TIRADE: FIRST UP, WHY MUSIC?

nardean: Anyone who does music will tell you that's almost an impossible question to answer. Its not a conscious choice that gets made - its an impulse that draws you to it. And its almost an addiction to it that keeps you going and coming back (this sounds really unhealthy but I promise I'm fine).

TIRADE: TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY FROM AN ARTIST TO PRODUCER?

nardean: After my last EP 'The Remedy,' which I executive produced, I felt like I didn't really have anything left to say! I got everything off my chest in the artist sense, it really felt like a completion of that part of my identity. When I moved to London I'd felt a bit lost and wasn't sure where my music career was headed, but after a while I realised that I really enjoyed producing and that was the most natural career progression for me. I started doing sessions as a producer and fell even more in love. It just makes so much sense!

TIRADE: You started a female production collective, GRRLS CLUB. Tell us about it?

NARDEAN: GRRLS CLUB is a space that empowers, uplifts and connects female + NB music producers & engineers. I started it cause I got so sick of always being the only woman in the room. I used to get so jealous seeing the boys hang out - why didn't we do that?? So thats how the idea was born. Now it's become a place where we do events, hangouts, songwriting camps, courses etc. It's been so cool to see how much people needed this space!

TIRADE: What do female producers/engineers bring to the table that makes sessions special?

NARDEAN: Aside from the usual things like technical skill, creativity etc, I think that females in general have a higher sense of empathy and emotional intelligence. Being a good producer is so much about reading the room & making the artist feel safe and comfortable, and I think women are incredible at this.

TIRADE: Why do you think the rate of women in music production is so low?

NARDEAn: There's so many reasons. There's a huge cultural stigma that already pushes women away from it (think about the term "sound guy" - why do we assume its a guy?). On top of that you have the fact that since its mostly males at the moment - a lot of the time they just call their friends to help with production/engineering, meaning its a really hard industry for women to break into right now. Add to that the low visibility (if you can't see it, you can't be it) - so we have less women thinking they can even start. But GRRLS CLUB is all about changing this!

TIRADE: Any sick female producers or engineers we should know about?

SO MANY!!! Coletti, Dlmma, Ronavella, Peradise ... its so hard to name them all but I've met so many incredible producers through GRRLS CLUB!

TIRADE: What’s on your spotify playlist right now?

NARDEAN: Right now I am listening to a lot of Saint Levant, Little Simz & LULU.

TIRADE: What’s next for you and GRRLS club?

NARDEAN: We have some massive plans for next year ... if all goes according to plan we're looking as a whole record label! Championing female + NB producers and helping them get credits out in the world by releasing music that we make on our camps. As well as of course many different courses, masterclasses, live events and things. We can't wait!