Three years ago, I started a thing…

And that’s why you’re reading this so you should definitely read on because if you don’t how will you know how it turned out?

It actually started a year before (so, ahem, 4 years ago then) when my ADHD diagnosis led me to think ok, I think I’d like to study again and maybe do a Masters degree in Music Production- but taking this new self understanding with me this time- I also thought “hmmm, support for ADHD music makers, what’s out there, what do we need…?” and I wondered if this was just a me thing or a thing thing- a business thing maybe?

So of course I got myself some domain names (are you even ADHD if you don’t have a domain name or two?) and a business plan and was accepted onto an entrepreneurs business coaching programme to develop this idea.

Wait, Wait

But before it starts sounding like I’m one of those people who learned something profound and immediately wanted to make the world a better place, let me add that I also spent most of that year crying because I was still processing my diagnosis and had  obviously taken on too much (because… ADHD).

So although I knew I had a lot of skills and experience as a trained OT and musician which meant I was in a place to develop something I didn’t really know what that was- I didn’t even know that much about ADHD or neurodivergence and carried the same stereotypes, internalised ableism and assumptions as most people.  Over the year I learned a lot and decided to investigate the idea further for my Master dissertation project. Which takes me back to start of this blog and 3 years ago when….

Anecdote time (you love it)

Over the Summer of 2023, I launched an experiment- some action research! I’d already started with surveys and this combined with the research out there decided to try running online body doubling groups for musicians with ADHD- the sessions would have themes like finance friday and music admin monday etc and I’d assess whether people showed up, whether people used the session for it’s intended purpose or something else and whether participants found the sessions helpful either way. Here’s a flyer from yesteryear:

Bless! (Still stand by this though)

Spoiler alert

At the end of the research period participants asked if we could carry on having sessions… and that's why we are still here today.

At the time I started the research project I didn’t know that three years later I'd still be running these sessions. But while they started as peer support (and they still are) I knew I wanted to know more about how to facilitate beyond exchanging mutual experiences and understanding.

Short Flex time

This curiosity led me to keep running sessions and at the same time: finish my Masters Degree, become a Mental Health First Aider, get funding for neurodivergent creative projects, train as an ICF Associate Life Coach, speak at conferences, perform, complete ADHD specific training, release music, deliver workshops and most recently complete Coaching and Mentoring Training with Cult Cymru, Bectu and the MU.

But as much as I love the comforting feel of a qualification or certificate (and I do, I really do) some of the biggest lessons haven't come from pieces of paper (I still love them, obviously). The big learns have come from showing up week after week alongside musicians, producers, songwriters and creatives trying to do the same thing:

Make progress on the creative work that matters to us while learning to understand ourselves better and recognise our value- without overwhelm and burnout cycles.

I still reach for those tenuous alliterative/puns don’t you worry

I’ve experienced my own confidence grow as I’ve gone from someone who felt completely inconsistent and unreliable to someone showing up holding space every week. And I’ve seen members grow as they learn more about themselves and how they work and ways to anchor themselves when they drift off (and we do). Together we've spent three years working out what actually helps- and you wouldn’t be reading this blog if it didn’t. That doesn’t mean we can’t still be consistently inconsistent though- it’s an ADHD trademark!

Thank you to everyone who’s ever attended a session- you’ve helped shape this thing and I think I can safely say it’s a thing, thing now.

There are loads of music interest communities, body doubling groups and ADHD focused memberships out there but there aren’t so many which understand music, creativity, neurodivergence and the tools and mechanisms which are needed for creating realistic positive progress without toxic productivity.

Aaand this week- what a journey it’s been- And I’m not just talking about my Canva skills

This week AMP Club moved into its new home on Circle which feels like it’s had a little glow up and the timing is rad! But I’m still here creating a space where neurodivergent creatives can make realistic progress, support each other and keep moving forward. Maybe you should join?

The AMP Club is open to new members starting June 2026.