Loud LDN

Loud LDN is a women-run collective of women and gender-expansive artists based in London,[1] and was founded in May 2022 by musicians coupdekat and Maisi;[2] Maisi came across one of coupdekat's songs on TikTok[2] and invited her for brunch, where they discussed the loneliness of being a woman in the music industry and how they were often pitted against each other.[3] This prompted them to set up a group chat[2] on WhatsApp[4] called Ladies Making Noise in London for the women and non-binary musicians they knew at that time.[2]

Initially, the group chat started with ten musicians including Piri[2] and Matilda Cole;[5] the adding of other members caused the member list to grow to forty people, prompting them to set up an Instagram page.[3] Maisi told a Spotify interview in April 2023 that they picked the name Loud LDN on the grounds that "[they] want to be loud in the industry, [they] want to like, make [their] mark, [they] want everyone to hear [them]".[6]

In November 2022, Venbee mentioned that she was in the group chat in an NME article;[7] this caused interest in the group chat to rise to the extent that the collective had to institute eligibility requirements and an application process.[3] Later that month,[8] they held an event at The Bunker in Deptford Broadway; Charlotte Plank, who helped organise the event, used a December 2022 NME article to note that it had been "create[d as] a safe space where women can go and relax [without] hav[ing] to worry about getting groped or touched up".[2]

In December 2022, the collective were featured on a BBC Introducing playlist.[9] In February 2023, they performed at Dalston Den.[10] In March 2023, they performed at Abbie McCarthy's Good Karma Club at Colours in Hoxton.[11] In April 2023, they performed at Spotify's Our Generation pop-up event.[12] In June 2023, they performed at Dalston Den,[13] and later that month members performed at Reign Down at Southbank Centre,[1] as part of Meltdown Festival.[14] Coupdekat used a June 2023 interview to note that the chat had "120 members", and that it had moved to Discord.[15] In July 2023, members performed at Climate Live's set at Wireless Festival.[16]

Singles by Piri (as half of Piri & Tommy), Caity Baser, Venbee, Issey Cross, Charlotte Plank, and Bshp have entered the UK Singles Chart; the chart ending 4 May 2023 contained five entries from members: Venbee's "Messy in Heaven", Cross' and Bshp's "Oh Baby", Baser's "Pretty Boys" and "Feels This Good", and Plank's "Dancing Is Healing".[25]