About the project

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In November 2020, Lisa Murphy - a music producer and teacher based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the northeast of England - began a 6-month project titled ‘Women in Music Production’. The intention of this project was to support more women into work as music producers, an area of the music industry in which they are under-represented. 

Four aspiring female music producers were selected to access weekly skills/knowledge development sessions, recording and production projects at professional studios and guest workshops from prominent local music producers. 

In order to capture the success of this project and share with others, we teamed up with local video production company Bridgelight Media to make a mini-documentary. The documentary is the story of the project from the perspective of those involved. We hope that this mini-documentary is a positive insight into the journey of these music producers, and acts as an inspiration to anyone wanting to pursue a career in music production - regardless of their gender. 

This project was made possible using public funding from Arts Council England, through the National Lottery Grants scheme. 

PROJECT DETAILS: 

• There was a focus on ‘hands-on’ learning, to allow for experimentation and practice with recording, mixing and production techniques. Each participant had full access to the project lead, Lisa Murphy’s studio, Production Room – to practice their skills and record and mix their own music and work with clients.
   
• Other professional recording studios used during the project for recording sessions or workshops include Blast Recording, The Old Church Studio and Blank Studios.
   
• The four women who took part in the project were Cortney Dixon, Abby Hillyer, Holly Rees and Grace Alexander. Each has a background in music either as a performer, songwriter or in live sound.
   
• Guest speaker/workshop sessions were delivered by Hattie Murdoch (singer/songwriter/producer), Paul Gregory (guitarist/producer, Mercury prize nominated Lanterns on the Lake) and Sam Grant (Blank Studios owner, producer and guitarist in Pigsx7). 

• Lisa Murphy delivered weekly skills workshops on recording, mixing and production techniques in the studio and provided 1:1 support and feedback to help each individual in the group develop their skills and knowledge based on their goals in music production.
   
• Over the course of the project we also recorded full tracks with local artists and bands including Beth Macari and bigfatbig.