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John is joined by Kevin Parker, aka Tame Impala, to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Deadbeat’.  Kevin launched the electronic and psychedelic rock-influenced Tame Impala in 2007 as a home recording project. Throughout the 2010s, Tame Impala became a huge critical and commercial success, winning two Grammys and selling out shows worldwide. Kevin has collaborated with numerous other artists including Justice, Gorillaz and Dua Lipa, and is regularly cited as one of the industry’s most influential artists. The fifth Tame Impala album, 'Deadbeat', featuring worldwide hits ‘Dracula’ and ‘Loser’, arrived in October 2025.  Joining John from his LA studio, Kevin shares what he calls his ‘astoundingly boring’ approach to producing his famous vocals (spoiler: he’s being too modest!), how he created the ‘Deadbeat drum beat’, being inspired by The Strokes on this record, the essential plugins that shaped the album’s sound, plus he answers questions from our Patreons! Tracks discussed: My Old Ways, Loser LISTEN to ‘Deadbeat’ (Columbia Records): Deadbeat by Tame Impala  TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. Try the new Tape It Denoiser  currently 50% off! MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS Soundtoys Echoboy Soundtoys Decapitator Valhalla Room Shure SM58 Shure SM7B U47 Vermona DRM1 DBX 165 Roland SH-1 Roland TR-808 Sequential Prophet 5 Ableton Stock Plugins Ableton Echo Ableton OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Ed and Tom of Overmono to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Pure Devotion’. Overmono are Welsh electronic duo Tom and Ed Russell. After solo careers as Truss and Tessela, they began producing together as Overmono in 2015. Known for their energetic, acclaimed live shows, they broke through with Good Lies in 2023. Their second album, Pure Devotion, arrived in 2026, exploring experimental studio recording.  Sitting down at Strongroom Studios in London, Ed and Tom give John a step by step breakdown of their approach to vocal processing, discuss the plug-ins they use for layering synths, get into their unique approach to writing and sequencing drum patterns and reveal why their mix bus would make most audio engineers' heads spin! Plus they answer our Patreons' questions! Tracks discussed: Ballad, Barum, Knight in Shining Prada LISTEN to ‘Pure Devotion’ - XL Recordings TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. Try the new Tape It Denoiser  currently 50% off! MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE Recorded at Strongroom Studios - https://www.strongroom.com/  LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS SoundToys Little Alter Boy SoundToys Microshift SoundToys Radiator Acustica Audio Ruby 3 Antares Autotune Waves CLA Vocals Liquid Sonics Cinematic Rooms FabFilter Pro L2   FabFilter Pro-Q4 Audio Punks Great British Spring Maag EQ4 Soundtheory Gullfoss Oek Sound Soothe 2 TAL Chorus UAD Ampex Tape Simulator UAD 1176 PSP VintageWarmer2  Waves L2 Waves MV2 Arturia Pre 1973 Kush Clariphonic Diamond Cut Access Virus TI  API 2500 Black Corporation Deckard's Dream MKII D.W. Fearn VT-5 Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave Korg MS-20 Marshall Amp Elektron Monomachine Moog MF-108M Moogerfooger Cluster Flux Oberheim OB-6 Lexicon PCM80 Sequential Prophet-10 Sequential Prophet-6 Roland Jet Phaser Roland Jupiter Roland Juno-60 Roland RE-501 Roland SH-2 Roland TB-303 Rodec MX Modular Mixer Sherman Filterbank Roland Space Echo Roland TR-1000 Tannoy Little Gold Vermona PerFourmer OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Hen and Louis a.k.a. Joy Anonymous, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced a selection of tracks across their back catalog.  Joy Anonymous formed in 2018 with the aim of spreading joy through music and live performance. Their South Bank pop-up shows during the pandemic brought widespread attention, with recordings from these performances featuring on their debut album ‘Human Again’ (2021). Since then, they have released ‘Cult Classics’ (2023), collaborated with numerous artists, and continued to release new music, including their stripped-back ‘Source’ versions. Their third record is set for release in the coming months. Sitting down together at Baltic Studios, the trio discuss getting inspired by the rhythm of spoken voices and their techniques for making dance music sound uniquely human, their secrets for building a club banger, how playing live with Fred again and Ezra Collective influenced tracks in the studio and much more, plus they answer questions from our Patreons! Tracks discussed: JOY (Nobody Ever), JOY (Like You Used To), JOY (This One) LISTEN to  JOY (Nobody Ever) - 2026 From Concentrate - JOY (Nobody Ever) 7” mix by Joy Anonymous, Tamaraebi  JOY (Like You Used To) - 2026 From Concentrate - JOY (Like You Used To) by Joy Anonymous, MOTHERBOARD  JOY (This One) - 2026 From Concentrate - JOY (This One) by Joy Anonymous, Ezra Collective, Stush  TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. Try the new Tape It Denoiser  currently 50% off! MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE Recorded at Baltic Studios - Recording Studios at Baltic  LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Excite Audio Bloom Bass Forever 89 Visco Plugin Safari Dirty Dog Safari Pedals Plugins Soundtoys MicroShift RC-505 Loop Station LHI Audio ST4B BOSS SP-505 Groove Sampling Workstation Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator Drum Machine Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S8 Coda Labs Szechuan Saturator Neumann U87 LHI Audio ST4b Transient Shaper  Akai MPC Coles 4038 Moog Matriarch Soundtoys Crystallizer Soundtoys Decapitator Logic Pro OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Charli xcx and producers A. G. Cook and Finn Keane to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Music, Fashion, Film’. Charli XCX is a British singer, songwriter, producer and actor. Since her debut album ‘True Romance' in 2013, Charli has released a further six records, building a fiercely loyal fanbase while continually pushing the boundaries of pop. In 2024, ‘BRAT’ propelled Charli to a new level of global recognition. The Grammy award-winning album became a cultural phenomenon and cemented her status as one of pop’s defining artists of the decade. She has since continued to explore new creative directions, returning to solo music in July 2026 with her eighth album ‘Music, Fashion, Film’, with long-time collaborators & hyperpop pioneers, producers A.G. Cook and Finn Keane. Sitting down together at Platoon Studios, Charli, A. G. and Finn reflect on their approach to working together post-’BRAT’ and taking a wider creative lens on this record. They discuss their recording sessions at Rue Boyer Studios in Paris and dig into the voices, stories and production techniques, including vocal processing and instrument chopping, that give the album its distinctive sonic identity. Tracks discussed: No One Lasts Forever, Card Declined, Rock Music LISTEN to ‘Music, Fashion, Film’ - Charli xcx Inc,  Atlantic Recording Corporation TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit ⁠⁠tape.it/tapenotes⁠⁠ or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. Try the new ⁠⁠Tape It Denoiser ⁠⁠ currently 50% off! MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount⁠⁠ HERE⁠⁠ Recorded at Platoon Studios - ⁠⁠https://platoon.ai/⁠⁠  LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   ⁠⁠linktr.ee/tapenotes ⁠⁠ Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - ⁠⁠https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI⁠⁠  GEAR MENTIONS ⁠⁠DataMind Audio Concatenator⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Kilohearts PhasePlant⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Vermona DRM1 MKIV Drum Machine⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Sonic Charge Bitspeek⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Waldorf PPG Synth⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Pro Co RAT 2 Pedal⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Roland TR-606⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Love Pedal Englishman⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Waves Butch Vig Vocals⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Soundtoys Little Alterboy ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Chase Bliss CXM Reverb Pedal⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Boss PH-3 Phase Shifter Pedal⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Cableguys Shaperbox Plugin⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Moog Minimoog⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Gamechanger Audio Third Man Records PLASMA COIL⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Kilohearts Multipass⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Korg MS-20⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Prophet⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Logic Pro⁠⁠ OUR GEAR ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear⁠⁠ HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on⁠⁠ Patreon⁠⁠, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram:⁠⁠ @tapenotes⁠⁠  YouTube:⁠⁠ Tape Notes Podcast⁠⁠ Discord: ⁠⁠Tape Notes⁠⁠ Patreon:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Tape Notes⁠⁠ To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list:⁠⁠ www.tapenotes.co.uk⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve been having a look back through the Tape Notes archive to bring back some of our favourite early episodes that you may have missed. This selection is our conversation with Guy and Howard of Disclosure, digging into their 2020 record, 'ENERGY'. EPISODE NOTES Chosen from over 200 songs, the Guy and Howard break apart the individual parts and distinct sounds from the handful of tracks that made the cut. The boys take a deep dive into what it takes to make a Disclosure hit, revealing the tricks and tools they use along the way.  Listen to find out why the best hooks are written in 20 minutes, how conversations with Pharrell led to new chord progressions, and why the brothers nearly went the same way as Oasis. Tracks discussed: Douha (Mali Mali), Who Knew? & Birthday TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit ⁠⁠tape.it/tapenotes⁠⁠ or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. Try the new ⁠⁠Tape It Denoiser ⁠⁠ currently 50% off! LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/tapenotes⁠⁠    Listen to 'ENERGY' Island Records, Universal Music Operations Limited Intro Music - ⁠⁠Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective ⁠⁠ GEAR MENTIONS Korg PolySix⁠ ⁠Ableton⁠ ⁠Native Instruments⁠ ⁠Ample Bass⁠ ⁠Izotope Vocal Synth⁠ ⁠Tube-Tech CL 1B Compressor⁠ ⁠Neve Desk⁠ ⁠Moog Little Phatty⁠ ⁠Roland Juno 106⁠ ⁠Roland Boutique Synths⁠ ⁠ Roland D50⁠ ⁠Roland SH-101⁠ ⁠Universal Audio Apollos OUR GEAR ⁠https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear⁠ HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on⁠ Patreon⁠, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram:⁠ @tapenotes⁠  YouTube:⁠ Tape Notes Podcast⁠ Discord: ⁠Tape Notes⁠ Patreon:⁠ ⁠⁠Tape Notes⁠ To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list:⁠ www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Myles Smith and producer Peter Fenn to discuss how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘My Mess, My Heart, My Life’. Myles Smith is a singer-songwriter from Luton in the UK. Performing at local open mic nights since his teens, he built a loyal fan base and landed a record deal with Sony thanks to cover versions he posted on Tiktok. In 2024, Myles’ single ‘Stargazing’ was a viral hit and has since been streamed over one billion times globally. The momentum of ‘Stargazing’ and other early singles helped establish Myles as one of the UK's most promising new artists. He won 2024’s BBC Introducing Artist of the Year and the BRIT Rising Star Award and is only the second artist, after Lewis Capaldi, to sell out London’s 02 Arena before releasing a debut album. ‘My Mess, My Heart, My Life’, his debut, produced by longtime collaborator Peter Fenn, arrived in June 2026. Sitting down at Salvation Studios in Brighton, the trio discuss “getting out of the way of the song” as their approach to production on the album and how billion-streaming hit ‘Stargazing’ evolved into something really special in the studio. They explain why they prefer to be “in the box” when it comes to mixing, and reveal how they translated Myles’ original acoustic tracks into anthemic live performances, including “Myles Sauce” vocal techniques! Plus they answer questions from our Patrons! Tracks discussed: Stargazing, My Mess, Dying Days LISTEN to ‘My Mess, My Heart, My Life’ - It’s Okay To Feel, Sony Music: My Mess, My Heart, My Life. by Myles Smith  TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. Try the new Tape It Denoiser  currently 50% off! TRINITY LABAN Find out more about Trinity Laban’s new MA in Songwriting.   MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE Recorded at Salvation Studios LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS Soundtoys Decapitator  Neural Archetype: Cory Wong X Audiomovers Listento Hofner Bass iZotope Vocal Synth 2 Shure SM7B Neumann U87 Oek Sound Soothe2 Leapwing DynOne Valhalla Reverb The God Particle Waves NS1 UAD Hitsville EQ UAD 1176 UAD Lexicon Reverb UAD Capitol Chambers UAD Spark UA Apollo Xfer Serum Ebow Soyuz Pencil Mic  Taylor Acoustic Guitars OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Arlo Parks and Baird to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Ambiguous Desire’. Arlo Parks is an indie-pop singer-songwriter from West London. After uploading demos to BBC Introducing as a teenager, she quickly attracted industry attention. Her debut album, ‘Collapsed in Sunbeams’, arrived in 2021, establishing Arlo as one of the defining artists of her generation and earning her the Mercury Prize and two Grammy nominations. Arlo’s third record, the more electronic-focused ‘Ambiguous Desire', was released in April 2026, co-written and produced by Baird, along with additional collaborators Paul Epworth and Sampha. Sitting down at Strongroom Studios in London, with Baird joining online, Arlo and Baird discuss the “runaway train” of their symbiotic creative process and how they recreated the feel of the club and dancefloor through the record’s distinctive grooves. They share never previously heard freestyles, demos and vocal tracking secrets from the studio, and they answer questions from our Patreon community! Tracks discussed: Senses, Jetta, Heaven LISTEN to Ambiguous Desire: Ambiguous Desire by Arlo Parks, Transgressive Records TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. Try the new Tape It Denoiser  currently 50% off! TRINITY LABAN Find out more about Trinity Laban’s new MA in Songwriting.   MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE Recorded at Platoon Studios LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Soundtoys Microshift Electro Harmonix Pitch Fork Polyphonic Pitch Shifter Pedal Shure SM7B Melda MAuto Pitch Boss DS-1 Pedal Bassment Plugin Squier Jazz Bass Spitfire Audio Labs Roland Juno 106 Ibanez Electro Acoustic Nylon Guitar Krumar Keyboard Logic Distortion Ableton Live OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Take our audience survey and enter the draw to win! https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/t/AudienceSurvey2026/ John is joined by Jack Antonoff of Bleachers to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Everyone for Ten Minutes’. Jack Antonoff is an American producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. As a producer, he’s widely recognised for helping shape the sound of modern pop through his work with artists including Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Kendrick Lamar and many more. Alongside his production work, Jack has built a hugely successful career as a musician and songwriter, first rising to prominence with Fun in the early 2010s before founding Bleachers in 2013. Since then, Bleachers have released five studio albums and toured globally, with their latest record, Everyone for Ten Minutes, released in May 2026. Sitting down at Platoon Studios in London, Jack looks back on the process of bringing the album to life, digging into the recording techniques behind the record and demonstrating different directions the songs could have taken along the way. He also talks about how leading with simplicity became central to the album, answers questions from Patreons, and much more.  Tracks discussed: i’m not joking, we should talk, dancing LISTEN to Everyone for Ten Minutes - everyone for ten minutes by Bleachers  Dirty Hit Recordings TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. Try the new Tape It Denoiser  currently 50% off! TRINITY LABAN Find out more about Trinity Laban’s new MA in Songwriting.   MAKE NOISE PRO AUDIO Use the code TAPENOTES10 for 10% off all Franklin Audio products at makenoiseproaudio.com MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE Recorded at Platoon Studios - Link LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS Sountoys Echoboy Gooshertz Lossy Shure SM58 TC Helicon Korg VC10 Vocoder Roland Space Echo Ovation Guitars Moog Model D Korg M1 Drums Roland TR-808 Roland Juno-106 WEM Watkins Copicat Hammond B3 E-mu Systems Sampler OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Take our audience survey and enter the draw to win! https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/t/AudienceSurvey2026/ John is joined by Tom Misch to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Full Circle’.  Tom Misch is an English singer-songwriter and producer known for his innovative sound, blending hip-hop beats and soulful vocals along with his distinctive guitar style. His self-recorded debut album ‘Geography’ was a UK top ten hit in 2018, followed by ‘What Kinda Music’, released in 2020, with Yussef Dayes. Tom’s second solo album, ‘Full Circle’, arrived in March 2026.  Sitting down at Strongroom Studios, the two take a deep dive into Tom’s process. They discuss his essential gear for creating guitar sounds and his go-to vocal chain techniques, Tom breaks down three tracks from his album from demos to master and also answers questions from our Patreons, plus much more! Tracks discussed: Red Moon, Slow Tonight, Days of Us LISTEN to Full Circle - Full Circle by Tom Misch, AWAL recordings TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. Try the new Tape It Denoiser  currently 50% off! TRINITY LABAN Find out more about Trinity Laban’s new MA in Songwriting.   MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE Recorded at Strongroom Studios LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS Soundtoys Echoboy Soundtoys Plate Reverb Dunlop Cry Baby Wah Pedal Apogee Duet Interface Waves Torque Acustica Audio El Rey Tube Compressor Plugin Acustica Audio Purple Two UAD Neve Preamp Electrovoice RE-20 Moogerfooger Pedal John Mayer Signature Strat Gibson Acoustic Reel to Reel Tape Machine UAD Plate Reverb Logic Pro 9 Acoustic Guitar Amo Logic Liverpool Bass OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear! Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Foo Fighters  to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Your Favorite Toy’. Foo Fighters are an American rock band formed by Dave Grohl. Known for their alt-rock anthems driven by melody and personality, they have evolved into one of rock’s biggest and most influential bands. Over the past 20 years, they have released twelve studio albums, won fifteen Grammys, and in 2021 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their twelfth studio album, ‘Your Favorite Toy’, arrived in April 2026. Sitting down at Metropolis Studios in London, Dave and bassist Nate Mendel break down tracks, all the way from Dave’s demos and early drum patterns through to the final masters. The pair also discuss how they created the distinctive Foo Fighters guitar sounds on ‘Spit Shine’, share stories from recording screaming and Ilan’s perfect flams, and answer questions from our Patrons!  Tracks discussed: Asking For A Friend, Spit Shine, If You Only Knew LISTEN to Your Favourite Toy: Your Favorite Toy by Foo Fighters, RCA Records. TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. Try the new Tape It Denoiser  currently 50% off! TRINITY LABAN Find out more about Trinity Laban’s new MA in Songwriting.   QUBE  Find out more about Qube membership here. MAKE NOISE PRO AUDIO Use the code TAPENOTES10 for 10% off all Franklin Audio products at makenoiseproaudio.com MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE Recorded at Metropolis Studios LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS API 1608 Console Neve BCM10 Wizard Amps Fender Tone master Hiwatt Amps Freedman Amps Trini Lopez Guitar Moog Theremini Shure SM58 Microphone Gibson ES-335 Ludwig Drums OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear! Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by TOMORA to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album COME CLOSER. TOMORA are an electronic music duo made up of The Chemical Brothers’ Tom Rowlands and AURORA. Both have excelled in their fields: The Chemical Brothers’ ten albums helped define electronic music, while Norwegian artist AURORA’s ethereal songwriting has won her a devoted worldwide following. The duo began collaborating when Aurora featured on The Chemical Brothers’ Grammy Award-winning 2019 album No Geography. In turn, Tom produced parts of AURORA’s What Happened To The Heart? (2024). That led to TOMORA and their debut album COME CLOSER. Sitting down at Baltic Studios, they discuss creating the album’s distinctive soundscapes and recording AURORA’s striking vocals. They also introduce John to the vintage synthesiser crucial to the album’s sound, plus answer Patreons’ questions! Tracks discussed: Somewhere Else, I Drink the Light, Come Closer LISTEN to COME CLOSER by TOMORA, AURORA, The Chemical Brothers TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. QUBE  Find out more about Qube membership here. MAKE NOISE PRO AUDIO Use the code TAPENOTES10 for 10% off all Franklin Audio products at makenoiseproaudio.com MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE Recorded at Baltic - Studio 2 LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS DMX 15-80S Eventide H3000 Harmoniser Neumann U87 Microphone Takstar SM-9 Octave-Plateau Voyetra 8 MPC60 Moog System 55 Makenoise DPO Logic Pro X  E-MU S-1200 Sampler EMS Synthi AKS Elektron Monomachine Cong Burn Strokes Ableton Live OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Holly Humberstone and Rob Milton to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album Cruel World. Holly Humberstone is a singer-songwriter from Grantham, England. After early support from BBC Introducing, her debut EP ‘Falling Asleep at the Wheel’ gained widespread attention during the pandemic, earning a BRIT Rising Star win and two Ivor Novello nominations. Her debut album 'Paint My Bedroom Black’, arrived in 2023, and reached the UK top 5, while tours with Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo boosted her global profile. Her second album, Cruel World, was released in April 2026, working with long-time collaborator, producer Rob Milton. Sitting down at Baltic Studios, the trio discuss the record’s influences, from The 1975 to Fleetwood Mac. They break down ‘To Love Somebody’ from early voice notes to final master, explore harmony techniques on ‘Cruel World’, and Holly reflects on how industry pressures shaped ‘Beauty Pageant’, alongside sharing their essential plug-ins and gear. Tracks discussed: To Love Somebody, Cruel World, Beauty Pageant LISTEN to Cruel World here - Cruel World by Holly Humberstone, Polydor Records TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. QUBE  Find out more about Qube membership here. MAKE NOISE PRO AUDIO Use the code TAPENOTES10 for 10% off all Franklin Audio products at makenoiseproaudio.com MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE Recorded at Baltic - Studio 2 LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Roland Juno-60 Synthesizer The God Particle (Plugin) by Cradle Soundtoys Decapitator Sequential Prophet 5 Synthesizer Arturia DX-7 Soundtoys PanMan Pocket Piano Critter & Guitari Organelle Splice AMS RMX16 Reverb Rotor Solo Cello plugin Korg ARP 2600 M OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear! Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve been having a look back through the Tape Notes archive to bring back some of our favourite early episodes that you may have missed. This selection is our conversation with Enter Shikari's Rou Reynolds, digging into their 2020 record, 'Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible'. EPISODE NOTES In this episode, John catches up with Enter Shikari frontman and producer, Rou Reynolds to breakdown how the band wrote, recorded and produced their new album ‘Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible’.   As the band’s most genre-bending album to date, Rou talks us through the challenges of combining techy metal, rave, reggae and ska influences with an oom-pah band and full symphony orchestra. Digging through his fifteen hard drives of demos and jams, we’re shown how every aspect of a track has a purpose and meaning – with detailed rhythms and distinctive sounds reflecting the state of the world in their own way.    Listen to hear the original gibberish lyrics that ended up making the final version of a song, how the band ended up forming and recording their toy drum kit and what plugins Rou uses to create his own audio cuddle.   Tracks discussed: THE GREAT UNKNOWN, Waltzing Off the Face of the Earth (1. Crescendo), satellites* *   LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  ⁠https://linktr.ee/tapenotes⁠    ⁠ Listen to 'Nothing is True & Everything is Possible' here.⁠ 'Nothing is True & Everything is Possible' - SO Recordings/Silva Screen Records Limited Intro Music - ⁠Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective ⁠   GEAR MENTIONS ⁠Ableton⁠ ⁠Akai MPC Sampler⁠ ⁠ Arp 2600⁠ ⁠Arturia Synth Emulators⁠ ⁠Chandler REDD Microphone⁠ ⁠Farfisa⁠ ⁠Kemper Profiler Rack⁠ ⁠ LOMO Channel Strip⁠ ⁠Native Instruments Massive⁠ ⁠Roland Jupiter 6⁠ ⁠Sound Guru Mangle Plugin⁠   OUR GEAR ⁠https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear⁠    HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can donate as little or as much as you'd like here, (we really appreciate your contributions):  ⁠Donate⁠    Follow us on Social Media to keep up to date with the latest episodes and submit questions: ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Twitter⁠   Visit our website to join our mailing list: ⁠www.tapenotes.co.uk⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John sits down with Imogen Heap to talk about how she wrote, recorded and produced the EP IAM _ _ _. Imogen Heap is a British composer, artist, and producer, widely regarded as a pioneer in electronic pop and music technology. Over the years, her music has evolved from alternative to electronica, producing acclaimed albums such as Speak for Yourself and Ellipse, and collaborating with artists including Taylor Swift and Jon Hopkins. She consistently integrates technology into her practice, developing innovations like the Mi.Mu gloves and Mogen, an AI voice model that plays a central role in her 2025 EP ‘I AM__’. Joining Imogen at her Hideaway Studio, the conversation covers everything from her visceral experiences with noise music artists, to her pioneering use of AI and the latest developments with Mogen, exploring how technology continues to shape her creative process and collaborations. Tracks discussed: What Have You Done To Me?, Noise, Aftercare LISTEN to IAM _ _ _ here: I AM __ by Imogen Heap, Megaphonic Records TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. QUBE  Find out more about Qube membership here. MAKE NOISE PRO AUDIO Use the code TAPENOTES10 for 10% off all Franklin Audio products at makenoiseproaudio.com MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS Soma Lyra Wave Arts Panorama 7 Native Instruments Massive Euroracks Ableton Live Antares Autotune Avid Pro Tools Splice OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined once again by Fred Gibson, better known as Fred again.., to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album USB. Fred Gibson is an award-winning British songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer whose musical journey began collaborating with legendary producer Brian Eno at just 16. Since then Fred has established himself as a  globally successful solo artist. Alongside his studio output, from his acclaimed ‘Actual Life’ trilogy to the record ‘ten days’ Fred’s live shows have become global events, from Glastonbury to arena-scale collaborations, notably alongside FourTet and Skrillex, while his evolving USB project culminated in sold-out international performances and four homecoming shows at London’s Alexandra Palace in 2026. Sitting down once again at Fred’s house, Fred and John discuss the unlikely inspirations behind the songs on USB, sharing his advice for aspiring musicians and producers, the gear essential to his process and much more! Plus Fred answers questions from our Patreon subscribers! Tracks discussed: solo, ..FEISTY, HARDSTYLE 2 LISTEN to USB here - USB by Fred again.., Atlantic Records TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. QUBE  Find out more about Qube membership here. MAKE NOISE PRO AUDIO Use the code TAPENOTES10 for 10% off all Franklin Audio products at makenoiseproaudio.com MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS Waves SoundShifter Native Instruments Reaktor 6 Celemony Melodyne Xfer Records Serum 2 Fruityloops (FL Studio) LHI Audio ST4b Soundtoys FilterFreak Apple Logic Pro Apple Logic Pro Retro Synth Apple Logic Pro Chromaverb Apple Logic Pro Overdrive saturator Apple Logic Pro Spring Box delay pedal Apple Logic Pro Tremolo effect Apple Logic Pro ES2 OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear! Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, John is joined by Mumford & Sons and producer Aaron Dessner to discuss how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Prizefighter’. Mumford & Sons are a British folk-rock band made up of Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane, who rose to global fame with their banjo-driven folk rock, earning BRIT and Grammy success with the records ‘Sigh No More’ and ‘Babel’. Their latest album, ‘Prizefighter', was co-written and co-produced with Aaron Dessner, and features collaborations with Hozier, Gracie Abrams, Gigi Perez and Chris Stapleton, with the band embracing a new creative freedom in the process. Sitting down with Marcus at his Scarlet Pimpernel studio, John and the band discuss how the album unexpectedly grew out of collaboration, and how the process left them feeling more creatively free than ever. They also dig into why the right mic isn’t always the most expensive one, Aaron’s techniques for recording guitars, how they created the album’s distinctive synth sounds and much more! Tracks discussed: Here, Prizefighter, Conversation With My Son (Gangsters & Angels) TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. LISTEN to ‘Prizefighter’ here - Prizefighter by Mumford & Sons ‘Island/Gentlemen of the Road' TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. QUBE  Find out more about Qube membership here. MAKE NOISE PRO AUDIO Use the code TAPENOTES10 for 10% off all Franklin Audio products at makenoiseproaudio.com MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Tech 21 CompTortion Waterfall B3 Organ Mellotron Siemens WSW Console Neve Console Erica Synths Black Spring Reverb  Gibson Firebird Gibson J45 Shure SM7B Sequential Prophet French Connection Neumann U47 Neve 1064 Preamp Neve 1073 Preamp Neve 1066 Preamp Lisson Grove R-124 Compressor Roland Juno-60 Optigan Neumann M49 Cubase Logic Pro Avid Pro Tools OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John sits down with Danny L Harle to discuss how he wrote, recorded and produced the album Cerulean. Danny L Harle is a British producer, artist and composer. One of the most sought-after songwriters and producers in music today, he has worked with numerous artists including Caroline Polachek, Florence and the Machine and Dua Lipa. Danny began releasing solo electronic music in 2013 on A.G. Cook’s label PC Music, with his debut album Harlecore arriving in 2021. Cerulean, Danny’s second album, was released in February 2026. Featuring collaborations with Caroline Polachek, PinkPatheress, Clairo, Oklou and others, the album distils his signature mix of rave energy, classical harmony and hyper-detailed production. Sitting down at Premises Studios, the two discuss how Danny programs synths to convey human elements and emotions, his favourite plug-ins of all time, collaborating with Clairo and PinkPantheress on Cerulean, plus much more! Tracks discussed: Laa, Facing Away (Ft. Clairo), Starlight (Ft. PinkPantheress) TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. QUBE  Find out more about Qube membership here. MAKE NOISE PRO AUDIO Use the code TAPENOTES10 for 10% off all Franklin Audio products at makenoiseproaudio.com MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Cerulean’ here. LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Native Instruments Reaktor 6 Reaktor Steam Pipe 2 Fabfilter Pro-R 2 Native Instruments Razor Rhizomatic Software Synthesis Plasmonic LennarDigital Sylenth Sonic Kick 3 Native Instruments Massive Rob Pappen Predator Fabfilter Pro-Q 4 Oeksound Soothe 2 OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear! Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by English musician, songwriter, producer and DJ Emma-Jean Thackray to talk about how she wrote, recorded and produced the album Weirdo. Emma-Jean Thackray is a musical polymath whose creative approach was shaped by playing in brass bands as a child in West Yorkshire and studying jazz composition and performance at university. Her 2021 debut album 'Yellow' topped the UK Jazz Albums Chart and won Jazz FM Album of the Year. Her second album, 'Weirdo', followed in 2025 and was nominated for that year’s Mercury Prize. Entirely written, recorded, performed and produced by Emma-Jean, the record ultimately became a deeply personal grief diary following the sudden death of her partner. Sitting down at Strongroom Studios in London, Emma-Jean and John delve into how to make yourself like a whole band when you’re just one artist in a room, including layering and techniques for vocal recording and processing. Emma-Jean talks about exploring death and grief musically on ‘Maybe Nowhere’, being a perfectionist, and why a distortion pedal is the most highly insured piece she owns! Tracks discussed: Wanna Die, Save Me, Maybe Nowhere TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. Recorded at Strongroom Studios QUBE Find out more about Qube membership here. MAKE NOISE PRO AUDIO Use the code TAPENOTES10 for 10% off all Franklin Audio products at makenoiseproaudio.com LISTEN to ‘Weirdo’ here - https://lynkify.in/album/weirdo/XTgkV1p8  Warner Music UK Limited and Brownswood Music Limited LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Valhalla Super Massive Valhalla Plugins Prophet 5 V Soft Synth dbx 160 Compressor Telefunken ELA M Mic Moog Ampeg Bass Amp Fender P-Bass Bidirectional Ribbon Mics (Coles 4038) Boss RE202 Space Echo Fender Semi Hollow Telecaster Fender Blues Junior Roland SH-101 Fender Rhodes Neve 1073 Clone OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John sits down with Artemas and producer Toby Daintree to discuss how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘LOVERCORE’. Artemas is an English artist and producer. As a teenager he taught himself music production and soon began releasing his dark, alternative pop music, inspired by grunge and new wave sounds. The viral hit ‘if u think i’m pretty’, released in 2024, made him a global star and he released mixtapes ‘pretty’ and ‘yustyna’ the same year. 2024 also saw Artemas’s second viral success with ‘i like the way you kiss me’, which was number one in eight countries. Artemas’s fourth release, ‘LOVERCORE’, with longtime collaborator and producer Toby Daintree, arrived in October 2025. In this episode, John is joined by Artemas and Toby Daintree at Baltic Studios. The trio discuss techniques for processing vocals and samples. They reveal their top plugins and other software they use to create Artemas’s distinctive sound. They also break down the track ‘i like the way you kiss me’ from its earliest beginnings to Tiktok viral hit. Tracks discussed:  if u think i'm pretty, I like the way you kiss me, take it easy on me TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. Recorded at Baltic Studios. MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Lovercore’ here. ‘Artemas’ LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS SoundToys Decapitator SoundToys Echoboy Waves Vocal Doubler Slate Digital Fresh Air Zynaptiq Pitchmap Oeksound Soothe 2 Xfer Serum Arturia Mello-Fi UAD SSL Bus Compressor UAD Moog Minimoog UAD PolyMAX UAD Brigade Chorus UA Apollo XLN Audio RC-20 Sonic Academy ANA 2.5 Software Synthesizer Omnisphere PORTAL by Output Telefunken ELA M251E Fender Rhodes Sequential Prophet Korg Opsix Neumann TLM 103 Genelec 8010 CapCut Ableton Live OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve been having a look back through the Tape Notes archive to bring back some of our favourite early episodes that you may have missed. This selection is our conversation with Rina Sawayama and producer Clarence Clarity. EPISODE NOTES In this episode, John catches up with Rina Sawayama and producer Clarence Clarity to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Rina’s debut album ‘Sawayama’.     Diving deep into the almost 100 track sessions, Rina and Clarence reflect on how the album took shape, from writing demos in Rina’s bedroom to spending months in an LA studio. We hear the pair’s philosophies on creativity and the hustle of making it in the world of music, along with the secrets in crafting their fusion of R&B, noughties pop and nu-metal.     Listen to find out why Rina tries includes at least 10 hooks in each song, how Clarence tried to match a trap beat to Rina’s mum’s Beethoven performance and which member of The 1975 made a secret appearance on the record.    Tracks discussed: Dynasty, Love Me 4 Me, Snakeskin   LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'Sawayama' here. 'Sawayama' - Dirty Hit Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENTIONS Ableton Sontronics Saturn Soundelux U99 OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special Xmas episode, John is joined by Adam Buxton and producer Joe Mount to discuss how they wrote, recorded and produced the album Buckle Up. Adam Buxton is a podcaster, actor, comedian and musician, best known for his long-running, award-winning Adam Buxton Podcast. Since launching in 2015, he’s become one of the UK’s most popular podcasters, with guests ranging from Paul McCartney to Tom Hanks. He’s also appeared in films including Hot Fuzz and Stardust, and published two acclaimed memoirs. With his popular jingles at the heart of segments on his podcast and mid-2000s radio show, Adam began work on his debut record Buckle Up in 2022, enlisting Metronomy’s Joe Mount as producer. Sitting down at Strongroom Studios, Adam and Joe dig into the sounds and ideas behind Buckle Up, exploring how to balance comedy with more serious songwriting, and why stripping back production can help reveal something more authentic. Tracks discussed: Dancing in The Middle, My Feelings, Skip This Track, Tea Towel GEAR GIVEAWAY COMPETITION Join the Christmas Giveaway on the Tape Notes Patreon Page TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. QUBE Get 20% off at Qube Studio: https://www.theqube.com/ MAKENOISE PRO AUDIO Get 20% off all Franklin Audio products at https://makenoiseproaudio.com/ MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Buckle Up’ here: https://lynkify.in/album/buckle-up/RmIMrCSB  Decca Records LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS The God Particle Soniccouture Native Instruments Roland System 100 Yamaha NS-10 Speakers Yamaha QY-20 Yamaha QY-70 Yamaha QY-100 Fender Stratocaster Tupperware Logic Pro OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Patreon: Tape Notes YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Instagram: @tapenotes  Discord: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Haim and producer Rostam Batmanglij to discuss how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘I Quit’. Haim are an American pop-rock band from Los Angeles, made up of multi-instrumentalist sisters Danielle, Este and Alana Haim. Playing together in their family band growing up, they formed Haim in 2007 and released their debut EP, ‘Forever’, in 2012.  Their debut album, ‘Days Are Gone’, arrived in 2013 and earned them a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. Their follow-up records, 2017’s ‘Something to Tell You’ and 2020’s ‘Women in Music Pt. III’, both received widespread critical acclaim, with ‘Women in Music Pt. III’ also securing a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. Haim released their fourth album, ‘I Quit’, in June this year, once again collaborating with longtime producer Rostam. In this episode, John is joined by Danielle and Rostam, from Rostam’s LA studio where much of the album was recorded. The trio discuss everything from garageband demos to recording and reamping drums, as well as techniques for producing Haim’s distinctive vocals and being influenced by multiple genres and sounds. Tracks discussed: Relationships, Down to be wrong, Now it’s time, Everybody’s trying to figure me out GEAR GIVEAWAY COMPETITION Join the Christmas Giveaway on the Tape Notes Patreon Page TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. QUBE Get 20% off at Qube Studio: https://www.theqube.com/ MAKENOISE PRO AUDIO Get 20% off all Franklin Audio products at https://makenoiseproaudio.com/ MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘I Quit’ here: I quit by HAIM,  Polydor Records LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS D16 Repeater Delay Waves Soundshifter Plugin E-Mu Emulator ii Vintage Synth Solaris Synth Universal Audio AMS-DMX Roland Juno Gretsch Round Badge Drums Ludwig Steel Snare SPL Transient Designer Korg Trident Eventide Harmonizer UnderToneAudio Unfairchild Korg A5 Multi-Effects Pedalboard E-Bow Oberheim OB-8 Synthesiser Electro-Voice RE20 RCA KU-3A Vintage Arturia Mellotron GarageBand OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Patreon: Tape Notes YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Instagram: @tapenotes  Discord: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Parcels to discuss how they wrote, recorded and produced the album “LOVED”.  Parcels are an Australian electropop band consisting of Jules Crommelin, Louie Swain, Noah Hill, Patrick Hetherington and Anatole Serret. After moving from Australia to Berlin, Parcels signed a deal with French label Kitsuné. However, it was their collaboration with seminal dance duo Daft Punk, who produced their 2017 single “Overnight”, that led to their breakthrough. Since then the band have released three studio albums, their self-titled debut in 2018, and the ambitious double LP ‘Day/Night’, in 2021. Parcels’ third album “LOVED”, released in September 2025, draws on the five-piece’s eclectic music taste, taking their signature disco sound in new directions.  In this episode, John is joined by Jules and Patrick in LA. The trio discuss the band’s early years busking in Australia, being inspired by 2000s pop songs in their youth, Parcels’ techniques for creating their signature multi-track vocal harmonies and how their vocals and instrumentation are designed to make songs sound like memories.  Tracks discussed: Tobeloved, Ifyoucall, Iwanttobeyourlightagain TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. QUBE Get 20% off at Qube Studio: https://www.theqube.com/ MAKENOISE PRO AUDIO Get 20% off all Franklin Audio products at https://makenoiseproaudio.com/ MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘LOVED’ HERE: LOVED by Parcels ‘ Because Music SAS’ LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Korg M1  Shure SM7B Logic Pro Wurlitzer Moog Synth Roland Juno Neumann U87 Roland SH-101 Fender Rhodes Critter & Guitari Organelle Shure SM57 Neumann U67 Valhalla Reverbs OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Patreon: Tape Notes YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Instagram: @tapenotes  Discord: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Scottish musician and producer Sam Gellaitry. Described as “your favourite producer’s favourite producer”, Sam’s innovative, genre-blending electronic music and superb production skills have earned him a loyal fan following and industry respect over the past decade.  Sam signed his first deal, with XL Recordings, at just 18. While early EPs were purely instrumental, Sam started to incorporate his own vocals on fifth EP, IV (2021). The track ‘Assumptions’ from the EP became his biggest hit to date, reaching No. 5 on the US Dance Chart. In 2022, Sam’s collaboration with Pink Pantheress, ‘Picture in my Mind’, brought him to mainstream attention. The same year, he released his mixtape VF VOL II and was named by EDM as one of the 10 best producers of the year. Sam has toured extensively with artists including Kaytranada and Justice whilst continuing to release singles and selling out a multiple-night residency at cult London club Phonox. Sam’s debut album, ‘ANYWHERE HERE IS PERFECT’ was released on 7th November 2025. Sitting down at Baltic Studios in London, Sam talks John through how the gear he uses has evolved over the years and the bespoke approaches he takes to create his unique, 80s-influenced sound. Sam talks about how having synaesthesia (experiencing music as colours) since childhood has been central to his creative process, his techniques for producing vocals and string sounds on the album, and much more! Tracks discussed: ON&ON, DON’T TRY, YOU MIGHT FIND THE ONE Recorded at Baltic - Studio 1 TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. LANDR  Get 20% off LANDR Distribution and Studio at landr.com/tapenotes MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘ANYWHERE HERE IS PERFECT’ here LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Reason Studios Ableton Live Magix Acid Pro Audacity FL Studio UVI Falcon UVI Vintage Vault NI Kontakt RME Babyface RME UFX ii Shure SM58 Neve 1073 Brusfri Klevgrand Neumann U87 Furman power supply Antares Autotune Klevgrand Korvpressor Klevgrand De-Esser Soundtoys Echoboy Emu Emulator 2 Digitech Talker