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

UNMUTED: 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.

UNMUTED: A Conversation with 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.

UNMUTED: 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

UNMUTED: 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

UNMUTED: 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.

UNMUTED: 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.

Josie Haskins, 2024 © Alia Thomas | www.aliathomas.com | do not use without permission.

UNMUTED: 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.

Charlie Draper, 2024 © Alia Thomas | www.aliathomas.com | do not use without permission.

UNMUTED: A Conversation with Charlie Draper

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.

June 3, 2026

UNMUTED: A Conversation with Claudia Kate

Claudia Kate is very much what you might call, a girls-girl. Following in the footsteps of her influences, she’s a big advocate for women’s rights and speaks honestly about what’s it’s like for women in the world that she finds herself in. In her professional career so far, she’s already been likened to artists such as Kate Nash and Wolf Alice, and her song BIG TALK, Little Girl gained a lot of popularity in 2022 when she was just 23, talking about the political environment around the time and life growing up as a young woman in that environment. If you want real, raw, honest songwriting, Claudia gives you just that. But, she has more than just the experience as an artist herself as she’s also a merch seller for a popular British band, and a guitar teacher to the younger generation of musicians, and has very recently been on her first tour supporting a band she grew up listening to. She shares insights into the reality of the cost of touring as a supporting independent upcoming artist, life on the road as a merch seller with the Hoosiers, and the special connection that music has within her family. Claudia’s passion and fun-loving personality shines through as she speaks about the roles she plays in the industry. Don’t be surprised if by the end of this, you find yourself part of the ‘Claudia Kate Cult’ too.

May 6, 2026

UNMUTED: A Conversation with Dani Hewitt & Jess Dyer of The Fan GRRRLS Podcast

Dani Hewitt and Jess Dyer have a lot going on. They’re lecturers in music, both carrying out PhDs alongside it, and they are the founders of The Fan GRRRLS Podcast. Within this series, we’ve so far heard from those in the industry who are in the thick of it on stage, touring, making music, but Dani and Jess are in a completely different part of the industry. In another life, they were part of that world, but their careers took them on a different path where they’re now educating the next generation of this incredible industry. I’m so pleased to have Dani and Jess involved in UNMUTED because what we talk about in this conversation is from a completely different point of view to what we’ve heard so far. We speak a lot about the backbone of the music industry; the people who carry artists to their success, and what the industry depend on to keep it all going. The fans. We also touch upon Dani’s previous experiences making her way in the industry doing varying roles ending with being part of touring crew, and Jess’ experience as a musician herself, and what led them to changing their careers into education. We’re all a fan of something, so there will be a lot in here that people can relate to, but not only this, the knowledge and passion that Dani and Jess have on the topic of fandoms and the importance of the fans is inspiring, and you will no doubt learn something very interesting from this. So, take a break, grab a cuppa, and enjoy.

April 8, 2026

UNMUTED: A Conversation with Jessie Powell

Jessie Powell is best known as the frontwoman of British metal band Dream State but her journey in music stretches far beyond her current spotlight. From her early days in Aurora to her present role at the forefront of modern British metal, she’s experienced the industry across two distinct eras, witnessing firsthand how it has evolved behind the scenes. Entering the scene as a young woman nearly 15 years ago, Jessie navigated a landscape that looked rather different to today’s, particularly within metal. That perspective now shapes everything she does. Through her work with Jessie Powell Music, she channels her experience into mentoring musicians, sharing not just her craft as a vocalist, but a hard-earned understanding of the industry itself.

March 16, 2026

UNMUTED: A Conversation with Cherry Duesbury

As the voice of British metal band, Defences, Cherry Duesbury has helped carve out a space in the UK’s modern metal scene for woman of colour. On stage, she’s a force to be reckoned with. Offstage, there’s an openness and sharp self-awareness that makes her just as compelling to talk to as she is to watch perform. It was a pleasure to sit down with her and talk about her journey so far, the realities of building a career in metal as a woman of colour, and the person behind the powerful voice.

December 1, 2025

UNMUTED: A Conversation with Sophie Smith

Sophie Smith is the powerhouse front-woman of Bristol’s alt-rock band Hamartia, but she doesn’t just stop there. She’s also the co-founder of Headstrong PR, where she pours just as much passion into lifting up other artists as she does into her own music, and if that wasn’t enough, she also hosts Changing Tune on Chaos Radio - a show dedicated to spotlighting women, trans, and non-binary musicians who deserve way more recognition than they often get. What’s so inspiring about Sophie is the way she uses every platform she has to make the music scene more open, more supportive, and more inclusive. She’s not just talking about change; she’s actively creating it, and there’s a lot we can learn from the sincerity, drive, and genuine care she brings to everything she does. In this conversation, we talk a lot about inclusivity within music, Sophie’s understanding of the different versions of ourselves that all need to be nurtured and embraced, and why Hayley Williams is such an important voice in the industry right now.

November 12, 2025

UNMUTED: A Conversation with Alyx Holcombe

If you’re a rock or metal fan in the UK, chances are you’ve already come across the unstoppable Alyx Holcombe. As the voice behind BBC Radio 1’s Introducing Rock, Alyx has become a vital champion for new and emerging talent, spotlighting the next generation of rock, indie and alternative artists. Beyond the airwaves, she’s the driving force behind MANTRA, an alt club night that celebrates inclusivity and community, giving fresh acts a stage and fans a space to connect in a safe, welcoming environment. But Alyx’s impact is much more important than the impressive career she’s had already. She represents a new wave of women reshaping the music industry from within. As a woman of colour in a space still dominated by white, male voices, her journey highlights both the passion and persistence it takes to carve out space for yourself, and for others, in an industry that too often overlooks them. In our conversation, Alyx opens up about championing new artists, building inclusive platforms, and navigating the challenges that come with breaking barriers in music.

October 15, 2025

UNMUTED: A Conversation with Eva Sheldrake

Eva Sheldrake is the lead singer, and female powerhouse of Brighton-based band, Eville. The trio have made quite a noise in the metal and alternative music scene over the last year with their self-proclaimed ‘brat metal’ sounds, and with their upcoming EP out on Friday, it’s clear they won’t be quietening down anytime soon. I caught up with Eva to talk about everything from the workings of an independant band, to her loud support for needing more women in metal, let alone the music industry. Her fearless nature to not shy away from speaking out on what’s important, and advocating for women to dress how they want to on stage is honourable, and a great portrayal of what the next generation of artists are bringing to the table.

September 29, 2025

UNMUTED: A Conversation with Lucy Rachel

Community is incredibly important for the human race, and no-one knows that better than Lucy Rachel from Southampton, who has based her career around creating community through music. She’s not only a talented singer-songwriter, but she’s also a music facilitator by profession, and the founder of Southampton jam night, The Dewdropper Jam. The connection throughout all of her work is using music as a tool for helping others, and bringing people together with it. We talk a lot about the importance of community, and the use of music as a tool, for improving mental health as well as communication for those who need additional help.

September 10, 2025

UNMUTED: A Conversation with Jessica Douek of Mallavora

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.

UNMUTED: A Conversation with Soprano, Caroline Taylor

May 21, 2025