Tape Notes is a podcast about the art and craft of music production. Hosted by John Kennedy, each episode reunites an artist and producer to talk about the highlights of their collaboration in the studio. Their conversations lift the lid on every stage of the creative process, from kindling the first spark of a song idea, through decisions on style and instrumentation, to finessing the final product. Full of fascinating anecdotes, the conversations also feature early demo versions and stems from the original session recordings. The result is a unique insight into the working methods of some of the most...
TN:152 Olly Alexander & Danny L Harle
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
TN:151 Maribou State
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,
TN:150 RÜFÜS DU SOL
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 n
Bonus Episode - John Kennedy & Adam Buxton (Live)
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 Scroo
TN:149 Snarky Puppy (Michael League)
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
TN:148 Bring Me The Horizon & Dan Lancaster
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 mul
TN:147 Lizzy McAlpine, Mason Stoops & Taylor Mackall
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’
TN:146 Pixies & Tom Dalgety
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 nu
TN:145 Clean Bandit (Part 2)
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.
TN:144 Bonobo
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', re
TN:143 Rex Orange County, Teo Halm & Jim Reed
John sits down with Rex Orange County and producers Jim Reed and Teo Halm, to talk about how he wrote and recorded his latest album ‘The Alexander Technique’. Alex O'Connor, better known as Rex Orange County, is an English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Teaching himself music production at 16 years old, within a year he released his debut album ‘Bcos U Will Never B Free’. Since then, Alex has been consistently releasing successful music, including his fourth album, ‘Who Ca
TN:142 Clean Bandit (Part 1)
John is joined by Jack Patterson and Grace Chatto of Clean Bandit to talk about how they wrote, recorded, and produced some of their early 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-t
TN:141 A. G. Cook
John is joined by Alex Cook, better known as A. G. Cook, to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Britpop’.A. G. Cook, is a London-based artist and producer. After studying at Goldsmiths University, he founded PC Music, a label shaping hyper pop with artists including Hannah Diamond and Danny L Harle. His debut solo albums, ‘7G’ and ‘Apple’, arrived in 2020. In addition to his own music, Alex has shared his production talents with numerous pop icons, including Jonsi,
Reissue | TN:29 Floating Points
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 November 2019, with Sam Shepard, Floating Points.
EPISODE NOTES
In this episode John heads to EMS4 studios in Shoreditch to chat with Floating Points a.k.a Sam Shepherd, about how he recorded and produced his latest release, Crush.
Talking from deep within Sam’s musical laboratory, we peer behind the curtain and find o
TN:140 Four Tet
John is joined by Kieran Hebden, better known as Four Tet, to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Three’, along with a selection of his other work.Following his start in music writing and recording as part of post-rock band ‘Fridge’, Kieran released his debut solo album as Four Tet ‘Dialogue’ in 1999. Since then, his constant experimentation and blend of hip-hop, jazz, krautrock, electronica, dance, and folk have seen him become one of the most innovative producers
TN:139 Kasabian
John joins Kasabian producer, songwriter, and frontman Serge Pizzorno to discuss the band’s latest record, ‘Happenings’.Kasabian, an English rock band formed in the late 1990s, burst onto the scene in the early 2000s with iconic anthems like ‘LSF’ and ‘Club Foot’. Since then, they have released eight albums, earning multiple NME Awards and a Brit Award for Best British Group in 2010.Sitting down with guitarist and co-founder Serge Pizzorno, the conversation dives into his production jou
TN:138 Charli XCX, George Daniel & A.G. Cook
John is joined by singer, songwriter, and producer Charli XCX, as well as producers A.G. Cook and George Daniel, to discuss how they wrote and recorded the album ‘Brat’.
Charli XCX first saw success collaborating on Icona Pop's 2012 smash hit ‘I Love It’ and Iggy Azalea's chart-topping single ‘Fancy’. Since releasing her debut album in 2013, she has continued to innovate and energise the music scene, earning a Global Impact Award in recognition of her contributions to pop. More recently, Charli
TN:137 IDLES, Kenny Beats & Mikko Gordon
John is joined by IDLES' Bowen, along with producer Kenny Beats, and producer and engineer Mikko Gordon, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘TANGK’.
Idles are a British post-punk band who gained recognition with their 2017 debut album ‘Brutalism’. Known for their gritty, powerful sound and explosive live shows, their five albums to date have earned them nominations for the Mercury Prize, BRIT & Grammy Awards. Their latest record, ‘TANGK’, sees the band team up with pr
Reissue | TN:18 The 1975
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 Matty and George of The 1975, recorded back in March 2019.
EPISODE NOTES
John ventures up to Spitfire Audio to meet with Matty and George from The 1975 to talk about how the album 'A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships' was recorded and produced.
Somewhat bleary eyed after a massive night at the Brits (scooping two
TN:136 St. Vincent
John sits down with American singer and guitarist Annie Clark, aka St Vincent, to talk about her latest album ‘All Born Screaming’.Immersed in music since childhood, after studying at Berklee College of Music, Annie toured with acts including The Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens. Adopting the name 'St. Vincent', in 2006 she released her debut EP 'Paris Is Burning', and released her debut album 'Marry Me' the following year. As well as having collaborated with artists including David
TN:135 Bob Vylan & Jonny Breakwell
John catches up with Bob Vylan and producer Jonny Breakwell to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the ‘Humble As The Sun’.Bob Vylan, are a grime and punk rock duo who emerged in 2017. Despite facing resistance for their provocative themes on racism and inequality, they gained a loyal following. Their albums, 2020’s ‘We Live Here’ and 2022’s ‘Bob Vylan Presents the Price of Life’ earned critical acclaim, and saw the duo win Best Alternative Act at the MOBO Awards. Their lat
TN:134 The Libertines
John catches up with English rock band The Libertines to discuss how they wrote and recorded their latest album ‘All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade’.
The Libertines formed in 1997 and shot to fame with their debut album, 'Up the Bracket,' becoming pillars of the British indie/alternative resurgence of the early 2000s.
Thirty years after their careers started, they have unveiled their fourth studio album, 'All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade,' primarily recorded at their studio, The Albion Rooms,
TN:133 Jack Antonoff (Bleachers)
John catches up with producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Jack Antonoff of Bleachers to discuss how he wrote, recorded, and produced the band’s latest album ‘Bleachers’.
Having grown up performing, song writing, and producing bands throughout his teenage years, Jack first saw mainstream success as part of the band Fun, and their global hit track ‘We Are Young’. Since then, he has gone on to co-write and produce records for some of the biggest artists of the past decade, including Lor
Reissue | TN:16 Alt-J & Charlie Andrew
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 Alt-J’s Joe and Gus, along with producer Charlie Andrew, recorded back in February 2019.
EPISODE NOTES
In this episode John is joined by Gus Unger-Hamilton and Joe Newman from Alt-J, and producer Charlie Andrew to talk about how they recorded and produced the album 'RELAXER'.
The trio give a fascinating account of the
TN:132 Jacob Collier
In this episode, John sits down with singer and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier, delving into the creative process behind his album ‘Djesse Vol. 4,’ the concluding instalment in his four-part ‘Djesse’ album series.
Jacob first shot to fame in 2013 when videos of his complex vocal arrangements went viral on YouTube. Three years later, he released his debut album ‘In My Room’, written and recorded entirely from his family home. In 2018, Jacob set to work on Djesse, a four-volume, 50-song, alb
TN:131 Declan McKenna
John catches up with Declan McKenna to talk about his latest album ‘What Happened To The Beach?’