Sequential OB-6 Moog One Moog Matriarch Fender Mustang Fender Jaguar Fender Mustang Bass EastWest Quantum Leap Virharmonic Bohemian Violin OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Patreon: Tape Notes YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Instagram: @tapenotes  Discord: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Kae Tempest and Fraser T. Smith to discuss how they wrote and recorded the album “Self-Titled”. Kae Tempest is an English recording artist and author. He began his career performing at open mic nights around London, quickly gaining a reputation for his powerful lyrical performances blending rap and spoken word poetry. Between 2008 and 2012 he toured internationally with his band Sound of Rum, launching a solo career with debut album ‘Everybody Down’ in 2014. It and second album ‘Let Them Eat Chaos’, released in 2015, were both nominated for the Mercury Prize. Kae has since released three further solo albums, including BRIT Award-nominated ‘The Line Is A Curve’. Kae is widely recognised as one of the UK alternative scene’s most essential voices, acclaimed for his exceptional lyricism and acute social commentary. Both are particularly evident on his fifth studio album, ‘Self Titled’, released earlier this year. ‘Self-Titled’ is Kae’s first collaboration with multi-award winning UK producer, songwriter and musician Fraser T. Smith. The trio sit down at Fraser’s studio, Utopia, where the album was written and recorded, to discuss developing creative harmony working together for the first time, the process of building a song using ProTools, the influence of drum textures and bass sounds on the record, how one creative choice can completely change the direction of a track and much more. Tracks discussed: Statue In The Square, Forever, Till Morning TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. LANDR  Get 20% off LANDR Distribution and Studio at landr.com/tapenotes MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Self Titled’ here - Self Titled by Kae Tempest LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS Ableton Live Avid Pro Tools Soundtoys Phase Mistress Valhalla reverb XLN RC-20 Retro Colour Akai MPC4000 Akai MPC-X Steven Slate Trigger Oeksound Soothe 2 Soundtoys FilterFreak AMS RMX16 Roland SH-101 Boss RE-202 Space Echo Pedal Moog Voyager Soundtoys Decapitator Pultec EQP-1A Mellotron Shure SM7B Manley Gold microphone Tubetech CL 1B Undertone Audio Unfairchild Eventide H3000 Harmoniser Eventide MicroPitch Undertone Audio MPDI-4 Waves H-Delay OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Patreon: Tape Notes Discord: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, slide into our DMs, message us on Patreon, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Hayley Williams and producer Daniel James to discuss how they wrote and recorded the album ‘Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party’.  Hayley Williams is an American pop-punk and rock musician. She began writing songs in her early teens, signing a deal with Atlantic Records at just 15 years old. The label wanted her to be a solo artist, but Hayley had other ideas, instead forming the band Paramore with three school friends. Paramore released their first album ‘All We Know Is Falling’ when Hayley was still only 16. They quickly built a loyal fanbase as audiences resonated with the energy and passion in their music. The band went on to release five more albums and win numerous awards including three Grammys. In 2020 Hayley released her first, highly acclaimed solo album ‘Petals for Armor’. Sophomore album ‘FLOWERS for VASES/descansos’ followed in 2021 to further critical praise. ‘Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party’, released in August this year on Hayley’s own label Post Atlantic, is her third collaboration with musician, producer and longtime friend Daniel James. In this episode, Hayley and Daniel sit down with John at Platoon Studios to discuss how it felt setting out to record songs without an album in mind, how writing solo music differs from writing for Paramore for Hayley, the record’s diverse influences, the vocal recording techniques they used and much more.  Tracks discussed: Kill Me, Love Me Different, Parachute TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. LANDR  Get 20% off LANDR Distribution and Studio at landr.com/tapenotes MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party’ here: Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party by Hayley Williams LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Portal - granular synthesis engine Apple Logic Pro Apple Logic Pro Retrosynth (stock plugin) Arturia Mellotron Stellar Echo SD-201 Valhalla VintageVerb UAD Capitol Chambers Soundtoys Phase Mistress Remo drums Output Arcade Soundtoys Microshift Neural DSP Shure SM7 mic Neumann U67 mic Avid Pro Tools Studio Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar Gibson Les Paul Junior 1959 Thermal by Output Fender Rhodes electric piano plugin Teletone Roland Juno 106 Akai MPC 3000 Splice sample library Astra by Splice E-Bow for guitar Neve 1073LB UAD Urei 1176 Korg MS20 Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Patreon: Tape Notes Discord: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, slide into our DMs, message us on Patreon, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by The Favors, a duo composed of producer/singer-songwriter FINNEAS and singer-songwriter Ashe, to discuss how they wrote and recorded the album ‘The Dream’.  FINNEAS is a Grammy Award-winning producer best known for his longtime collaboration with his younger sister, Billie Eilish. As her primary producer, songwriter and touring partner, FINNEAS has played a key role in shaping her sound, earning 10 Grammy Awards along the way. Beyond his work with Eilish, Finneas has established himself as a rising alt-pop artist. Ashe began her career singing demos in Nashville before gaining widespread recognition with her viral single ‘Moral of the Story’. Since then, she has released several acclaimed EPs and three studio albums. Having previously collaborated on a number of projects, FINNEAS and Ashe decided to form The Favors. They released the album ‘The Dream’ on 19th September 2025. In this episode, FINNEAS and Ashe sit down with John to discuss their techniques for producing vocals, the essential plug-ins they used to create the album’s sound, how ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ influenced their lyric-writing, why devoting time to drum production really matters and some simple yet very effective production tips! Tracks discussed: The Little Mess You Made, David’s Brother, Moonshine TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. LANDR  Get 20% off LANDR Distribution and Studio at landr.com/tapenotes MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘The Dream’ here - The Dream by The Favors, FINNEAS, Ashe LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS Yamaha CP80 Ludwig Superbeat Revelle Snare Earthquaker Devices Delay VOX AC30 Valhalla Room Fabfilter Pro-Q 4 Waves Scheps Omni Native Instruments Guitar Rig Sphere Recording Console Logic Pro Ace Tone TOP-6 Soundtoys Decapitator Earthworks sr314 Liquidsonics Lustrous Plates Soundtoys Echo Boy Jr Lindell API Channel Fender Rhodes Piano Bass mk2 Native Instruments Kontakt The Fiddle Spectrasonics Keyscape Rhodes Piano Bass OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Patreon: Tape Notes Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   Discord: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Pomplamoose - American indie-jazz duo Jack Conte and Nataly Dawn -  to discuss how they wrote and recorded the album ‘Photogénique’, released in July this year. The two met while studying at Stanford University and began making music together in early 2008. They first gained widespread attention in late 2009 through their inventive covers of popular songs on YouTube and MySpace, achieving their first viral hit in 2010 with their rendition of Beyoncé’s ‘Single Ladies’. Since then, Pomplamoose have released seven albums, including ‘Tribute to Famous People’ (2010) and ‘Hey, It’s Pomplamoose’ (2016), blending elements of indie pop, rock, and jazz. In this episode, Jack and Nataly join remotely from their US studio to discuss the three-year process of writing and recording ‘Photogénique’, the ‘extreme self-honesty’ that led them to scrap and re-record much of the original album and their intricate vocal production processes. They also get into the influence of AI on their art, their top gear recommendations and advice they would give to newer artists.  Tracks discussed: Tu Peux Pas Savoir, Julie TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. LANDR  Get 20% off LANDR Distribution and Studio at landr.com/tapenotes MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Photogénique’ here, Pomplamoose Inc. LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS Ableton Live Waves Smack Attack Soundtoys Decapitator Fabfilter Saturn 2 Waves The Kings Microphones Goodhertz Megaverb Roland JU-06A Roland Juno-60 Roland Juno-106 Neumann TLM49 OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Patreon: Tape Notes Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   Discord: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Irish singer-songwriter CMAT and producer Oli Deakin, to discuss how they wrote and recorded the album ‘EURO-COUNTRY’.  CMAT, aka Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, is best known for her unique blend of country-infused pop music, which often incorporates humour and pop culture references. She released her debut album, ‘If My Wife New I'd Be Dead’, in 2022, produced by longtime friend Oli Deakin. Both it and second album ‘Crazymad, For Me’ were praised for their detailed lyricism. The latter was also nominated for the Mercury Prize and the Ivor Novello Award for Best Album. CMAT’s third album ‘EURO-COUNTRY’ was released on 29th August 2025, with Oli Deakin again on production. It has already garnered rave reviews and given CMAT her first viral Tiktok hit with ‘Take a Sexy Picture of Me’. Sitting down at Platoon Studios in London, the trio discuss how the album was inspired by growing up in Ireland in the Noughties, why CMAT’s phone is her most important instrument, how online trolling inspired her viral hit ‘Take a Sexy Picture of Me’ and why a three-minute ‘perfect’ pop melody can be the most effective way to deliver a hard-hitting political message. Tracks discussed: Billy Byrne From Ballybrack, The Leader of the Pigeon Convoy; EURO-COUNTRY; Take a Sexy Picture of Me; Iceberg TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. Recorded at Platoon Studios LANDR  Get 20% off LANDR Distribution and Studio at landr.com/tapenotes MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘EURO-COUNTRY’ here: EURO-COUNTRY by CMAT, AWAL Recordings LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS Omnichord Mellotron Casio Keyboard AEA R88 microphone Wurlitzer Neumann M49 microphone OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Patreon: Tape Notes Instagram: @tapenotes  Discord: Tape Notes X: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by singer-songwriter and musician Laufey and producer Spencer Stewart to discuss how they wrote and recorded the album ‘A Matter Of Time’. Having performed on numerous national TV singing shows in her youth, Icelandic-Chinese artist Laufey released her first full-length album, ‘Everything I Know About Love’ in 2022. It was praised for seamlessly blending jazz influences with contemporary production. Her second album, ‘Bewitched’, continued this trend with its captivating jazz-pop ballads and earned her the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. Laufey met producer Spencer Stewart when they were students at music college in the US and they have been collaborating ever since. Laufey’s much anticipated third album ‘A Matter of Time’ was released on 24th August 2025. Sitting down at Strongroom Studios in London, the trio discuss how creativity often involves breaking formal rules, why the voice is an underrated instrument, the importance of not being a snob when it comes to technology and their belief that when it sounds wrong in the studio, it might just be because you’ve hit on something really original!  