Laura and Lily are artists, producers, and the founders of Our House Studios, the first and only female-run recording studio in Leeds. Frustrated by the lack of opportunities in a heavily male-dominated industry, they got tired of waiting for someone to hand them a job and dared to build their own creative space instead.
But taking a massive leap of faith wasn't without its hurdles. Thinking they were taking over a fully functioning studio, they unlocked the doors on day one only to find the space completely gutted, bare, and echoing. They also had to navigate the deep-seated anxiety of being female sound engineers—knowing that any mistake behind the desk could be unfairly blamed on their gender—and deal with older men in the industry doubting their capabilities with "mansplaining".
Now, they run a thriving, three-room creative sanctuary that feels more like a cozy living room than a clinical studio. Built with the help of free labor from their local community, pallets, and coffee sacks, Our House Studios is a testament to what happens when you anchor to a strong "why". They are actively changing the industry by showing that you don't have to know everything before you start, and they are educating the naysayers simply by doing an incredible job.
In this episode, we delve into Laura and Lily’s incredible journey and what it has taught them. We discuss the terror of the "empty room panic," the power of community, how they use "mansplaining" as fuel to prove naysayers wrong, and why asking yourself hard questions and getting comfortable with being uncomfortable is the ultimate key to building a life you actually want.
✨ IN THIS EPISODE:
00:00 Introduction to Our House Studios and the ultimate dare
04:15 Meeting at a gig and the lack of sound engineering jobs
08:40 Ditching the wait and deciding to take the leap
12:10 The Day 1 disaster: Walking into a gutted, empty studio
17:30 Flipping the mindset and the incredible power of community
28:00 Creating a cozy, non-clinical space for artists
41:20 Building acoustic panels from pallets and doing it for free
45:30 Anchoring to your "Why" when the "How" is terrifying
51:10 Dealing with mansplaining and using doubt as fuel
60:00 The pressure of perfection and asking the hard questions
💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
On finding your purpose: "It's not a how, it's having a why, having a reason why you're doing it... If that's solid, then we'll figure out how we'll do it."
On taking up space and proving people wrong: "It isn't anyone's job to educate idiot men... we're educating people just by existing. And opening the studio has made me realize how important it is for everyone in life... to actually really be themselves."
🔗 LINKS + MENTIONS:
Book your session at Our House Studios via email: ourhousemusicstudios@gmail.com
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🎙️ WANT MORE?
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Vanessa Ruck - from a devastating accident and a hospital bed to the Dakar Rally, redefining limits and setting audacious goals before you are ready
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