Declan McKenna first saw mainstream success in 2015 following the release of his debut single ‘Brazil’ and winning Glastonbury Festival’s Emerging Talent prize. While blending topics of politics and social issues with his indie-pop sound through his first two albums, ‘What Happened To The Beach?’ introduces us to a new world, this time looking inward and drawing on Declan’s personal growth as a musi
Reissue | TN:12 Glass Animals
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. The first selection is our chat with Dave Bayley (Glass Animals) from summer 2018. EPISODE NOTESJohn ventures up to Dave Bayley’s new home studio in London Fields to talk about how Glass Animals’ debut album ZABA was recorded and produced. We hear how Dave conjured up the band’s unique style through many late night sessions in his bedroom when he sho
TN:130 100 gecs
John links up with hyper-pop royalty, Laura Les and Dylan Brady, aka 100 gecs, to talk about their latest album ‘10,000 gecs’.100 gecs first broke onto the scene with their debut album ‘1000 gecs’ in 2019. Capturing attention online and amongst music fans, the innovative record was described as ‘one of the year's most fascinating, exhilarating experimental pop albums’. Their second studio album ‘10,000 gecs’, released in 2023, sees them maintain their status as hyper-pop trailblazers, t
TN:129 Matthew Herbert
John ventures into the depths of Kent to catch up with Matthew Herbert and discuss his latest work ‘The Horse’.
Renowned for his innovative sound exploration, Matthew gained recognition under various names, including Doctor Rockit, Wishmountain, and Herbert. He's produced for artists such as Bjork and Róisín Murphy, composed for stage and screen, and earned international acclaim for his records. His latest collaboration with the London Contemporary Orchestra resulted in 'The Horse.'
Alongside
TN:128 Fall Out Boy & Neal Avron
John links up pop-rock band Fall Out Boy, and producer Neal Avron, to talk about their latest studio album ‘So Much (For) Stardust’.
Emerging from Chicago’s hardcore punk scene in the early 2000’s, Fall Out Boy rose to fame with hits including ‘Sugar, We’re Goin Down’ and 'Thnks fr th Mmrs’. Constantly innovating, their eight studio albums have seen them embrace all sides of music, including R&B, and electro-pop. For their latest record ‘So Much (For) Stardust’, they return to their roots, wor
TN:127 Bombay Bicycle Club
John sits down with indie rock band Bombay Bicycle Club to talk about their sixth studio album ‘My Big Day’. Bombay Bicycle Club are a four-piece band from London, that broke onto the indie music scene with their genre defining debut album ‘I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose’ in 2009. Since then they have been releasing a steady stream of music which has been met with high critical acclaim, earning them an Ivor Novello and a Mercury Prize nominations. Chatting with band members Jack
TN:126 Royal Blood
In this episode, John is reunited with Mike Kerr of Royal Blood, to talk about how the band wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Back To The Water Below’.
Following the success of their fourth number one album, Mike reflects on how their purpose as musicians has changed over the years, sharing their process of working out what they love, but haven't done with Royal Blood yet.
Giving us an in depth look behind each track, we hear stories of musical experiments, including making a new ‘wall o
TN:125 FIZZ & Pete Miles
Thanks to Tape It for supporting this episode. Tape It is a recording app designed specifically for musicians and songwriters. Among many of Tape It's incredible features, you can record straight from lock screen, set markers and have complete control over your record settings, and that just the start.
To find out more and get the full app free for a month, head to www.tape.it/tapenotes
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In this episode, John is joined by Dodie and Martin Luke Brown of FIZZ, along with producer Pete Mile
TN:124 Olivia Dean & Matt Hales
In this episode, John is joined by Olivia Dean and producer Matt Hales to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Olivia’s Mercury-nominated debut album ‘Messy’.Taking us back to the very start of their story, the pair discuss the inspiration for the album, sharing their approach to marrying different musical cultures and the importance of the chats they had before writing.As well as playing their writing session voice notes showing the exact moments each song took shape, we he
TN:123 Bakar & Zach Nahome
Thanks to Audiomovers for supporting this episode. Their Listento Plugin has been a gamechanger for us and we use it across all of our remote interviews and recordings.To see their full range of plugins, visit audiomovers.com and use the promo code TAPENOTES1 at checkout to get your free month (usually only two days).In this episode, John is back at Strongroom Studios to catch up with Bakar and producer Zach Nahome about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Halo’.Looking bac
TN:122 James Blake
Thanks to Audiomovers for supporting this episode. Their Listento Plugin has been a gamechanger for us and we use it across all of our remote interviews and recordings.
To see their full range of plugins, visit audiomovers.com and use the promo code TAPENOTES1 at checkout to get your free month (usually only two days).
In this episode, John is joined by James Blake to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Playing Robots Into Heaven’.
With the idea of simplifying his solo w
TN:121 Disclosure
Thanks to Audiomovers for supporting this episode. Their Listento Plugin has been a gamechanger for us and we use it across all of our remote interviews and recordings.
To see their full range of plugins, visit audiomovers.com and use the promo code TAPENOTES1 at checkout to get your free month (usually only two days).
In this episode, John heads to Miloco’s The Yard Studios, to catch up with Guy and Howard of Disclosure, and talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Alchemy’
TN:120 The Japanese House, Chloe Kraemer & George Daniel
Thanks to Audiomovers for supporting this episode. Their Listento Plugin has been a gamechanger for us and we use it across all of our remote interviews and recordings.
To see their full range of plugins, visit audiomovers.com and use the promo code TAPENOTES1 at checkout to get your free month (usually only two days).
In this episode, John catches up with Amber Bain aka The Japanese House, along with producers Chloe Kraemer and George Daniel to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced
TN:119 Blur & James Ford
In this episode, John is joined by Blur frontman Damon Albarn and producer James Ford, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘The Ballad of Darren’.With Damon’s initial demos to hand, the pair give us a guided tour of the record, right through the early versions and studio sessions, from the moments that reignited the feelings they had when writing in the 90s, to piecing together the musical jigsaw that forms the Blur sound.Along with stories of Damon’s inspirati
TN:118 Ben Howard and Bullion
In this episode, John is joined by Ben Howard and producer Nathan Jenkins aka Bullion, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Ben’s latest album ‘Is It?’.
Looking back on their time together, Ben and Nathan talk us through their collaborative journey, from their initial coffee shop discussions, to the 10 day stint recording in the South of France. Sharing their initial sketches, voice note demos and the unexpected moments that changed the direction of each of the tracks.
In additi
TN:116 Sub Focus
Get 50GB of DAW project storage with our sponsor Aux: https://aux.app/tapenotes In this episode, John joins Nick Douwma, a.k.a. Sub Focus, to talk about how he wrote, recorded, and produced his latest album 'Evolve'.Unable to stop John from dancing out of his chair, Nick ploughs on and talks us through the evolution of his most recent tracks. Sharing some of the first demos and samples that kick-started his process, we hear stories of late-night hotel room sessions and road-testing trac
TN:115 Temps (James Acaster)
In this episode, John catches up with the mastermind behind Temps, James Acaster, at Strongroom Studios, to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘PARTY GATOR PURGATORY’.Reflecting on the genesis of Temps, James talks us through the initial moments of creation, from recording and chopping up his drums from an unaired mockumentary, through to his selection of almost 40 collaborators and how they each steered the music in such unexpected directions.As well as stories of
TN:117 YUNGBLUD & Mati Schwartz
In this episode, John joins Dom Harrison, a.k.a. YUNGBLUD and producer Mati Schwartz to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Dom’s debut album, ‘21st Century Liability’.
