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Lauren Christy’s story is one of resilience and re-invention and this episode shows us the journey of one of pop music’s most impressive careers.

We go deep on her early London years, the Atlantic Records implosion that left her in debt at 20, and the hard reset that carried her to Mercury, late-night TV, and a Golden Globe–nominated single. Then the twist: a label’s priorities wipe out her radio moment, forcing a choice that would change the sound of the 2000s.

Lauren explains how she read the room and built The Matrix with Graham Edwards and Scott Spock—a writer-producer collective modeled on the approach of Cheiron; Max Martins hit making machine. Inside those sessions came earworm-first craft, bass-led toplines, and a new lane for a 16-year-old artist named Avril Lavigne. The result: Complicated, Sk8er Boi, and a sustained run at number one that redefined pop-rock. We unpack the process, the pressure, and what it meant to be among the first women ever nominated for Producer of the Year for producing other artists.

There’s more than career lore here. Lauren talks about faith as a daily practice that steadied her through industry politics and redirected her toward a life she actually wanted—family, mentoring, and meaningful work without constant travel.

We get into practical safety rules for sessions, why women remain underrepresented in production, and the path forward: learn a DAW, produce your own demos, protect your time, and build teams that let songs breathe. She also shares updates on SkyChristy, her daughters’ duo, and recent projects spanning pop, rock, and classical crossover.

If stories of resilience, real-world tactics, and transparent mentorship fuel you, press play and join us. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s building their music career, and leave a review so more creators can find these conversations.

https://www.instagram.com/thelaurenchristy/?hl=en

lauren@laurenchristy.com

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The year closes with gratitude and anticipation for what’s next. After a debut season that landed in the top 80% of new podcasts and the top 98% of most shared shows, we’re taking that momentum into a bigger, bolder Season Two that continues to inform us on how music gets made—and who makes it happen.

If you care about songwriting craft, studio engineering, music production, artist development, and the real mechanics of the music industry, this season is built for you. We’ll keep the warmth and honesty you’ve come to expect while delivering more diverse voices, and conversations that move from inspiration to application.

Thanks for listening, sharing, and being part of this growing community. Hit follow, send this teaser to a friend who loves music, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find these stories. Your support helps us keep amplifying the women who move the industry forward.

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We sit down with Grammy-nominated artist, songwriter, and poet Valerie June to explore how everyday life becomes a creative channel— Valerie traces her roots to Tennessee and a childhood surrounded by music. We talk about her father’s involvement as a promoter of performers like Prince, Jojo and Jodeci. That early vantage point meets a deep well of influence—Appalachian folk, gospel, blues, dream soul, and how her music draws from artist’s as diverse as Curtis Mayfield, Tracy Chapman and Leonard Cohen.

She shares how her ideas and melodies show up unannounced, how she protects the solitude of writing before inviting collaborators to add their contribution in the studio, and how her three-breath meditative reset keeps her centered. We listen to and talk about a song from her newest album, Owls, Omens and Oracles. The song “Endless Tree,” is a radiant experience that asks whether we can be free and still disagree, and we also unpack the quiet power of opening doors as a Black woman in Americana without having to explain it at every turn.

Style becomes another instrument in this conversation: Bowie-inspired silhouettes, thrift-store treasures, and street-stall finds that build a living mood board around her music. Valerie describes the slow climb from fly-on-the-wall sessions with Dan Auerbach to co-producing with conviction, and she opens up about poetry arriving after loss, spoken lines in her poetry that later find their way into her songs. Beyond the stage, she is a mentor and brings mindfulness into classrooms, helping students turn attention into art and courage into performance.

Listen to hear about her songwriting secrets, stay for the practices you can use today—portable meditation, patient craft, and the reminder that creativity thrives when we listen and engage. If this conversation moves you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find these stories.

https://www.instagram.com/thevaleriejune/?hl=en

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We sit down with Nashville powerhouse Anastasia Brown—music supervisor, consultant, and author—to chart the moments that reshaped her career and helped reshape the city’s relationship with film and television. From her early days as a manager, the Bluebird Cafe revelation that led to signing Keith Urban to his first record deal; Anastasia shows how conviction, curiosity, and grit can lift you to new career heights.

