Jess Douek - Mallavora, 2025 **© Alia Thomas,** please do not use without permission.

UNMUTED: A Conversation with Jessica Douek of Mallavora

Alia Smallwood Thomas September 10, 2025

If you haven’t yet heard of Mallavora already, you would have done soon enough without reading this. The Bristol-based powerhouse alt-metal band have been on nothing but a steep upward trajectory over the last couple of years, and leading them from the front is their brilliant vocalist, and accessibility advocate, Jessica Douek. The importance of inclusivity in music is incredibly high, not only to Jess, but to the band overall, and this is something that we discuss quite a bit in this conversation. It’s without a doubt that I say you will take something away from this conversation that will in turn make you think a little more about the inclusivity of the spaces you’re in, but also with this is a huge respect for the determination that comes from the band on doing what’s right for them and their fans, and not being afraid to speak out on such important matters through their music. Enjoy.

Caroline Taylor © Alia Thomas 2025 | www.aliathomas.com | Please do not use without permission.

A Conversation with Soprano, Caroline Taylor

Alia Smallwood Thomas May 21, 2025

Classical music is a part of the music world that I have always known very little about, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of the audience of this project was the same. That’s just one of the reasons why I’m so pleased, and grateful, to have spoken with Caroline Taylor, an incredibly talented Soprano (and actor) who also happens to be an old school friend, about her experience of this quite extraordinary part of it. We discuss her re-directed route into the world of music, navigating life as a freelance Soprano, and what she truly loves about her job. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did chatting about it with Caroline.

© All images copyright of Alia Thomas, 2025 | www.aliathomas.com - please do not use without permission.

A Conversation with Jess Baker aka Ugly Ozo

Alia Smallwood Thomas May 1, 2025

It’s been a little while since I’ve shared a conversation from this project, but I’m so happy to be able to come back and share this next one with you. Last month I spoke with Jess Baker, also known as Ugly Ozo - a young and exciting up-and-coming artist from the Isle of Wight. Jess is a session musician and artist in her own right. I met Jess last year at Isle of Wight Festival and have worked with her a few times since, and having seen her tour as far as Australia already by the prime age of 24, she’s experienced things that some would only dream of. We speak quite a bit about touring, but also about the struggles of peformance anxiety and self-doubt, and how she’s pushed past these fears and become the artist you see here today.

All Images Copyright of Alia Thomas © Please do not use without permission.

A Conversation with Lani Hopuare

Alia Smallwood Thomas January 15, 2025

I’m pleased to share the next conversation in this project, this time with the lovely Southampton-based vocalist, Lani Hopuare. Lani gives some insights into what it’s like being in more than one band, as well as, quite impotantly, what it’s like to be in a band when you’re a parent, and more specifically, a mother. Click to read the full conversation.

© Alia Thomas - do not use without permission

A Conversation with Gemma Edwards

Alia Smallwood Thomas September 23, 2024

Gemma Edwards has been DJing around the South of the UK for a number of years now. Describing herself as a professional emo, she is heavily influenced by the alternative music of the early 2000’s and 2010s, and shares this with her audiences at club nights and festivals around the UK. Her insights into the industry as a female DJ online and at physical events are on one level shocking, hearing of some experiences she’s encountered, but on another level, unfortunately not all totally surprising. Gemma is very open with her experiences and stands by the importance of sharing these, both good and bad, to help encourage positive change to not only the music world, but filtering over to general society as a whole.

© Alia Thomas | www.aliathomas.com - please do not use without permission

A Conversation with Sam and Rachel of Memory Palace

Alia Smallwood Thomas July 10, 2024

When I started this project at the beginning of the year, I wasn’t sure how it would go. I wasn’t even sure I’d get anyone interested in being involved, but it’s been such a positive thing for me to do and I’ve loved it all, not only being able to do more of what I love, but it’s enabled me to meet and chat with some incredible humans who have some really important things to say. This week, I’m very pleased to share my conversation with Sam and Rach from Memory Palace, a band hailing from South Wales and Bristol.

Women In Music: A Conversation With Omam Dawn

Alia Smallwood Thomas May 7, 2024

At the end of February I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Amy, a truly beautiful soul, from Hampshire. Having lived and worked as a musician in London and now back in Gosport, we discuss the differences between the two places for musicians, and what may be necessary to encourage young women to go into different roles within the music industry.

Women In Music: A Conversation with Josie Haskins

Alia Smallwood Thomas March 25, 2024

For my second conversation of this project, I spoke with Josie Haskins, a young singer and songwriter from Hampshire in the midst of the startup of her solo music career. We spoke about the importance and power of community, and what beauty there is in those relationships with family and friends that have helped her to become the artist that she is today.

Women In Music: A Conversation with Charlie Draper of Adharma

Alia Smallwood Thomas January 29, 2024

The music industry has been incredibly male-dominated for so long now. Slowly, we’re starting to see more and more female, trans, and non-binary artists on lineups, but there’s still a noticeable unbalance. A big topic of conversation in the news currently is looking also at the sexism and misogyny in the industry that is so harmful to women. So why is all of this still happening? As a female in the industry on the other side of it all, I wonder how it can be that we’re still not getting it right, so I’m creating a series where I speak to (and celebrate!) some incredible women in the music industry, from all varying genres, ranging from singers to guitarists, to drummers, from solo artists, girl bands, and the only female in the band, to get an insight into their experiences within music. To get insights and perspectives that may not be realised by a lot of us. To give them a voice. This is the first. So grab a cuppa and your favourite snack, and have a read.