Digging into the very first tracks that the pair worked on together, Dom and Mati share the story of how their relationship began, looking back at the early rejection and tough love moment that kicked Dom into action, and forming the Yungblud sound as we know it today.
As well as talking through the evolution of hi
TN:114 James Ellis Ford
Thanks to Highnote for supporting this episode of Tape Notes.
Highnote is the best way to share, store, and discuss your recording projects, a kind of bespoke Dropbox for audio specifically built for communication. Think time-stamped voice comments directly over your audio, nesting versions to toggle and compare in real time, and instant notifications when people comment or listen to a track you’ve shared. Highnote accounts are completely free and include 4 gigabytes of storage to get your start
TN:113 Diplo (Major Lazer, Sia, Thomas Wesley)
In this episode, John links up with Thomas Wesley Pentz, aka Wes aka Diplo, to talk about his work under various guises with Major Lazer, Sia and as Thomas Wesley.
With on-going exploration of far reaching and cross-cultural mashups at the centre of his approach, Wes reflects on how working with so many specialists from across the globe has helped him forge a diverse sound and career.
Breaking apart three songs, Wes shares his thoughts on the considerations and care that have to be taken when
TN:112 Benny Sings & Kenny Beats
In this episode John catches up with Benny Sings and producer Kenny Beats to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Young Hearts’.
Linking in from their studios in Amsterdam and LA, Benny and Kenny look back on their time spent writing and how each environment had an impact on the music. From experiencing the ‘Kenny Beats Thing’ in LA along with his wealth of collaborators, to spending a solitary week writing in Amsterdam locked in the studio with Covid.
As well as sharing
TN:111 Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
In this episode, John catches up with Orlando Higginbottom, better known as Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs or T.E.E.D, to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘When The Lights Go’.Digging into the record almost 10 years in the making, Orlando talks us through his process of sorting through the piles of musical material he has created over the last decade, and how he developed each idea into a cohesive album.As well as sharing production tips on vocal layering and
TN:110 Tom Odell & Laurie Blundell
Thanks to SoundBetter for supporting this episode of Tape Notes.
SoundBetter is the world's leading music production talent marketplace, giving you access to the best mixing & mastering engineers, singers, songwriters, producers, and studio musicians in the industry. You can work with Billie Eilish's drummer, U2's mix engineer, or hire the topliners that wrote on the latest BTS record, these pros are keen to work with Indy artists.
Head to SoundBetter.com to find out more.
In this episode, John
TN:109 SG Lewis (Live)
Thanks to SoundBetter for supporting this episode of Tape Notes.SoundBetter is the world's leading music production talent marketplace, giving you access to the best mixing & mastering engineers, singers, songwriters, producers, and studio musicians in the industry. You can work with Billie Eilish's drummer, U2's mix engineer, or hire the topliners that wrote on the latest BTS record, these pros are keen to work with Indy artists.Head to SoundBetter.com to find out more.In this spec
TN:108 Charlie Puth
Thanks to SoundBetter for supporting this episode of Tape Notes.
SoundBetter is the world's leading music production talent-marketplace, giving you access to the best mixing & mastering engineers, singers, songwriters, producers and studio musicians in the industry. You can work with Billie Eillish's drummer, U2's mix engineer or hire the topliners that wrote on the latest BTS record, these pros are keen to work with Indy artists.
Head to SoundBetter.com to find out more.
In this episode, John
TN:107 Lizzy McAlpine, Philip Etherington & Ehren Ebbage
In this episode, John links up with Lizzy McAlpine and producers Philip Etherington and Ehren Ebbage, to talk about how they wrote, recorded, and produced Lizzy’s album ‘five seconds flat’.
Looking back at their time writing and recording in a makeshift Airbnb studio, Lizzy, Philip, and Ehren dig into their enormous archive of song versions (including John Mayer versions), talking through their process of chipping away at each track and shaping the sounds to match the core expression.
As we
TN:106 Mura Masa
Thanks to SoundBetter for supporting this episode of Tape Notes.SoundBetter is the world's leading music production talent marketplace, giving you access to the best mixing & mastering engineers, singers, songwriters, producers, and studio musicians in the industry. You can work with Billie Eilish's drummer, U2's mix engineer, or hire the topliners that wrote on the latest BTS record, these pros are keen to work with Indy artists.Head to SoundBetter.com to find out more.In this epis
TN:105 Fred Again..
In this episode, John reunites with Fred Gibson, a.k.a. Fred Again.., at his house, to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Actual Life 3 (January1 - September 9 2022)’. Reflecting on what’s been a very busy 18 months, Fred discusses how the success of the Actual Life series has had an impact on how and why he writes music. From the tricks he uses to keep his writing process fast and fun, to the moments his creativity was lost and the advice that came from Brian Eno
TN:104 FKJ
In this episode John is joined by Vincent Fenton better known as FKJ (French Kiwi Juice) to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced three tracks across his releases - ‘Time For A Change’, ‘Ylang Ylang’ and ‘Vincent’.
Giving us a glimpse at his musical journey through the years, Vincent reflects on each of the decisive elements that help characterise his signature sound, from location and significant life events, to his early homemade synth presets and sample libraries.
Alongside his
TN:103 Jamie T & Hugo White
In this episode, John is joined by Jamie T and producer Hugo White at Miloco’s The Yard Studio, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘The Theory of Whatever’.
Alongside all the difficult musical decisions they made to keep the character of each song, we hear tales from the studio of sneakily replacing guitar parts and the challenges that come when there are a lot of big egos floating around.
Listen to find out why the album was almost named after Matt Maltese, why th
TN:102 Loyle Carner, Kwes & Nick Mills
In this episode, John is back at Spitfire Audio to catch up with Ben Coyle-Larner, better known as Loyle Carner, along with producers Kwes and Nick Mills, about how they wrote, recorded and produced Loyle’s new album ‘Hugo’.
Reflecting back on their time writing over lockdown, Ben, Kwes and Nick talk us through their extensive process of whittling each track down to the finished article, from the early jam sessions and demos they fell in love with, right through the numerous directions they to
TN:101 The 1975
Thanks to SoundBetter for supporting this episode of Tape Notes.SoundBetter is the world's leading music production talent marketplace, giving you access to the best mixing & mastering engineers, singers, songwriters, producers, and studio musicians in the industry. You can work with Billie Eilish's drummer, U2's mix engineer, or hire the topliners that wrote on the latest BTS record, these pros are keen to work with Indy artists.Head to SoundBetter.com to find out more.In this epis
Bonus Episode - Let's Eat Grandma & David Wrench (Live)
In this very special live episode in partnership with AIM, MPG and Transgressive, John is joined by Let’s Eat Grandma’s Rosa Walton and producer David Wrench at Signature Brew to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the band’s third album ‘Two Ribbons’.
Taking us back to the album’s very beginnings, Rosa and David chart each song’s development, from early bedroom demos complete with mumble melodies and simple energy building tricks, to lyrics finished on the day of recording and addi
TN:100 FINNEAS
Thanks to SoundBetter for supporting this episode of Tape Notes.
SoundBetter is the world's leading music production talent marketplace, giving you access to the best mixing & mastering engineers, singers, songwriters, producers, and studio musicians in the industry. You can work with Billie Eilish's drummer, U2's mix engineer, or hire the topliners that wrote on the latest BTS record, these pros are keen to work with Indy artists.
