaggressions and boundary violations. Anderson notes, “I’ve experienced misogyny myself, I’ve experienced even people crossing boundaries to do with sexual boundaries, physical boundaries, all that kind of stuff. But also just sort of daily what people call microaggressions of the way that people treat you, the presumptions that people make of you.” Her candid sharing of these personal challenges gives voice to the all-too-common experiences of women in male-dominated industries, especially in the often exclusionary world of music technology.
However, Anderson is quick to point out that the podcast isn’t just about her. While her personal experiences play a part in shaping the content, she emphasizes the importance of showcasing the experiences of others, particularly those from other marginalized backgrounds that she cannot fully understand herself. “There’s lots of experiences I haven’t had,” she admits, noting the significance of bringing on guests from different walks of life—women of color, those with disabilities, and non-binary individuals to name a few. Anderson makes it clear that representation is not just a goal, but a necessity for a more inclusive and diverse industry.
Stories of Resilience: Nour Sokhon
A memorable moment for Anderson was her interview with Nour Sokhon, a Lebanese sound artist. Sarkhan’s work, which explores themes of trauma, conflict, voice, and gender, resonated with Anderson deeply, especially in light of the ongoing political unrest in the Middle East. “With everything that’s unfolding at the moment in the world, and particularly with Israel invading Lebanon…I can’t help but be thinking about artists who are making work in those difficult circumstances,” Anderson reflected. Sarkhan’s ability to channel such profound experiences into her sound work served as a reminder of how crucial it is to provide a platform for artists who use music as a way of processing trauma and conflict.
Through these insights, Girls Twiddling Knobs becomes more than just a podcast about production—it’s a space for reflection on the social and political realities that shape women’s experiences in the industry. Anderson’s emphasis on learning from her guests’ diverse experiences is a powerful testament to the importance of community and collaboration in breaking down barriers.
Challenging the Industry’s Norms
Ultimately, not only does Girls Twiddling Knobs provide tools for success in the music industry, it tells stories. Anderson’s podcast serves as both a practical resource and a platform for women and non-binary individuals in the music industry to share their experiences. By amplifying these voices, Anderson hopes to challenge the industry’s norms and inspire more women to pursue their passion for music production.
As she eloquently puts it, the podcast is a combination of her own journey and the stories of others. It’s this combination that makes Girls Twiddling Knobs such a powerful force in the fight for gender equity in the music industry providing hope and guidance for those who have often been overlooked.
For link to the website: www.girlstwiddlingknobs.com / https://femalediymusician.com
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