Tracks discussed: Lover Girl; Tough Luck; Too Little, Too Late TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit ⁠tape.it/tapenotes⁠ or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. Recorded at ⁠Strongroom Studios⁠ LANDR  Get 20% off LANDR Distribution and Studio at ⁠landr.com/tapenotes⁠ MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount⁠ HERE⁠ LISTEN to ⁠‘A Matter of Time’ here⁠ , Vingolf Recordings LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   ⁠linktr.ee/tapenotes ⁠ ⁠Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective⁠ GEAR MENTIONS ⁠Neumann TLM103 ⁠Neumann U67 ⁠ ⁠Shure SM7B ⁠ ⁠Juno-60⁠ ⁠iZotope Ozone⁠ ⁠Echoplex⁠ ⁠Plank of wood⁠ OUR GEAR ⁠https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear⁠ HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on⁠ Patreon⁠, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram:⁠ @tapenotes⁠  Twitter:⁠ @tapenotes⁠  Facebook:⁠ @tapenotespodcast⁠   YouTube:⁠ Tape Notes Podcast⁠ Discord: ⁠Tape Notes⁠ Patreon:⁠ ⁠⁠Tape Notes⁠ To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list:⁠ www.tapenotes.co.uk⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Piers and Kesi of seminal British dance act Rudimental, at Strongroom Studios in London to discuss how they wrote and recorded new album ‘RUDIM3NTAL’. Rudimental’s three members - Piers Aggett, Kesi Dryden and Leon Rolle - started as childhood friends. After releasing their debut album ‘Home’ in 2013, the trio quickly became one of the most influential dance acts of the 21st century. They have amassed billions of streams worldwide, toured extensively and released multiple chart-topping singles including ‘Feel the Love’, ‘Waiting All Night’ and ‘These Days’. In this episode, the band discuss the evolution of Rudimental from their earliest days and how they keep things fresh and exciting five albums in. They talk about honing in on the drum and bass genre on this record and other changes they made to their process such as working with samples and collaborating with different producers. They also discuss their legendary talent for getting the best from featured vocalists and the influence their live shows have always had on their studio recordings. Tracks discussed: Chop Dem Down, Thank You, Green & Gold TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. LANDR  Get 20% off LANDR Distribution and Studio at landr.com/tapenotes MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘RUDIM3NTAL’ here LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective Gear mentions: VPS avenger Xfer Serum U-he diva Apple Logic Pro Izotope Music Rebalance (part of RX suite) AKAI MPC Melotron Splice Loopmasters UAD Eden Neve preamp Manley ref-c mic UA bock 251 mic UA Urei 1176 compressor Rode microphones Shure sm57 mic UAD interface Korg m1 synth Thermionic culture vulture Solid State Logic SSL Fusion Soundtoys Echoboy UAD Dyntronics cyclosonic panner Prophet 6 synth Effectrix by Sugar Bytes Nicky Romero kickstart plugin Moog Voyager OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Djo and producer Adam Thein to discuss how they wrote and recorded the album ‘The Crux’. Djo, aka Joe Keery, is an American musician and actor. His music career began back in 2014 as a guitarist and drummer in the Chicago psych-rock/garage band ‘Post Animal’. He left to launch a solo career as Djo, balancing music with a starring role in the Netflix global hit ‘Stranger Things’. His first album as Djo, ‘Twenty Twenty’, was released in 2019 and praised by critics for its blend of psychedelic rock and power pop influences. His second album ‘Decide’, followed in 2022. The single ‘End of Beginning’ from the album was a viral hit and was nominated for Brit and Billboard awards. ‘The Crux’, arrived in April this year to further critical acclaim, once again working with producer Adam Thein In this episode, the pair discuss Joe’s collaborative approach to creating and what Adam sees as Joe’s particular gift for knowing what feedback to take on board and what to discard. Joe talks about the long process of making ‘The Crux’, juggling writing and recording with a demanding acting career, and how space and time actually aided his creative process.  Tracks discussed: Delete Ya, Charlie’s Garden, Egg TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. Recorded at Platoon Tileyard Studios MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘The Crux’ here AWAL Recordings LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Soundtoys Echoboy Soundtoys Microshift Soundtoys Little Alterboy Soundtoys Devil Loc Brainworx True Peak Limiter Universal Audio Vox AC-30 Lexicon 224 Arturia East Piano Sequential Prophet 6 EMU Planet Phatt RCA R44 Brigade Chorus E-Bow Roland Alpha Juno Fender P-Bass Mellotron UTA-D UnFairchild Plugin Wurlitzer Farfisa Synth ARP Pro DGX Synth Digitech Talker Vocoder Guild Starfire Bass Gibson J45 Magniton Amp Boss CE-1 Fender Stratocaster Neve Desk Avid ProTools Ableton Live OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John sits down with Scottish artist, producer and DJ Josh Mainnie, at Baltic Studios, better known as Barry Can’t Swim, and producer O’ Flynn to discuss how they wrote and recorded the album ‘Loner’. Josh first began releasing under the alias Barry Can’t Swim in 2019, releasing a stream of singles that began attracting attention for their melodic, dance-driven style. In 2023, he released his first full-length album, ‘When Will We Land?’, which became a huge success, earning him nominations for the Mercury Prize and at the BRIT Awards. ‘Loner’ released in July 2025, sees him reflect on his newfound fame and place in the industry, whilst maintaining his signature high energy beats and captivating soundscapes. Sitting down with Josh, and later with collaborator O’Flynn, the conversation dives into the album-making process. They explore Josh’s sampling techniques, the ideal mindset and headspace for creating great music, and the stories behind capturing sounds from unexpected places, like the toilets of an Indian restaurant, and turning them into tracks. Tracks discussed: Still Riding, Wandering Mt. Moon, Kimpton TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. Recorded at Baltic Studios LANDR  Get 20% off LANDR Distribution and Studio at landr.com/tapenotes MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Loner’ here ‘Ninja Tune’ LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS Oek Sound Soothe 2 Cable Guys Snap Back XLN Audio Life Plugin Slate & Ash Cycles Slate & Ash Auras Arturia Mini V Arturia Beatstep Pro Arturia Prophet Xfer Serum Synth Spectrasonics Keyscape Double Felt Valhalla Plugins  Make Noise Morphogene Korg Kaoss Pad Prophet Synth Korg MS-20 Korg M1 Splice Ableton Prehistoric VHS (Wavetable Preset) Ableton Granulator Ableton EQ Ableton Plugins Ableton Logic Pro X OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Lorde and producer Jim-E Stack to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Virgin’. Lorde, is a singer-songwriter and producer from New Zealand who rose to fame in 2013 with the Grammy winning global hit track ‘Royals’. Her albums 2013’s ‘Pure Heroine’, 2017’s ‘Melodrama’, and 2012's ‘Solar Power’ all showcase her sharp, raw lyrics and sophisticated production . In June 2025, after collaborations with artists including Charli XCX, Lorde released ‘Virgin’. Produced by Jim-E Stack, the record reveals a bold new sound and explores themes of self-discovery and identity. In this episode, the pair discuss the subtle changes made in the development of each track. As well as sharing numerous voice notes and demos, they talk through how the lyrics and production informed each other, the importance of muting and stripping songs back, with deep rooted percussion at the music’s core. Tracks discussed: Favourite Daughter, GRWN, Shapeshifter TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. LANDR  Get 20% off LANDR Distribution and Studio at landr.com/tapenotes MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Virgin’ here - https://lynkify.in/album/virgin/wuWmkwlQ  ‘Universal Music’ LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS Soundtoys Decapiator Soundtoys Devil-Loc Soundtoys FilterFreak FabFilter Pro Q Decimort Waves Soundshift Waves RVox Waves SSL Compressor Kontakt Strings OTT Goodhertz Lossy Korg PolySix Shure SM7 Moog Rogue Thermionic Culture Vulture API 550 EQ Neve 1073 Neumann U47 CL-1B Compressor Roland Juno AMS DMX Unit Telefunken 251 Mic CR 8000 Drum Machine Roland VG-8 Teenage Engineering OP-1 OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Jamie xx, to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘In Waves’. Jamie xx is an English musician, record producer, and DJ. He began his career as part of The xx, whose 2009 debut album ‘xx’ was instrumental in shaping the indie music scene of the 2010s. Jamie’s critically acclaimed solo debut, ‘In Colour’, arrived in 2015, earning both Mercury and Grammy nominations. In 2024, he released ‘In Waves’, a record that captures the emotional highs and hazy afterglow of a night out, blending bliss, heartbreak, and introspection through immersive dance music. In this episode, Jamie reflects on the years-long journey of creating ‘In Waves’. As well as discussing where his initial moments of inspiration came from, he talks through his approach to sampling, how he balances analog synths with a Logic-based workflow, and the plugins that have become essential to crafting his distinctive sound. Tracks discussed: Breather, Dafodil, Life TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. LANDR  Get 20% off LANDR Distribution and Studio at landr.com/tapenotes TRINITY LABAN  Find out more about Trinity Laban's Songwriting MA here. MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘In Waves’ here ‘Young’ LISTEN to ‘Tina Moore - Never Gonna Let You Go’ here. ‘RCA Records, Sony’ LISTEN to ‘Cerrone - The House of the Rising Sun Revelacion Suite’ here. ‘Because’ LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective. GEAR MENTIONS Soundtoys Crystallizer Zynaptiq Morph Output Thermal Roland TR-808 XLN Audio XO Serum Sonar Works Sound ID Reference Roland Space Echo Oberheim 8 Voice Korg Delta Isla Drum Machine Akai MPC 1000 Tascam 8 Track Logic ES 2 Logic Phaser Logic Drum Sampler Logic Pro X Garageband OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis Evan Lawday Francis Hartgrove Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve been having a look back through the Tape Notes archive to bring back some of our favourite early episodes that you may have missed. This selection is our conversation with Caribou, Dan Snaith, all the way back in Summer 2020. EPISODE NOTES In this episode John links up with Caribou a.k.a. Dan Snaith, to breakdown how Suddenly -  his first release in five years - was written, recorded and produced.  Diving deep into his hard drive Dan treats us to a plethora of demo versions, track breakdowns and even plays us a few nuggets live. We get to hear the philosophy and stories behind creating his most personal album yet and discover how he reduced a monumental 900 ideas down to a single record.  