Head to SoundBetter.com to find out more.
In this milestone 100
TN:99 Everything Everything
In this episode, John heads to Fiction Studios to catch up with Jon and Alex of Everything Everything to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Raw Data Feel’.
Taking us through the very first scraps of ideas, Jon and Alex pull apart the elements within each demo they often endeavour to carry into the final songs, from the qualities found within their raw desk mixes to the hidden melodies that end up pulling a whole track together.
Alongside Jon’s tips on writing to suit dif
TN:98 Lykke Li & Björn Yttling
In this episode, John links up with Lykke Li and producer Bjorn Yttling to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Lykke’s latest album ‘EYEYE’.Digging into the truly multi-dimensional record, Lykke and Bjorn look back on their process of creating the sonic world in which the tracks all live, from finding different angles to songs by playing them on different instruments, to the breakthrough moments in the studio when an idea just unlocks.Alongside sharing thoughts on feeling t
TN:97 Foals
In this episode, John is back at Spitfire Audio to catch up with Yannis and Jimmy of Foals, to discuss how they wrote, recorded and produced their new album ‘Life Is Yours’.Giving us a fascinating insight into their process and how they adapted it for their current 3 piece line up, the pair look back on how they kept their creativity organic and spontaneous, as well as the impact of each new producer along the way.With writing-room demos and plenty of stories from the studio, we’re give
TN:96 Mahalia & JD. Reid
In this episode, John heads over to Spitfire Audio to chat with Mahalia and producer JD. Reid about how they wrote, recorded and produced the EP ‘Letter To Ur Ex’.Looking back on their early writing sessions together, the pair reflect on their very first meeting and the approach they took to get the best out of one another. From scatting line after line over a beat and jamming ideas until something just sticks, to the promise of food as a reward for finishing each section of a song.Alon
TN:95 Toro y Moi
In this episode, John links up with Chaz Bear, the mind behind Toro y Moi, to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘MAHAL’.
Digging into jam sessions dating back to 2015 with all of the original recordings to hand, Chaz gives us the lowdown on how his musical ideas formulate, and the simple yet impactful journey they undertake to arrive as fully fleshed out tracks.
Reflecting on life as an all-round creative, Chaz looks back on how he got started in music, from the early days
TN:94 Flume
Thanks to SoundBetter for supporting this episode of Tape Notes.
SoundBetter is the world's leading music production talent marketplace, giving you access to the best mixing & mastering engineers, singers, songwriters, producers, and studio musicians in the industry. You can work with Billie Eilish's drummer, U2's mix engineer, or hire the topliners that wrote on the latest BTS record, these pros are keen to work with Indy artists.
Head to SoundBetter.com to find out more.
In this episode, John
TN:93 The Chainsmokers
Thanks to SoundBetter for supporting this episode of Tape Notes.
SoundBetter is the world's leading music production talent marketplace, giving you access to the best mixing & mastering engineers, singers, songwriters, producers, and studio musicians in the industry. You can work with Billie Eilish's drummer, U2's mix engineer, or hire the topliners that wrote on the latest BTS record, these pros are keen to work with Indy artists.
Head to SoundBetter.com to find out more.
In this episode, John
TN:92 Yard Act & Ali Chant
In this episode, John heads to Bristol to chat with Yard Act’s James, Sam and Ryan along with producer Ali Chant about how their debut album ‘The Overload’ was written, recorded and produced.
Catching up after a big night on the Bristol stop of their tour, the band reflect on their process of bringing the album together, from solitary lockdown demos and recording over WhatsApp videos, to learning how to play the drums and the last minute additions after the tracks had been mastered.
Sharing thei
TN:91 Gang of Youths
In this episode, John is joined by Dave, Donny and Jung from Gang of Youths to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the band’s new album ‘Angel In Realtime’.
Taking us on a global tour, the trio guides us through the wealth of sounds, people and places that had such a huge influence on the album, from London street ambience and the goings-on outside their studio window, to Pacific Island chants and the extraordinary samples that opened up a whole new sonic world for them.
Alongside a
TN:90 Alt-J & Charlie Andrew
In this episode, John ventures over to Alt-J’s band studio to chat with Joe, Gus and producer Charlie Andrew about how they wrote, recorded and produced their new album ‘The Dream’.
Unearthing early demos and some very special voice notes, the trio look back on forming the sonic world encapsulated within the record, reflecting on the importance of their individual roles within the writing process along with the fundamental stories behind each track.
From serendipitous church bells to missions of
TN:89 Bastille & Mark Crew
In this episode, John heads over to Bastille’s West London HQ to catch up with Dan Smith and producer Mark Crew about how the band wrote, recorded and produced their latest album ‘Give Me The Future’.Having written most of the tracks in remote lockdown sessions, Dan takes us all the way back through his initial ideas and the random voice notes of inspiration that came to him at the most unexpected times.As well as sharing their thoughts on the challenges that come with writing a sci-fi
Best of Season 9 - Part 2
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Welcome to part two of the Best Of Season 9. We pick up where we left off, looking back and pulling out our selection of highlights and memorable moments from the season.
If you haven’t heard every episode from season 9, this is a good way to introduce yourself to more of the guests we’ve had on and hear some of their top studio tips, unique writing processes, along with the thoughts
Best of Season 9 - Part 1
Season 9 has been so full of amazing albums that we’ve decided to split this Best Of into two parts. Welcome to Part One!In this episode, we look back across the season picking out a selection of highlights from our conversations with the artists and producers we were lucky enough to speak to.If you haven’t heard every episode from the last season, this is a good way to introduce yourself to some of the guests we’ve had on and hear some of their top studio tips, unique writing processes
TN:88 Hiatus Kaiyote
In this episode, John links up with Simon, Perrin and Bender of Hiatus Kaiyote, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Mood Valiant’.
Having written the album across the globe, from Rio De Janeiro to Byron Bay, the trio reflect on the development of their writing process, discussing how the effects of taking road-hardened demos to South America pushed their creativity into unfamiliar territory.
Unearthing some unheard recordings dating back to the mid-2010s, we are given
TN:87 Chet Faker
In this episode, John links up with Chet Faker aka Nick Murphy, to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Hotel Surrender’.
Diving into the tracks initially found within one of his numerous demo playlists, Nick looks back on his variety of music making processes, sharing thoughts on slingshotting around different creative mediums and maximising inspiration.
From scrapbooking and self-sampling to a great deal of file management, we’re treated to stories of productivity-inducing
TN:86 Jon Hopkins
Thanks to SoundBetter for supporting this episode of Tape Notes.SoundBetter is the world's leading music production talent marketplace, giving you access to the best mixing & mastering engineers, singers, songwriters, producers, and studio musicians in the industry. You can work with Billie Eilish's drummer, U2's mix engineer, or hire the topliners that wrote on the latest BTS record, these pros are keen to work with Indy artists.Head to SoundBetter.com to find out more.In this epis
TN:85 Courtney Barnett & Stella Mozgawa
In this episode, John links up with Courtney Barnett and producer Stella Mozgawa to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Courtney’s album ‘Things Take Time, Take Time’.Ready with the keys to Courtney’s archive of sofa voice notes and Garageband demos, the pair talk us through the entire album process, from their most valuable moments within pre-production, to the hours in the studio where they had to check if they were losing their minds.Sharing the secrets of the sonics, we
TN:84 Orla Gartland & Tom Stafford
In this episode, John joins Orla Gartland and producer Tom Stafford to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Orla’s debut album ‘Woman on the Internet’.From the early stages of throwing musical ideas at the wall to the almost infinite list of recording secrets picked up from their time at Middle Farm Studios, Orla and Tom look back on trying to capture and emulate the original magic from their early sessions, along with bringing light and shade to the record as a whole.Uneart
TN:83 CHVRCHES
In this episode, John links up with Lauren, Iain and Martin of CHVRCHES to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Screen Violence’.