We unpack the real Nashville: a ten-year town for artist development because of the density of talent and the apprenticeship needed for songwriting. Anastasia explains how sync licensing became her pivot as mechanical royalties for record sales fell, why authentic archival recordings can save a budget without shortchanging writers, and what it takes to spot an artist before the market does. We talk frankly about songwriter pay, the realities of streaming royalties, and the practical ways supervisors and producers can protect value for the people who create the songs. If you’re searching for artist development, music supervision strategy, sync licensing, Nashville music scene, or songwriter rights, this conversation delivers an insider’s view.

The episode also moves into leadership and resilience. Anastasia shares how women in Nashville pushed through outdated norms, the mentors who opened doors, and her goal to build a self-sustaining scoring industry in Music City—highlighted by recording The Shack with a 74-piece orchestra at Ocean Way. Finally, she opens up about her own loss and purpose, launching “There Are No Words, But We Have A Few” to give grieving parents a community and a voice.

If this resonated, tap follow, share it with a friend who loves music and stories that matter, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show. Your support keeps these conversations—and the songwriters behind them—thriving.

https://www.instagram.com/anastasiabrownnashville/?hl=en

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Today Sarah sits down with Rachael Yamagata. Her new album asks you to stop scrolling and truly listen. That’s the invitation at the heart of our conversation with Rachel Yamagata, whose new record, Starlit Alchemy, unfolds as a continuous journey—interludes, transitions, and songs that flow like a single film score. We trace the winding path to release: tours planned for 2019, recording plans derailed in 2020, the pivot to a home studio in the Catskills, and the choice to embrace an album-first vision when the industry rewards singles and snippets.

Rachel shares the stories behind the music, including “Birds,” a meditation on signs, loss, and the ways we make meaning during uncertain times. She opens up about the tradeoffs of full independence: self-management, learning marketing from scratch, funding a record out of touring, and crafting DIY visuals on her phone to reach new listeners. The numbers are real—tens of thousands to make an album, streaming payouts that don’t cover the costs, and the long grind of booking, rehearsals, and promotion. Yet the creative intent shines: immersive shows in listening rooms and resonant spaces with strings, soundscapes, and a set designed for deep focus.

We also revisit Rachel’s early 2000s roots—Hotel Cafe, global tours, and collaborations—and explore why placements in TV and film still give songs a second life. Then we get candid about the present: social media as both lifeline and time sink, gatekeeping that privileges surface over substance, and the uncertain role of AI in shaping the next wave of artistry. Rachel’s answer is to go deeper, not faster: make work that rewards attention, build community, and let the album format carry the weight of complex emotion.

Hit play to hear a veteran artist map the real economics of creating today, the philosophy behind an album that demands presence, and the optimism that keeps the music moving forward. If the conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find these stories.

https://rachaelyamagata.com/

https://www.instagram.com/rachaelyamagata/

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Sarah sits down with Kim Frankiewicz, EVP of Worldwide A&R at Concord Music Publishing, to map the real levers behind sustainable artist success—from first gigs that Kim went to in Newcastle, Australia and a life-changing INXS chapter to leading a global team that signs, nurtures, and re-signs talent on the strength of songs and character. Kim’s path is a masterclass in long-game A&R: choose publishing to grow gracefully, curate a roster you’re proud of, and make passion the entry ticket for every deal.

We dig into how music discovery truly works now that borders have become less important. The playbook isn’t US-first anymore; it’s Johannesburg, Lagos, Seoul, London, and New York in the same week. Kim breaks down why K‑Pop remains a powerhouse for songwriters and producers, how Afrobeats rewired global ears, and why India’s next wave feels inevitable. Numbers still matter, but they’re not the focus .That guardrail protects artists from getting trapped in the churn of a single hit record and positions them for re-signings, not just one-offs.

They also discuss the AI question head-on. AI can simulate sheen, but ultimately struggle to deliver the emotions that makes a real song. Kim’s view is grounded: expect more noise and better tools, yet trust that emotion, point of view, and performance that will keep real artists on top. There’s straight talk for emerging A&R pros, too—do the unglamorous legwork, back people you genuinely love, and commit to the long ride. Kim shares how she, an introvert can lead in a public-facing role, and what has changed—and what still hasn’t—for women who want to thrive in music.