Listen to hear the results of when Dan was let loose in Floating Points' Studio, how leaving his internet browser open while recording provided a moment of compositional serendipity, and why the title of this podcast could well have been 'Things I learned from Timberland'.    Songs Discussed: Magpie, Like I Love You, Sister  TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit ⁠tape.it/tapenotes⁠ or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. LANDR  Get 20% off LANDR Distribution and Studio at ⁠landr.com/tapenotes⁠ TRINITY LABAN  Find out more about⁠ Trinity Laban's Songwriting MA here.⁠ MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount⁠ HERE   LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'Suddenly' here. 'Suddenly' - City Slang Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  GEAR MENTIONS API Lunchbox Arp 2600 ARP Rhodes Chroma Rhodes Flea 47 Native Instruments Reaktor Spectrasonics Omnisphere Spectrasonics Trilian Synthesis Technology - E370 Quad Morphing VCO ToneBoosters Reelbus Universal Audio 1176 Compressor Waves MondoMod Yamaha CS-70 OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Nicolas Godin, one half of the French electronic duo Air, to explore how they wrote, recorded, and produced their iconic debut album, Moon Safari. Formed in 1995 by Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel, Air rose to global fame with ‘Moon Safari’ in 1998, a critically acclaimed, genre-defining album that helped elevate French pop and inspired a generation of down-tempo electronic music. In 2025, the duo marked its 25th anniversary with Blue Moon Safari, a bold reinterpretation by British producer Vegyn. In this episode, Nico shares the story behind ‘Moon Safari', sharing how each track came to life, the creative choices that shaped the album, and the instruments and techniques that defined the iconic Air sound. Tracks discussed: Sexy Boy, La Femme d’argent, Talisman, Kelly Watch the Stars TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. LANDR  Get 20% off LANDR Distribution and Studio at landr.com/tapenotes TRINITY LABAN  Find out more about Trinity Laban's Songwriting MA here. MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Moon Safari’ here - https://lynkify.in/album/moon-safari/xYXmfb0a  ‘Parlophone’ LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS AKG C414 Talk Box Leslie Cabin Moog Minimoog Korg MS20 Fostex A80 Sequential Prophet 5 Roland Juno Roland Jupiter-8 ARP 2600 Synton Syrinx Peavey Classic 50 Ensoniq DP/4 Fender Rhodes Whurlitzer Spitfire Audio Instruments Ableton Cubase OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis Evan Lawday Francis Hartgrove Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Hollywood royalty and Jazz sensation Jeff Goldblum along with producers Alex Frank and Scott Gilman to talk about how they recorded and produced ‘Still Blooming’. A lifelong pianist, Jeff formed The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra in the 1990s, performing in and around LA for over 20 years. The band’s fourth album released in May 2025, ‘Still Blooming’, blends Broadway classics and tracks from the great American Songbook with guest vocals from Scarlett Johansson, Maiya Sykes, and Jeff’s Wicked co-stars Ariana Grande, and Cynthia Erivo. The record was arranged, recorded and produced by band members Alex Frank and Scott Gillman. In this episode, Jeff, Alex, and Scott walk us through each track’s creation, from spontaneous singing on set, to detailed musical arrangements and figuring out keys over the phone. They share the production tricks used to balance pop vocals with jazz recordings, the moments they all jammed together in the studio, and how they plan to bring it all to the stage. Tracks discussed: I Don’t Know Why (I Just Do), We’ll Meet Again, The Best Is Yet To Come TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. LANDR  Get 20% off LANDR Distribution and Studio at landr.com/tapenotes TRINITY LABAN  Find out more about Trinity Laban's Songwriting MA here. MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Still Blooming’ here. ‘Decca’ LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS FabFilter Pro-Q 4 Steinway Pianos Coles 4038 Neumann U67 Neumann U87 Logic Pro Tools OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis Evan Lawday Francis Hartgrove Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John sits down with electronic producer and DJ Porter Robinson, to discuss how he wrote and recorded his third album ‘SMILE! :D’  Having begun self-producing at just twelve years old, Porter Robinson has since risen to become one of the most acclaimed artists within the EDM world, performing alongside artists such as Skrillex and Tiësto. His work has seen him tour extensively around the world and has even earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording, back in 2019. In this episode, Porter dials in from North Carolina to chat about how he came up with his signature synth sounds, some of his favourite gear, including giving a guitar demo, and drawing inspiration from Coldplay tracks.  Tracks discussed: Cheerleader, Is There Really No Happiness?, Russian Roulette TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. TRINITY LABAN  Find out more about Trinity Laban's Songwriting MA here. MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount here LISTEN to ‘SMILE! :D’ here. 'Mom+Pop' LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS U-He Diva Polyverse Manipulator D16 Tourverb Soundtoys EchoBoy Line 6 Helix Native Kilohearts Trance Gate FL Studio FL Studio Sequencer 3X OSC FL Studio Harmor CLA Plugins Warm Audio Mics Spectrasonics Omnisphere OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis Evan Lawday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve been having a look back through the Tape Notes archive to bring back some of our favourite early episodes that you may have missed. This selection is our conversation from Summer 2020, with Josh Davis, better know as DJ Shadow. EPISODE NOTES In this episode, John ventures over to Wendy House Studios to catch up with hip-hip royalty Josh Davis AKA DJ Shadow, to talk through how he recorded and produced his latest album ‘Our Pathetic Age’ and his chart-topping album ‘The Mountain Will Fall’.   Josh gives us a full insight in to his largest most diverse project yet, breaking down his writing process from the moment he randomly dips in to his vast record collection for inspiration, to discovering unlikely source material such as an abandoned record collection rescued from a friend of his father's. We get to hear the original samples that form the basis of some of his biggest hits as well as the raw vocal stems of Nas and Pharoahe Monch rapping at each other from different studios.   Listen to find out about Josh’s meticulous sample editing process, what mixing mistake meant he had to sneakily rerelease a track, and why he had to gate-crash a Run the Jewels gig.  Tracks discussed: Nobody Speak, Rocket Fuel, Drone Warfare TAPE IT Thanks to our partners at TapeIt! Click here for 20% off TapeIt Pro. TRINITY LABAN  Find out more about Trinity Laban's Songwriting MA here. LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to 'Our Pathetic Age' here. Listen to 'The Mountain Will Fall' here. 'Our Pathetic Age' and 'The Mountain Will Fall' - Mass Appeal/Reconstruction Productions, Inc.   Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENTIONS Akai MPC Sampler Pioneer PLX 1000 Sonos Speaker Technics SL-1200 Technics SL-1210 ProTools Ableton   OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Olly Alexander and producer Danny L Harle, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced ‘Polari’ Olly Alexander is an English singer, actor, and LGBTQ+ activist, best known as the frontman of Years & Years. The band found global success in the mid 2010’s with the hit ‘King’ and released two UK #1 albums before Olly transitioned to a solo career. As well as representing the UK at Eurovision in 2024 with ‘Dizzy’, Olly has collaborated with numerous pop icons including Elton John and Kylie Minogue. His 2025 album Polari was co-written and produced by Danny L Harle, a sought-after British producer known for his work on P.C. Music, and with artists including Charli XCX, and Caroline Polachek and many more. Catching up at Strongroom Studios, where Olly recorded most of the album’s vocals, the conversation explores the stories and sounds behind each track. Along the way, they share early demos featuring Olly’s first vocal musings, while Danny discusses songwriting habits, optimising a producer’s workflow, and techniques for achieving a creative flow state. Tracks discussed: Whisper In The Waves, Cupid’s Bow, Beautiful, Polari TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. TRINITY LABAN  Find out more about Trinity Laban's Songwriting MA here. MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Polari’ here. LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS Korg Triton Rhizomatic Synthesis Plasmonic Waves Tune Valhalla Room Tenor Viol Korg MS-10 Yamaha RX5 Drum Machine Roland GAIA Audacity Logic Varispeed Logic OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, John is joined by electronic music duo Maribou State to discuss the making of their third studio album, ‘Hallucinating Love’. Maribou State first gained traction after releasing a string of EPs back in 2011, but truly broke through with their debut album, ‘Portraits’, propelling the duo to international recognition. Since then, they’ve become a staple of the global dance music scene, selling out tours across the UK, Europe, and North America. Sitting down at Strongroom Studios, the pair discuss their immersive writing retreats, the challenge of creating over 25 demos for a single track, and their ‘sound harvest’ sessions - entire studio days focused on building custom sample libraries from everyday objects and experimenting with an array of gear. Tracks discussed: Blackoak, Otherside, Rolling Stone TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. TRINITY LABAN  Find out more about Trinity Laban's Songwriting MA here. MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Hallucinating Love’ here - https://lynkify.in/album/hallucinating-love/9fqbKqy9  LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS SOMA Laboratory ETHER Teenage Engineering TP-7 Marantz Cassette Tape Portable Field Recorder Korg MS-200 Korg MS-20 Sequential Prophet 8 Grampian 636 Spring Reverb Moog Matriarch Moog Sub 37 Moog MF-104M Analog Delay Moog Synths Roland SP-404  Roland TB-303 Roland SPD Roland SRE-555 Chorus Echo Neural DSP Digital Effects Modeler 1176 Compressor Native Instruments Kontakt Nord Stage Neumann U87 Coles Mic EMT Plate Reverb SVT Ampeg Bass Amp Ludwig Drums Ableton Cubase Logic OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John sits down with indie-dance trio RÜFÜS DU SOL  to discuss how they wrote, recorded and produced their most recent album ‘Inhale / Exhale’. Hailing from Sydney, Rüfüs Du Sol—comprised of Tyrone Lindqvist, Jon George, and James Hunt—joined together in 2010 through a shared passion for electronic music. Since their formation, they have evolved from local talents to global dance music icons, through their immersive blend of melodic and atmospheric sounds. With five chart-topping albums to their name, they have embarked on global tours, performed at renowned festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza, and won a GRAMMY Award for Best Dance/Electronic Recording in 2022. Today, they join us from each side of the US to dig into their latest project, ‘Inhale / Exhale’. As well as reflecting on their ever-changing writing processes, they explore the production techniques at the heart of their sound, sharing insights on distorting Tyrone’s vocals, gating, and having ‘bass wars’ to work out the best parts. Tracks discussed: Pressure, Fire / Desire, Exhale TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Inhale/Exhale’ here - https://lynkify.in/album/inhale-exhale/EQNVipUP  LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS Cableguys ShaperBox Slate & Ash Choreographs Slate & Ash Plugins Soundtoys EchoBoy Soundtoys Decapitator Xfer Serum Culture Vulture Emulator Audio Imperia Cinematic Tension Strings Teletone Audio Scarbo Moog Synths Sequential OB6 Sequential Prophet 6 UDO Super 6 Korg MS-20 Ableton Splice OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to this bonus episode! Back in Summer 2023 John sat down with podcasting legend Adam Buxton, live at the Podcast Festival for a two part chat into their respective careers, and Adam’s new music. In this, part one, Adam takes the reins as host, turning the spotlight on John’s incredible career in radio. The conversation digs into John’s journey from the early days of Xfm to Radio X, the creation of the legendary X-Posure show, which introduced artists like Adele, The XX, and Scroobious Pip to the airwaves, and the evolving landscape of radio and podcasting, including insights into Tape Notes. Adam also gives us an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at his musical process, sharing the inspiration and demos behind his much-loved theme, “Ramble Chat.” TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John links up with Snarky Puppy founder and band leader Michael League to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the band’s latest record ‘Empire Central’, as well as works from Varijashree Venugopal and a new project, Ellipsis.  