Largely working remotely from different parts of the world, the trio look back on how they adapted their writing process, discussing how the effects of the pandemic ended up shaping some of the themes and meanings within the album.
Sharing some of their day one demos, we hear stories of forming entire songs around single elements, combining and
TN:82 Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes
In this episode, John ventures over to Baltic Studios to catch up with Frank and Dean of Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes about how they wrote, recorded and produced their latest album ‘Sticky’.
Unearthing demos and recordings from their time in a Norfolk holiday cabin, the pair look back on how their process has changed over the years, sharing thoughts on broadening their horizons and blurring the lines of writing and recording.
As well as personal stories of self-sabotage, imposter syndrome a
TN:81 Mr Jukes & Barney Artist
In this episode, John catches up with Mr Jukes, aka Jack Steadman, and Barney Artist to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced their joint album ‘The Locket’.Breaking the elements down to their very beginnings, Jack talks us through his sampling process, from YouTube crate digging and detailed editing, to processing and pitching individual hits from his vault of free sample packs.As well as sharing their thoughts on privilege and ‘making it’ in the world of music, the pair ref
TN:80 Jungle
In this episode, John heads over to Jungle’s West London HQ to catch up with Josh Lloyd-Watson about how the band wrote, recorded and produced their latest record ‘Loving in Stereo’.
Having written a lot of the album in their shed over the last two years, Josh takes us all the way back to the almost 30-minute demos, talking through the process of cherry-picking the best parts and forming the tracks as we know them.
As well as sharing his thoughts on originality, natural creative flow and knowing
TN:79 Imagine Dragons
In this episode, John links up with Dan and Wayne of Imagine Dragons to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced their latest album 'Mercury - Act 1.
Having spent almost three years writing almost 300 demos, Dan and Wayne look back on the process of whittling down the tracklist and forming the album, from capturing their ideas as quickly as possible, through to working with legendary producer Rick Rubin and deconstructing everything to its purest essence.
As well as sharing their thought
TN:78 James Vincent McMorrow, Paul Epworth & Lil Silva
Back in summer 2020, John headed over to The Church Studios to catch up with James Vincent McMorrow, Paul Epworth and Lil Silva to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced James’s album ‘Grapefruit Season’.
Taking tracks from Dublin to London to LA and back, James talks us through the myriad of iterations the songs went through, exploring the different writing situations and how all of his collaborators had such varied musical impacts.
Paul and TJ lend their producer expertise pulling ou
TN:77 Maisie Peters & Joe Rubel
In this episode, John returns to Pixel studios to chat with Maisie Peters and producer Joe Rubel about how they wrote, recorded and produced Maisie’s debut album ‘You Signed Up For This’.Going through their WhatsApp log of voice notes and ideas, Maisie and Joe look back on the chaotic methods of bringing an album together over lockdown, pulling apart how they carefully married Maisie’s original acoustic sound with more produced elements.Alongside the wealth of Joe’s production goodness,
Best of Season 8
In this episode we look back over Season 8 picking out a selection of highlights and some of the most memorable moments from the artists and producers we were lucky enough to speak to. If you haven’t heard every episode from the last season, this is a good way to introduce yourself to some of the guests we’ve had on and hear some of their top studio tips, writing processes and all-round philosophies towards creating a record. You’ll hear highlights from: Royal Blood Girl In Red and
TN:76 Easy Life & Rob Milton
In this episode, John is reunited with Murray Matravers from Easy Life and producer Rob Milton, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the band’s debut album ‘Life’s A Beach'.
From recording in and around lockdowns, in basements, bedrooms and studios, Murray and Rob reflect on the writing process, singling out the sounds, ideas and samples that encapsulate the meaning within the songs.
As well as thoughts on retaining fun in the music and creating joke ideas, we hear stories of inte
TN:75 Fred again..
In this episode, John catches up with Fred Gibson, better known as Fred Again.., to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Actual Life (April 14 - December 17 2020)’.Having written and produced almost all of the album outside of the studio, Fred talks us through his recording and sampling process, digging into the ways in which each new environment helped shape the individual sound of each track.Fred enlightens us on the best bits about recording on an iPhone and why
TN:74 Johnny Flynn & Charlie Andrew
In this episode, John ventures up to The Old Workshop Studio to catch up with Johnny Flynn and producer Charlie Andrew about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Lost in the Cedar Wood’.From the summer walks with co-writer Robert Macfarlane to tracking the bones of the album in a solar-powered woodland cottage, Johnny recalls shaping the world of the record, combining both timeless sonics and the ancient stories that are relatable even today. Getting into the technical eleme
TN:73 dodie & Joe Rubel
In this episode John heads over to Pixel Studios to chat with Dodie and producer Joe Rubel about how the album ‘Build A Problem’ was written, recorded and produced.
Unearthing Dodie’s first phone recordings made in her bedroom, the pair dig into the ways in which they preserved and developed her DIY/scrapbook sound in the studio.
As well as lots of sumptuous album easter eggs, Joe indulges us in a multitude of audio tricks. We find out how they managed to flawlessly capture Dodie’s incredibly q
TN:72 Rostam
In this episode, John catches up with Rostam to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced his new album ‘Changephobia’.Giving us a full tour, Rostam talks us through his incredibly varied songwriting processes, from demoing beats on a Japanese bullet train and jamming with the TV, to improvising parts in the studio and simply writing without his brain. Going in deep, we’re treated to beat constructions, reverb breakdowns and sax playing that is just all feel, all alongside the subt
TN:71 girl in red & Matias Tellez
In this episode John links up with Marie Ulven, aka girl in red, and producer Matias Tellez, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced her debut album ‘if i could make it go quiet’.
With Marie’s original bedroom recordings to hand, the pair take us through how they built on the framework of her demos, singling out the minuscule details in each track that you probably wouldn’t notice, but are completely responsible for the vibe.
Alongside stories of recording without reverb and taking
TN:70 Royal Blood
In this episode, John heads down to Royal Blood’s secret studio near Brighton to catch up with Mike and Ben about how they wrote, recorded and produced their chart-topping album ‘Typhoons’.
Having written the majority of the record apart from each other in lockdown, the duo reflect on their creative process, from forming demos on the living room sofa to dipping their toes in musical moves they’ve never had the guts to do before.
