She Makes War is the alternative rock and indie pop project of Laura Kidd, a multi-instrumentalist from the United Kingdom. Kidd writes, produces and performs under this name, and in 2020 she retires it and continues as Penfriend.

Albums and recordings

She Makes War releases four full-length albums. The debut, Disarm, appears in 2010, followed by Little Battles in 2012. The third album, Direction Of Travel, is released in 2016 on The state51 Conspiracy, and the fourth full album, Brace for Impact, appears in 2018. A 2015 Disarm:15 EP reworks songs from the debut album.

Direction Of Travel includes guest appearances from Tanya Donelly and Mark Chadwick. Kidd plays most of the instruments herself on the record, with additional contributions from Clive Deamer and Andy Sutor on drums, The McCarricks and Nicole Robson on strings, and Cajita on piano. Kidd produces the album, and Dan Austin handles the mix.

Sound and influences

The project’s sound is described as “gloom-pop” and is also characterised as a combination of Elliott Smith’s emotional directness and the force of Sleater-Kinney. Its songs draw on a broad set of influences including early Echo & The Bunnymen, Belly, The Breeders, PJ Harvey, Blur, Elastica, Suede, Bikini Kill, Nirvana, Hanne Hukkelberg, Cat Power, Carina Round, Radiohead, My Brightest Diamond and Bon Iver.

The first two albums, Disarm and Little Battles, deal with subjects ranging from love, loss, birth and therapy to murder, abandonment and hope. Their themes also set up contrasts between analogue and digital, war and peace, and technology and the natural world. The recordings feature Kidd’s pastoral vocals and distorted guitars, alongside instruments including ukulele, autoharp, melodica, piano, violin, harp, saxophone and a three-part recorder ensemble.

Singles and other work

Drown Me Out, the first single from Direction Of Travel, premieres at The Line of Best Fit. In 2017, Kidd releases I Want My Country Back, a protest song made available as a free download ahead of the UK general election.

Touring and other projects

She Makes War tours extensively in the UK and Europe both solo and with a full band. Kidd also supports Suede, The Levellers, tUnE-yArDs, Gruff Rhys, The Magic Numbers, Duke Special, Shlomo, Midge Ure, New Model Army, Glen Matlock and Earl Slick, Nadine Shah, Erica Nockalls and Miles Hunt, Chris Helme and Drugstore. As a bassist and vocalist, she also tours with Tricky, Viv Albertine, Lil’ Chris, The Penelopes and Alex Parks.

Beyond performing as She Makes War, Kidd directs her own music videos, presents regular online gigs, launches the Breakfast With Apollo nights in London in 2012, and takes the event to Bristol, London and other places. The nights focus on improving the gigging experience for bands and audiences, encouraging collaboration and sensible pricing. In 2015 she appears in the one-woman Edinburgh Fringe show Stand Up, which combines spoken word and music.