As January comes to a close, it feels like the perfect time to look back at some of the exciting things we kicked off here on Odd Girl Out and set the tone for what’s ahead in 2026.
🌟 Looking Back on 2025
2025 was a huge year for us. We did so much as a community and as a team: from welcoming new faces to trying out new formats and experimenting with content, it really was a blast. We kicked off the year by sharing more of The Indie Files series — something I wrote from my dissertation, and something we were really proud to bring to you all. Seeing how it connected with people made us more excited than ever to keep exploring the behind‑the‑scenes side of music, because sometimes what goes on offstage is just as compelling as the music itself.
Alongside that, our podcast officially launched in the summer. If you know me, tech has never been my favourite thing — so seeing the show come together was honestly a little victory every week, and I’m so proud of how far it’s come already.
We also welcomed Kay, our new music photographer and writer — and what a creative spark she’s been! Her energy, ideas, and connection with bands have enriched the blog in ways I didn’t even expect.
To cap off the year, we even experimented with our very own virtual festival — The Odd Girl Out Fest! It was rushed and a little chaotic, but sometimes something is better than nothing, and it gave us space to do something bold and fun.
By the end of the year, we’d nearly hit 25,000 views and grown stronger as a platform — thank you for being part of that.
🎤 Great Conversations to Start 2026
5 Questions with High Society
We kicked the interview series off with High Society, who shared how music has always felt like a calling and teased new music and gig plans for 2026. Their headline show from last September was a highlight, and they also dropped some great band recommendations to check out.
5 Questions with Birdlands
Next up was Birdlands, a band whose members grew up around music and have crafted an immersive, eclectic sound together. They talked about their album release show in York and shared their inspiration from acts like Yard Act and Daft Punk — as well as indie favourites they want listeners to explore.
Inside the Music Industry: Daryl Jenkins
We also launched a new series called Inside the Music Industry, starting with Daryl Jenkins, who took us behind the scenes of life in radio, marketing, and music promotion. From joining student radio to working with major venues and festivals, her insights were packed with practical advice for anyone hoping to break into the industry.
💫 What’s Next?
This January has been all about setting the pace for 2026 — reflecting on the wins, learning from the experiments, and building momentum through interviewing voices across the scene. We can’t wait to expand these series even more, bring you fresh conversations, and keep celebrating the artists and industry members making waves right now.
Here’s to a year of new music, real stories, and community connection — stay tuned! 🎧✨
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