Ep#92: Decolonising the Loop & Reimagining the DAW with Josephine Zwaan

Send a text

Have you ever questioned the way that music technology software is designed? And how the tech tools and gear we use might look and feel completely different if they were designed by different humans (i.e. not just predominantly white, cis, heterosexual men living in the West). Well, this question didn’t just bother today’s guest, producer and researcher, Josephine Zwaan. It led her to write a masters thesis that totally reimagines how a DAW could behave through the lens of African philosophy, exploring ways to ‘decolonise the loop’. 

Josephine is a multifaceted, creative force who uses research as a tool to challenge and rethink existing frameworks and practices and creates music under the moniker of Suzooki Swift. She also co-founded rosetta, a Netherlands based initiative supporting female and nonbinary music producers, with an emphasis on education and community building. 

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{00:00} Intro
{03:25} Josephine on her alter-ego, SUZOOKI SWIFT
{06:06} Josephine on her track SWIMMIN’
{12:56} Josephine on discovering her strengths in collaborations
{15:49} What brought Josephine into music production?
{20:15} Josephine on setting up her platform rosetta.
{22:15} Inside Josephine’s research on decolonising the loop
{57:10} Episode Summary

Check out Josephine's Website >>

Connect with Josephine on Instagram >> 

 Check out Josephine's platform rosetta >> 

rosetta on Instagram >> 

Suzooki Swift on Instagram >>

---------------------------------------------------

Girls Twiddling Knobs has ended, but you can stay connected to Isobel's artistic work here.

Girls Twiddling Knobs was hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey from Nov 2020-Jan 2026 and will remain live on all major podcast platforms throughout 2026.

We are grateful to the British Library who have archived the podcast in their Sound and Vision Collection.

Learn more about the Girls Twiddling Knobs legacy here.

Watch this episode on YouTube

Explore more episodes here.

Listen on Spotify.