If you care about artist development, music publishing, and the future of A&R in a global, AI-tinged landscape, this conversation will reset your compass.

https://www.instagram.com/kimfrankiewicz/

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In this engaging conversation, Divinity Roxx takes us through her remarkable journey from classical clarinet player to hip-hop artist, to Beyoncé's bassist and musical director, and ultimately, a creator of genre-defying music for all ages.

Divinity talks about her experience as musical director in Beyoncé's groundbreaking all-female band—a role that transformed perceptions of women in music across generations. "I meet people all the time who talk about how impactful it was," she shares, recounting stories of young women who became professional musicians after seeing women commanding stadium stages for the first time. This representation wasn't just vital for girls but also for boys who grew up with limited notions of what women could accomplish musically.

Her artistic evolution is a masterclass in following curiosity wherever it leads. Growing up in Atlanta's rich musical ecosystem, Divinity absorbed influences from local funk bands to Parliament Funkadelic, from Bad Brains to Bob Marley. This diverse musical diet created the foundation for her uniquely genre-fluid approach to composition. When the pandemic hit, an unexpected opportunity to create music for Scholastic led to her first Grammy nomination and a whole new creative chapter.

Beyond her own creative work, Divinity speaks passionately about advocating for women in music, especially instrumentalists who often face the harshest industry conditions. "You're the first to get cut, the least paid, nobody worries about you," she explains, highlighting why mentorship and visibility matter so profoundly. Yet her message ultimately transcends the music industry: "You can start over as many times as you want to. You can have as many lives and different lives as you want to."

Join us for this intimate conversation about breaking barriers, finding joy in unexpected places, and the power of staying endlessly curious about what might come next. Whether you're a musician, a parent, or simply someone navigating your own career pivots, Divinity's journey offers inspiration and practical wisdom for charting your own path.

https://www.instagram.com/diviroxx/

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From art student to music publishing powerhouse, Annette Barrett's 40-year career reveals the invisible architecture behind some of music's biggest moments. Sarah and Annette discuss her remarkable journey that began with a chance opportunity at Carlin Music and led to groundbreaking work with legends like David Bowie, Madonna, Prince, and Elton John.

With the perfect blend of business acumen and creative intuition, Barrett explains how her foundation in copyright law combined with her artist's sensibility created the "magical combo" that shaped her success. As the first woman appointed to Warner Chapel's board of directors and now managing director of Reservoir-Reverb Music, she shares the philosophy that guided her through decades of industry evolution: "It all starts with a song."

The conversation takes a fascinating turn when Barrett reveals her lifelong friendship with David Bowie, which began during her art studies at the Sorbonne in Paris. He was also a student there. This personal connection to one of music's greatest innovators adds rich context to her understanding of creative minds and her ability to nurture songwriting talent.

Barrett's pioneering international perspective transformed how the industry operates. Long before globalization became standard practice, she was connecting songwriters across borders and cultures, creating what she calls "cross-pollination" that sparked unexpected creative magic. Her anecdote about introducing Danish producer Cutfather to Nashville songwriters—resulting in a number one hit with Pink and Keith Urban—perfectly illustrates her talent for seeing potential collaborations others miss.

As co-founder and president of the Independent Music Publishers Forum (IMPF), Barrett continues championing independent voices in the industry, organizing global songwriting camps and advocating for songwriters' rights. Her commitment to "giving something back" through mentorship and advocacy demonstrates why she remains such an influential figure in music publishing.

Ready to discover more about the women powering the music industry? Subscribe to She Creates Noise for conversations that illuminate the brilliant women working behind the scenes to create the soundtrack of our lives.

https://www.instagram.com/annettebarrett4022/

https://www.reservoir-media.com/

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Many thanks to Anne Tello for her vocals on the theme song and to our sponsor 'Heard City'.

Check out https://www.shecreatesnoisepodcast.com for more episodes featuring women who power the music industry.

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