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Penfriend 💌 Laura 🎸 sad songs to make you feel better 🖤

@penfriendrocks

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🧶 Craft, music and adventure.
⤵️ Get a FREE 12-track album and zine via my link ⤵️
🧭 Nottingham, UK.
🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈❤️

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In 2021, aged 40, I took a big gamble.

After 10 years of releasing music under a different name, I decided I had to make a change. I quit touring to give myself space to experiment with new music. I knew I had to trust my gut.

I decided to record a whole album by myself in my attic in Bristol. I changed my name to Penfriend, because I love writing letters, using typewriters and making zines. I created a podcast where I talked to artists about creativity, grit and determination. It felt like a lifeline during lockdowns.

Guests included: Nova Twins, Self Esteem, Tanya Donelly, Corin Tucker, Lemn Sissay, Miles Hunt and Sananda Maitreya.

I invited music fans to join my journey through a subscription called The Correspondent’s Club (get it?!)

In 2021 I released the first Penfriend album “Exotic Monsters”. It went to #24 in the UK Albums Chart through fan power alone!

I could have kept walking the same path I’d been on for 10 years, or I could have given up completely.

I’m so glad I didn’t.

In July 2026 I released “Monstrous Exotic” – a 10-track collection of newly reworked tracks from “Exotic Monsters” to celebrate 5 years of the album I made during one of the weirdest times in living history.

I’m having a lovely time packing up CDs, books, tees, stickers and bookmarks to send around the world. Thank you, music fans!

Please don’t give up on your dreams. Trust your instincts.

Starting again can be scary, but sometimes it’s necessary.

If you like what you hear, join my mailing list and I’ll send you 12 free songs.

Follow for more craft, music and adventure from me, your Penfriend ❤️ by @penfriendrocks

This is what FIFTEEN YEARS of releasing independent albums looks like.

Yes, fifteen years ago this week I released my first album "Disarm" on Bandcamp, completely uninvited by the world at large.

I'd had that dream in mind for about fifteen years – as a teenager I'd started telling people I was going to be a songwriter one day and, as a stubborn person, I kept trying to make it happen. Slowly, slowly, slowly then BOOM, an album finally existed!

Even after I achieved a later dream – setting up my own shop to sell my music and merch – Bandcamp has stayed very special to me.

Today is Bandcamp Day, a now-regular celebration of indie music designed to support artists by waiving platform fees for the day.

In a world where most tech companies are actively trying to make the lives of artists harder (and the experiences of its users worse), Bandcamp continues to support us.

If it wasn't for them I don't know how I could have released "Disarm" back in 2010. I'm delighted we've both survived this long.

*** Today I've shared some new 30% off CD bundles plus all my new album vinyl, KiTalbums, hardback books, CDs and demos & rarities here: http://penfriendrocks.bandcamp.com/merch

THANK YOU! We did this together.

Love,
Laura xxx by @penfriendrocks

This is what your copy of my new album looks like :)

➡️ Visit the link in my bio to get yours sent to wherever you are in the world!

Love and thanks to @maxsaidi for drums, @chrissheldonmixer for mixing, @katietavini for mastering, @thejchakravorty for piano, @jessicajumpers and @revdancatt for beautiful illustrations, @pressonvinyl for stunning vinyl @kit.better for stunning KiT box sets and @mixamprint for book printing.

Love,
Laura xxx by @penfriendrocks

Spotted today…will you visit? by @penfriendrocks

From someone who’s never gone vaguely viral 🤣

Pathologically late to every party, here I am completing my 12th week of posting 3 reels a week on IG.

Did you notice I was trying something new?
Did it change my life? I’ll get back to you on that.

Being in a real life magazine is a new feeling, too! Thank you @stuffmag for a fab chat about building a world of music, experiences and visuals using my own brain and hands 🤩

Read the article via the link in my bio or get a copy from your newsagents and help keep physical media aliiiiiiive x by @penfriendrocks

What a coincidence that today is world mental health day, when I’ve taken myself away for a mental health weekend.

Today I walked 10km along a beautiful canal with just my thoughts for company, puzzling through some stuff that’s been swirling around my head for ages. Sometimes I get really stuck in the mud of life and wonder what I’m supposed to be doing, and why I’m not excited to get to work every day. Walking helps. Nature helps. Deep breathing on purpose helps. A change of scene helps.

I feel fortunate to have been able to give myself this break, and I already feel loads better. Just some time alone to be quiet, to turn inwards, to write and draw and take photos and have a big think is much appreciated.

And trees are amazing!

Take care of yourself please. If you’re not feeling good and you don’t have anyone to talk to, remember the Samaritans do incredible work. Pick up the phone x by @penfriendrocks

I just don’t think online listening can compete with the experience of immersing yourself in an album on vinyl or CD. What do you think?

I also love the KiTalbum, so much so that I jumped on board to be the first independent UK artist to release an album on the format in 2025.

So if you’re looking for something to bridge the gap between streaming and CD/vinyl, my “House Of Stories” KiTalbum is in my shop (you know where to find the link).

➡️ Read my interview with @stuffmag via the link in my bio x by @penfriendrocks

“I will relentlessly release music on physical media” - getting deep with Craig from @stuffmag 🤩

Serious question: which animal are you?

PS Mum, I’m in a magazine! Link in bio ❤️ by @penfriendrocks

I went to a beautiful gig on Saturday night.

Three very special, very quiet performers and a correspondingly respectful and hushed audience in a beautiful space. Just what the doctor ordered for my jumbled up nervous system.

Thank you @hellothorrecords @daudi @quinceymaybrown @floatbandfloat and lovely to see the fab @jjlovegrove for a between-set catchup too. And there were delicious pretzels, what?!

Tap all the people tagged and listen to some great music today why not. ❤️ by @penfriendrocks

What I said about AI versus what was printed in a magazine…

I didn’t particularly want to waste my breath on this topic in my recent interview for @stuffmag (especially as it was my first magazine interview in at least 8 years!) but interviewer Craig asked so graciously and did a brilliant job of condensing my long reply into something accurate - not an easy task and not something that always happens in the press!

This is the answer I gave him before moving on to talk about creating a handmade audiovisual world of physical media and digital experiences.

Find me on page 24 of the new issue with honourable mentions for @republicaofficial @dji @telepathic.instruments and the humble Voice Memos app.

Long live human art, craft, music and adventure x by @penfriendrocks

Look who’s back! 🙈 It’s a fuck no forever from me, wasn’t I clear?

Another example of the sort of AI shilling bullshit us artists are getting spammed with these days!

(Swipe for the original message)

“Adam” (definitely a real human being) is back with another generous offer to save me the bother of making stuff with my own human brain and hands.

I didn’t email him back the other day because no response *is* a response. And here he is. Back again. Working on a Sunday. Maybe he’s the one who needs technology to help him free up time to do other things?!

Fuck no to AI, fuck yes to craft, music and adventure x by @penfriendrocks

I’m starting a new music style. Can you guess what I’m calling it? by @penfriendrocks