Michael League is an American producer, multi-instrumentalist, and founder of jazz fusion ensemble Snarky Puppy. Now with a reputation as one of the most innovative bands of the 21st century, constantly pushing the boundaries of improvisation and the styles they draw from, Snarky Puppy’s 20 year back catalogue includes 16 albums, and five Grammy wins. Outside of the band, Michael has shared his production and writing talents on records from David Crosby, Becca Stevens, Varijashree Venugopal and many more. Speaking from his home studio in Spain, Michael digs into his production process, from crafting rough Logic demos and editing lengthy improvisations to blending global influences with Western jazz. He also shares the technical details of Snarky Puppy’s vast recording setup and treats us to a live demo of his current go-to, the Danelectro Sitar. Tracks discussed: Bet, Ranjani, Obbakoso TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Empire Central’ here. GroundUP Music LISTEN to ‘Vari’ here. GroundUP Music LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Lauten Audio LS-208 Lauten Audio Snare Mic Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 Audio-Technica Mics Danelectro Sitar F-Bass Hammertone 12-String Fender Rhodes Roland Space-Echo Ebow Moog Bass Logic Pro Avid ProTools OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Oli Sykes and Lee Malia of Bring Me The Horizon, as well as producer Dan Lancaster, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the band’s latest album ‘POST HUMAN: NeX GEn’. Bring Me the Horizon, formed in 2004 in Sheffield, evolved from deathcore to genre-blending innovators, incorporating electronics, classical, and pop influences. With seven studio albums, over 5 million records sold, and electrifying live shows, they’ve built a global fanbase and earned multiple Grammy nominations. Their latest release, ‘POST HUMAN: NeX GEn’, continues their evolution, produced by long-time collaborator Dan Lancaster. Catching up at Stongroom Studios, Oli, Lee and Dan talk us through the incredibly fast-paced process of bringing the album together, sharing the countless demos, crazy sound design, and secret details meticulously hidden within each track.  Tracks discussed: Kool-Aid, Top 10 staTues tHat CriEd bloOd, DIg It,  TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘POST HUMAN: NeX GEn’ here. Sony Music Entertainment LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS ElastiquePitch 2 Soundtoys Little AlterBoy Native Instruments Kontakt GetGood Drums Antares Autotune AudioMovers Output Arcade DJI LAV Mic Moises Avid ProTools OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Lizzy McAlpine, and co-producer Mason Stoops and co-writer Taylor Mackall, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Older (and Wiser)’. Lizzy McAlpine is a singer-songwriter and producer who first gained popularity by sharing covers on SoundCloud and YouTube. Her debut album, ‘Give Me a Minute’, arrived in 2020, however, it was her second album, ‘Five Seconds Flat’, that solidified her as a rising force, with the platinum-selling single ‘ceilings’ becoming a global hit. Her latest record, ‘Older’, blurs the lines between studio and stage, exploring themes of heartbreak and self-acceptance; recorded in LA, it was produced by Lizzy and Mason Stoops. Catching up at Miloco’s The Pool studio ahead of the London leg of their tour, Lizzy, Mason, and Taylor discuss their approach to writing the album—from Lizzy’s intimate, bedroom demos to their collaborative recording process that transformed it into a full band album. Tracks discussed: The Elevator, Pushing It Down and Praying, Force of Nature TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Older (and Wiser)’ here. RCA Records, Indigo Blue  LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Baldwin Fun Machine Baldwin Fun Machine (VST)  Danelectro Bass VI Austin Hooks Projector Amp Benson Nathan Junior Amp Univox U45B Amp Echoplex EP2 Pedal Chase Bliss Audio Pedals Mellotron Shure SM57 Neumann U67 Neumann U87 OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  SubStack: Tape Notes Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Pixies, Charles Thompson (aka Black Francis), and producer Tom Dalgety, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the band’s latest album ‘The Night The Zombies Came’. The Pixies are an American alternative rock band widely acclaimed as one of the pioneers of the late 1980s rock movement. Their first three albums - Surfer Rosa (1988), Dolittle (1989) and Bossanova (1990) - defined an era as well as earning the band much critical success. The Pixies have influenced numerous prominent artists including Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, The Strokes and Weezer. Since re-forming in 2004, they have maintained a steady creative output, working closely with producer Tom Dalgety. Catching up at Strongroom Studios, Charles and Tom share stories from their album writing process, including the last minute track that Tom snuck onto the record, the inspiration that came from trips around the English countryside, and the creative results of Charles’s temper tantrums (which included his songwriting notebook ending up on the studio roof!). Tracks discussed: The Vegas Suite, I Hear You Mary, Jane (The Night the Zombies Came) TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. ROLAND Get 10% off Roland Cloud Ultimate Membership with the code TAPENOTES RC-1024 at rolandcloud.com MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘The Night The Zombies Came’ here. Pixies Recordings, BMG Rights Management Limited LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Eventide H9 Max Shure SM7B MXC Carbon Copy TC Electronic Bucket Brigade Fender Reverb Tank Vox Practice Amp AC30 Amp Takamine Guitars Martin Guitars Avid ProTools OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is back with Jack Patterson and Grace Chatto of Clean Bandit, for part two of their conversation, this time, talking about how they wrote, recorded, and produced some of their more recent hits.  Clean Bandit are an English electronic group formed in 2008, known for blending classical music with electronics and pop. While they gained early attention with the track ‘Mozart’s House,’ their 2014 hit ‘Rather Be,’ featuring Jess Glynne, won a Grammy and earned the band global recognition. Now pop mainstays, they have released numerous chart-topping collaborations, including ‘Rockabye’ and ‘Symphony.’ With two studio albums to their name and new music on the horizon, their most recent work sees them teaming up with Anne-Marie and David Guetta. In this, part two of our conversation, Jack and Grace take us through the early versions and of their track ‘Symphony’ (following its resurgence on TikTok), and discuss how their creative process has changed over the years, taking apart ‘Cry Baby’, and digging into the multiple remixes of the track.  Tracks discussed: Symphony, Cry Baby TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 50% off. (Valid until 29th November 2024) ROLAND Get 10% off Roland Cloud Ultimate Membership with the code TAPENOTES RC-1024 at rolandcloud.com MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your 25% discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Symphony’ here.  LISTEN to ‘Cry Baby’ here. Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Korg Polysix Korg MS-20 Alicia’s Keys Ilya Efimov Plugins Spectrasonics Keyscape Ample Sounds Guitar 808 Warfare Antares Autotune Xfer Serum Nexus XLN Audio RC-20 Valhalla Vintage Verb Universal Audio Teletronix LA-3A Audio Leveler Pultec EQP‑1A CL1b Compressor Neumann U87 1176 Limiter Neve PreAmp 1073 Ableton Operator Synth Ableton Avid ProTools OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk TAPE NOTES TEAM Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Ali Lewis Jessica Clucas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John sits down with English musician, producer, and DJ Simon Green, better known as Bonobo, to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced works from across his back catalogue. Bonobo first caught attention with his 1999 debut. Over the years, his evolving sound, often including elements of world music, nu-jazz and electronica, have earned him a devoted following. This popularity surged with the release of critically acclaimed albums including 'Black Sands' and 'The North Borders', released via Ninja Tune, which earned him multiple Grammy nominations and solidified his status as one of the biggest names in dance music. His latest work, the single, ‘Expander’ released in August 2024, is a slice of fresh yet unmistakable Bonobo, weaving organic vocals and instrumentation with vibrant dance floor energy. Catching up at Baltic Studios, not too far from where Simon recorded his early work, the conversation digs into Bonobo’s creative process, discussing how he builds his unique drum patterns as well as exploring the essential plugins and sounds that shape his distinctive style.  Tracks discussed: Expander, Sapien, Cirrus, Black Sands TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 50% off. (Valid until 29th November) ROLAND Get 10% off Roland Cloud Ultimate Membership with the code TAPENOTES RC-1024 at rolandcloud.com MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your 25% discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Expander’ here. LISTEN to ‘Fragments’ here. LISTEN to ‘Black Sands’ here. Ninja Tune LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Knock Drum Buss Plugin Soundtoys Decapitator Soundtoys Little Alterboy Valhalla Room Valhalla Vintage Verb Miroslav Philharmonik Strings Slate & Ash Landforms Slate & Ash Cycles Slate & Ash Choreographs TB Reelbus Intellijel Plonk Module Make Noise Optomix Noise Engineering Basimilus Oberheim Xpander Oberheim OB8 Roland TR-808 Ableton Operator Ableton Logic X OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk TAPE NOTES TEAM Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Katie-Louise Buxton  Seb Brunner-Stolovitzky  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices