A PIONEERING drummer is determined to make herself heard after opening a new studio.

Sophie Bastin has launched Solstice Sound at Templars Way Industrial Estate in Royal Wootton Bassett and hopes the creative space will help inspire her fellow female musicians.

The 20-year-old says a teaching and band rehearsal space was missing from her hometown previously.

She said: “I’ve been teaching in a drum studio for around three to four years so my next goal was to open my own space but I didn’t want to limit it to just drums.

“I guess I hadn’t really thought of teaching but I was like ‘why not?'. I will give it a go and got completely hooked – the time was right to branch out.”

Sophie studied at the Academy of Music in 2016 and became a teacher at the age of 18 after being approached by The Alternative Drum School in Cricklade. 
She plays in three bands – pop and rock combo Young, Dumb and Broke, Pink Mac – a Pink Floyd/Fleetwood Mac tribute band – and Busy Fools. 

Sophie works in a ceramics studio in Cheney Manor but wants to make a full-time career out of drumming. 

She says the music industry is too male-dominated.

Sophie added: “Being a young female drummer is quite rare so it’s good just to be different and I get to stand out from the rest.”

“My love for music means I can immerse myself entirely and go to jam nights but also play with other musicians I’ve never played with before as well as be an inspiration for other drummers.”

The walls of Sophie's studio are painted black with neon paint and disco lighting and she wants anybody visiting to have a unique experience.

“Swindon has some brilliant places but I wanted something to be more personal and exciting,” said Sophie. 

“I want rehearsals to be different.

“I always wanted to open a studio but never thought I would.” 

“Then with Covid happening, along with some new ideas, I threw myself into it.

“The bigger venues get booked up but this caters for teaching, bands and people who can hire it out and do photography or videography.”

Sophie started teaching this month but is having an open day for the public, bands and students on Saturday, July 3 from 10am. The studio is located in the at the Hulbert & Woodall Print Limited building in Templars Way.