Incorporating the dance floor into their world for the first time,
Best of Season 7
In this episode we pick out a selection of highlights from Season 7. If you haven’t heard every episode from the last season, this is a good way to introduce yourself to some of the artists and producers we’ve had on and hear some of their top studio tips, writing processes and all-round philosophies towards creating a record. You’ll hear highlights from: BicepIdles with Nick Launay and Adam GreenspanKing Gizzard and the Lizard WizardPaul Weller with Stan Kybert and Charles ReesAdam Bu
TN:69 SG Lewis
In this episode, John catches up with Sam Lewis AKA SG Lewis to get lost in the disco grooves of his album ‘Times’.Digging deep into the writing and production, Sam charts the development of the tracks right the way through from the demos and initial studio sessions, to recreating sounds and samples with disco legends.As well as treating us to unheard Chic versions and heaps of Nile Rodgers riffing, he reflects on learning to record his voice for the first time, along with the realisati
TN:68 slowthai & Kwes Darko
In this episode, John is joined by slowthai and producer Kwes Darko at Iguana Studios, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Tyron’.With voice messages, demos and stems in hand, Ty and Kwes lay out the development of each track, from the gear and technicalities of capturing vocals and making a beat that hits hard, to the smallest production details that often have the biggest emotional impact.Delving into the deep stuff, the pair discuss the philosophies and att
TN:67 Fontaines D.C. & Dan Carey
Catching up on some much-needed studio goodness, John returns to Mr Dan’s studio to chat with Conor and Tom of Fontaines D.C. and producer Dan Carey, about how they wrote, recorded and produced the albums 'Dogrel’ and ‘A Hero’s Death’.
With rehearsal room and garden shed demos in hand, Conor, Tom and Dan give us a rundown of some of the key moments of the band’s career, from first meetings at a 20 person gig to recording an entire album in LA, and then redoing it in London.
Digging into the reco
TN:66 Adam Buxton
In this very special episode John steps inside the jingle factory of podcaster, comedian, writer, actor and musician Adam Buxton.
Digging into the depths of his archive, Adam charts his life and career breaking down the songs and jingles that punctuated each moment. From finding arpeggiators in music shops and writing ‘smutty’ rhymes with his friends, to applying advice from Nigel Godrich in the epic efforts of Song Wars on the Adam and Joe Show.
Alongside all of the jingle fun, we’re treated t
TN:65 Paul Weller, Stan Kybert & Charles Rees
In this episode, John heads to Black Barn Studios to chat with Paul Weller along with producer Stan Kybert and engineer Charles Rees, about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘On Sunset’.
From recycling and resampling old tunes to recording new ideas on his phone, Paul reflects on his years of endless experimentation in the studio, sharing his thoughts on what makes a good song along with the decisive musical elements that reinforce meaning.
Revisiting different versions of the trac
TN:64 King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard
In this episode, John catches up with King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard frontman and producer Stu Mackenzie to talk about how the band wrote, recorded and produced the albums, ‘K.G.’ and ‘L.W.’
Armed with various living room demos, phone recordings and plenty of stems, Stu delves into the successes and difficulties that came with each band member having to write and record from home, sharing how the completely unfamiliar process shaped their two lockdown records.
Firing on all sonic cylinders, we
TN:63 IDLES, Nick Launay & Adam Greenspan
In this episode John is joined by Idles guitarist Mark Bowen along with co-producers Nick Launay and Adam “Atom” Greenspan to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the band’s latest album ‘Ultra Mono’.
Unearthing backstage phone demos and rehearsal room recordings, Bowen, Nick and Adam look back on how the album was pulled together, from the band’s chats about concepts to the eight days recording the whole record.
Reminiscing on their time in La Frette Studios, we hear stories of bot
TN:62 Bicep
In quite possibly one of the most synth-heavy episodes ever, John catches up with Matt and Andy of Bicep to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced their latest album ‘Isles’.
Unravelling the mystery of how they do what they do, Matt and Andy talk us through the countless demos and subsequent iterations, exploring the abundance of sounds and samples sent to them from collaborators and how this influenced the direction of their music.
From hours spent experimenting in the studio to what
Best of Season 6
In this episode we pick out a selection of highlights from Season 6. If you haven't heard every episode from the last season, this is a good way to introduce yourself to some of the other artists and producers we've had on and hear their tips, tricks and stories.
Have a listen to see what you've been missing!
You'll hear highlights from:
Paul Epworth
Disclosure
Biffy Clyro and Rich Costey
Georgia and Mark Ralph
Jacob Collier
Nova Twins and Jim Abbiss
Nothing But Thieves
Sports Team and Burke R
TN:61 Lianne La Havas, Sam Crowe & Beni Giles
In this biscuit fuelled episode, John is joined by Lianne La Havas along with producers Sam Crowe and Beni Giles to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Lianne’s latest album ‘Lianne La Havas’.
Delving into Lianne's most personal work yet, the trio takes us through the moments the initial song ideas were formed, through the various stages of their development right to the finished versions.
Illustrated with recordings made throughout the album’s journey, we hear stories of capturing
TN:60 Haim, Ariel Rechtshaid & Rostam Batmanglij
Thanks to SoundBetter for supporting this episode of Tape Notes.SoundBetter is the world's leading music production talent marketplace, giving you access to the best mixing & mastering engineers, singers, songwriters, producers, and studio musicians in the industry. You can work with Billie Eilish's drummer, U2's mix engineer, or hire the topliners that wrote on the latest BTS record, these pros are keen to work with Indy artists.Head to SoundBetter.com to find out more.In this epis
TN:59 Glass Animals
Returning for his second outing on Tape Notes, John links up with Glass Animals frontman and producer Dave Bayley, to talk about how the band wrote, recorded and produced their latest album ‘Dreamland’.
Born out of an emotional time of uncertainty for the band, Dave discusses the unexpected moments that formed the foundations of the album. Breaking down his writing process from start to finish, we’re treated to the very initial demos and samples recorded on the fly, along with the wealth of prod
TN:58 Nothing But Thieves
In this episode, John catches up with Conor, Joe and Dom from Nothing But Thieves, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced their latest album ‘Moral Panic’.
Loaded up with original demo sessions and ideas recorded while on tour, the boys sift through some of the sounds, stories and musical concepts that shaped their songwriting process.
Conor enlightens us on his thoughts about vocal production, breaking down the different shades of his voice across the album. We hear geeky tales of
TN:57 Nova Twins & Jim Abbiss
In this episode, John catches up with Nova Twins’ Amy and Georgia along with producer Jim Abbiss to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced their debut album ‘Who Are The Girls?’ Reflecting on venturing into the studio for the first time with a ‘big name’ producer, Amy, Georgia and Jim delve into their “ropey” demos written in a tiny room at Georgia's house, unravelling how they formed their raucous balance of electronics, punk and heavy hitting guitar and bass riffs. We’re giv
TN:56 Jacob Collier
In this episode, John catches up with Jacob Collier to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced his albums Djesse Volumes 1, 2 & 3.With original Logic sessions, demos and heaps of stems in hand, Jacob unravels the wealth of ideas charting the development of each volume’s sonic environment. We hear his approach to getting the right balance between the simple and complex, illustrated with samples constructed from audience recordings, scrapped key changes and demo raps. Listen t
TN:55 Biffy Clyro & Rich Costey
In this episode, John catches up with Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil and producer Rich Costey to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘A Celebration of Endings’.
Armed with the very first demos and ‘work-in-progress’ recordings, Simon and Rich talk us through each song's evolution, from rehearsals on a farm to getting down intricate drum sounds and a 30-piece orchestra at Abbey Road.
We’re given an insight into Simon’s vocal recording process as well as his approach to the
TN:54 Disclosure
In this episode, John catches up with brothers Guy and Howard of Disclosure, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘ENERGY’.
Chosen from over 200 songs, the pair 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
TN:53 Paul Epworth
Launching into a brand new season, John rockets over to The Church Studios to catch up with super-producer Paul Epworth, Harry Edwards and Riley MacIntyre to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Paul’s debut album ‘Voyager’. Paul shines a light on the five year on-off process of bringing the record to life, pulling apart the cosmic sounds and samples that form the basis of the album. From turning his studio desk into an instrument to serendipitous happenings, we hear Paul’s
Best of Season 5
In this episode we pick out a selection of highlights from Season 5. If you haven't heard every episode from the last season, this is a good way to introduce yourself to some of the other artists and producers we've had on and hear their tips, tricks and stories. Have a listen to see what you've been missing! You'll hear highlights from:FoalsCaribouJack GarrettTom Misch & Adam JaffreyGhostpoetRina Sawayama & Clarence ClarityBadly Drawn Boy & Gethin PearsonGrouplove & Dav
TN:52 Sports Team & Burke Reid (Mercury Prize Nominated)
In this episode, John heads over to Sports Team HQ to catch up with Oli, Rob and producer Burke Reid, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced their Mercury nominated debut album ‘Deep Down Happy’.
With DIY demos and a bag of stems, Oli, Rob and Burke break apart what goes into creating the band’s signature raucous sound. We’re treated to tales of sleeping in rehearsal rooms, sneaking into studios and mixing at the kitchen table. Burke talks us through some of his tricks of the trade,
TN:51 Georgia & Mark Ralph (Mercury Prize Nominated)
Back at the start of lockdown, John caught up with Georgia and producer Mark Ralph to bring together a special episode for Aim House on how they wrote, recorded and produced Georgia’s Mercury nominated album ‘Seeking Thrills’.
Delving right into the first demos inspired by a night out, Georgia and Mark talk us through their fluid process of bringing the songs to life, from drawing intricate details from their dynamic list of influences, to studio days together programming rooms full of synths.
TN:50 EOB & Flood
In this episode, John heads up to Assault & Battery Studios to chat with EOB – the solo project from Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien - and legendary producer Flood, to talk through how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Earth’.
Armed with demos and tracks written during Ed’s time in Brazil, the pair take a deep dive into the sonic trenches, sharing their musings on the creative process, and reflect on their time working together in the studio. From fortuitous iTunes plays to jamming wi
TN:49 Enter Shikari
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
TN:48 Grouplove & Dave Sitek
In this episode, John catches up with Grouplove’s Hannah Hooper and Christian Zucconi along with legendary producer Dave Sitek to breakdown how they wrote, recorded and produced the band’s latest album Healer.
As their first record with an outside producer, the band reflect on their creative flow, pulling apart tracks bit by bit and showing us how Dave was the perfect weirdo to bring the album together. From jamming out five-hour demos at Hannah’s parent’s house to spending over a month recordi
TN:47 Badly Drawn Boy & Gethin Pearson
In this episode, John catches up with Badly Drawn Boy A.K.A Damon Gough and producer Gethin Pearson to talk through how they wrote, recorded and produced ‘Banana Skin Shoes’. After numerous false starts producing the album – his first after an 8 year hiatus – Damon paired up with Gethin, bringing a new enthusiasm to Damon’s musical endeavours and with him a pool of new talent to draw inspiration from. We get to hear a plethora of demos and track breakdowns as the pair chart the developm
TN:46 Rina Sawayama & Clarence Clarity
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, no
TN:45 Ghostpoet
In this episode, John catches up with Obaro Ejimiwe, A.K.A Ghostpoet, along with engineer and mixer Shuta Shinoda to talk through how they wrote, recorded and produced his latest album, ‘I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep’. Recorded at the start of lockdown before the album was actually released, Obaro and Shuta shed light on their creative relationship breaking down early demos and treating us to a selection of clips from the monumental amount of session files they racked up. We he
TN:44 Tom Misch & Adam Jaffrey
In this episode, John catches up with Tom Misch and engineer Adam Jaffrey to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Tom’s collaboration album with drummer Yussef Dayes - ‘What Kinda Music’.
Tom and Adam dig deep into the session material, revealing the techniques and processes they used in recording the album. We hear Tom’s thoughts on stepping outside of his bedroom studio to record, as well as revealing the treasure trove of gear and plugins they used to hone his iconic guitar sound
TN:43 Jack Garratt
In this episode, John catches up with Jack Garratt to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced his latest album Love, Death & Dancing.
Jack digs up the original demo sessions recorded in his garden shed, unravelling the multitude of ideas he packed in to each track. Illustrated through a bounty of unheard demos and track breakdowns, Jack charts the emotional journey he undertook writing the album, revealing how he subtly controls rhythm and harmony to tell a story.
Listen to find out how
TN:42 Caribou
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
TN:41 Foals
Kicking off a brand new season, John is joined by Foals frontman Yannis Philippakis to talk about how the band’s mammoth two-part project Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost was written, recorded and produced. As their first self-produced albums, Yannis gives us a fascinating insight into their biggest project yet, breaking down his writing process from the loops and drones he crafted at home to the final versions of lyrics written almost entirely at the pub. Listen to find out how some
Best of Season 4
In this episode we take a look back at some of the best bits from season 4. If you haven't heard every episode from the last season, this is a good way to introduce yourself to some of the artists and producers we've had on, hearing their stories, tips and general philosophy on writing and recording. Have a listen, you never know what you might learn!
You'll hear highlights from:
Mura Masa
Friendly Fires & Mark Ralph
These New Puritans
Elbow
Ezra Collective
Mystery Jets
DJ Shadow
LINKS TO EV
TN:40 DJ Shadow
Thanks to SoundBetter for supporting this episode of Tape Notes.SoundBetter is the world's leading music production talent marketplace, giving you access to the best mixing & mastering engineers, singers, songwriters, producers, and studio musicians in the industry. You can work with Billie Eilish's drummer, U2's mix engineer, or hire the topliners that wrote on the latest BTS record, these pros are keen to work with Indy artists.Head to SoundBetter.com to find out more.In this epis
TN:39 Mystery Jets & Matt Twaites
In this episode John makes multiple trips to Brain Yard Studios to catch up with Mystery Jets frontman Blaine Harrison and producer Matt Twaites to talk about how they recorded and produced the album A Billion Heartbeats. Recorded in the room where the album was conceived, Blaine and Matt give us full access to the Mystery Jets creative process, from tales of protests, marches and relief work, to their quest not sound too much like the Backstreet Boys. We get to hear an array of demos a
TN:38 Ezra Collective
This week John is joined by Ezra Collective’s Femi, TJ and James to talk about how they wrote and recorded their debut album You Can’t Steal My Joy.
Hot off the heels winning 'Jazz Album of the Year' at the World Wide Awards, the boys reflect upon how the album took shape, from the early rehearsals in a dodgy studio in Croatia to spending two days on a boat recording the whole thing. The boys play us previously unheard demos capturing the moments lightning struck, from a very rough voice memo t
TN:37 Elbow
In this episode, John is joined by Guy Garvey and Craig Potter from Elbow, to talk about how ‘Giants of All Sizes’ was written and recorded.
Craig and Guy look back at some of the sessions tracked over a two year period, reflecting on what was an emotionally challenging time for Guy and how this influenced the writing and mood of the record - something grittier and more contemplative than previous Elbow albums. We get to hear early demos and track break breakdowns, plus bags of wisdom from the
TN:36 These New Puritans
In this episode John is joined by twin brothers Jack and George Barnett, AKA experimental art-rock music duo These New Puritans, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Inside The Rose’.
The boys look back on making music together in their attic as children and uncover some of the many sketches and demos versions created whilst recording the album. We get to hear the moment Jack woke from a dream with a fresh melody composed within his slumber in addition to their general
TN:35 Friendly Fires & Mark Ralph
In a city spanning episode, John catches up with Friendly Fires along with super star producer Mark Ralph (Tom Walker, Clean Bandit, Years & Years) at Iguana Studios and Mark’s Studio, Club Ralph, to talk about how they recorded and produced the album 'Inflorescent'.
The boys explore everything from what survived in the demos recorded in Ed’s mum’s house, to how blending recording techniques with synths and drum machines helped them create their joyful blend of house and funk.
Hear how trackin
TN:34 Mura Masa
Returning for another season, John is joined by electronic music producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Alex Crossan A.K.A Mura Masa.
Catching up at Iguana Studios, Alex invites us behind the curtain and reveals how his latest album R.Y.C was recorded and produced. We get to hear intimate track breakdowns - including a brilliant dive into the early takes of the Slowthai collaboration ‘Deal Wiv It’ - plus copious amounts of philosophical musings on what it takes to write a Mura Masa trac
Best of Season 3
In this episode we take a look back at some of the best bits from season 3. If you haven't heard every episode from the last season, this is a good way to introduce yourself to some of the artists and producers we've had on, hearing their stories, tips and general philosophy on writing and recording. Have a listen, you never know what you might learn! You'll hear highlights from:Ibeyi & Richard Russel (Live from Miloco Studios)Kate Tempest & Dan CareyNitin SawhneyFloating Points
Bonus Episode - Easy Life & Rob Milton (live at Latitude)
Back in July we were invited to Latitude Festival to take part in their podcast stage. In this live recording, we caught up with Murray from Easy Life and Rob Milton to talk about how they write and record music together.After a late entrance from Murray (waylaid somewhere on site!) the boys discuss their working relationship and what it takes to create an Easy Life tune.We learn how the boys ended up working together from unlikely beginnings, why it’s crucial to ‘get it down’ when melo
TN:33 The Lumineers & Simone Felice
In this episode John ventures up to Spitfire Audio studios to catch up with Wes and Jeremiah from The Lumineers and producer Simone Felice to talk about how they recorded and produced the album III. The guys offer up an epic dissection of their music covering every aspect of the creative process. We’re treated to intimate phone recordings that captured the lightning strike moments when songs were born, copious demo versions detailing their subsequent honing and development, and track br
TN:32 Cold War Kids & Lars Stalfors
In this episode John straddles the pond and catches up with Nathan from Cold War Kids and producer Lars Stalfors to talk about how the album New Age Norms 1 was recorded and produced. Speaking from a studio in North Hollywood the pair discuss how the album was brought to life shining a light on their writing process and revealing the craft and philosophy behind a Cold War Kids track. Listen to find out why Nathan can only play something once when recording, how an accident with Pro Tool
TN:31 Jamie Lidell
In this episode John links up with producer/musician & podcaster Jamie Lidell in his Nashville studio to talk about how he records and produces his music.
Dusting off his old G4 mac, Jamie delves into the archives and revisits some classics from the albums Multiply and Jim in addition to some of his more recent work. We get to hear fascinating track breakdowns revealing the techniques and methods he uses when writing and recording.
Listen to hear why Jamie’s music is influenced heavily by work
TN:30 Tune-Yards
In this episode John links up with Merrill and Nate from Tune-Yards to talk about how they recorded and produced the soundtrack to Sorry To Bother You and also dive into a classic from the TY back-catalogue.
Speaking from the other side of the pond Merrill and Nate dig into 3 tracks they scored for the Boots Riley directorial debut, exploring the methods and techniques they used whilst recording and discuss how this differs from their usual writing process. We also revisit the Tune-Yards favour
TN:29 Floating Points
In this episode John heads to EMS4 studios in Shoreditch to chat with Floating Points a.k.a Sam Shepherd, about how he recorded and produced his latest release, Crush. Talking from deep within Sam’s musical laboratory, we peer behind the curtain and find out how Floating Points music is created and crafted, pulling apart some of the tracks from his second album along the way. We get to hear how live performance and classical music are a serious influence in his writing process in additi
TN:28 Nitin Sawhney
In this episode John heads to the Dairy studios to talk with composer/musician/producer Nitin Sawhney about how he recorded and produced the album Beyond Skin.
In celebration of 20 years since its release, Nitin dusts off the original Logic 4 sessions and gives a fascinating account of how this classic album, most of which was recorded in his bedroom in Tooting, was brought to life.
We not only get to hear some of the tracks broken down in detail but are also treated to live demonstrations of
TN:27 Kate Tempest & Dan Carey
In this episode John returns to Mr. Dan’s studio in Streatham to talk with Kate Tempest and Dan Carey.
Looking back over a track from each album they’ve recorded together, Kate & Dan detail the creative journey they’ve been on since first meeting, and shine a light on the methods and techniques they use collaborating in the studio.
We hear how the duo embraced teaming up with legendary producer Rick Rubin, why having a hangover isn’t necessarily a bad idea before a big day of recording, and wh
TN:26 Ibeyi & Richard Russell
In this special live addition of Tape Notes, John is joined by Naomi & Lisa-Kaindé of Ibeyi and XL Recordings head honcho/producer Richard Russell, to talk about how they craft their music together in the studio. In celebration of National Album Day and recorded in The Pool room at Miloco Studios, the trio wax lyrical about their experiences working together and take a deep dive into the methods and techniques used in recording & producing the albums Ibeyi & Ash. Listen to f
TN:25 Marika Hackman & David Wrench
In this episode John catches up with Marika Hackman and producer David Wrench to chat about how they recorded and produced Marika's 3rd album 'Any Human Friend'.
Talking from David's new studio in London Fields, the pair look back over their experience working together for the first time and shine a light on the production techniques and methods they used in the making of the record.
Listen to find out how an old land lady of Marika's was the victim some unintentional verbal abuse, hear a phon
TN:24 Editors & Leo Abrahams
In this episode we are joined by Justin and Elliot from Editors and producer Leo Abrahams to talk about how they recorded and produced the album 'Violence'.
The guys shine a light on some of the working methods they used in the making of the album, treating us to the early home demos that band writer Tom created ahead of tracking in the studio.
Listen to find out what an Ed 'weasel' is and why many were brutally culled by Leo, why Tom is the easiest vocalist in the world to record, and why Jus
TN:23 Bombay Bicycle Club & Jim Abbiss
In this episode John is joined by Jack & Suren from Bombay Bicycle Club and producer legend Jim Abbiss to talk about how they recorded and produced 'I Had The Blues But Shook Them Loose'. Celebrating 10 years since its release, Jim and the boys reminisce over their experiences working together on this iconic debut and how their relationship and approach to recording and music production evolved from the early days as wide-eyed teens to the later, more experienced sessions. We get to
TN:22 Maverick Sabre & Charlie Perry
In this episode John is joined by Maverick Sabre and producer Charlie Perry to talk about how they recorded and produced Maverick's 3rd album 'When I Wake Up'.
The boys break apart some of the tracks from the album recounting the journey these songs undertook from tracking in Maverick's living room to fleshing things out in the studio, divulging their approach to production and some writing along the way.
Listen to find out why having neighbours for fans is conducive to recording at home, how
TN:21 Nick Mulvey & Dan Carey
In this episode John journeys to Mr Dan's Studio in Streatham to talk with Nick Mulvey and producer Dan Carey about how they recorded and produced Nick's Mercury nominated debut album 'First Mind'. The boys dive deep into the working processes and shared memories of the time they spent together in the musical playground that is Dan's home studio. Listen to find out how a collection of dirty cups worked their way into the rhythm section of 'Venus', what advice a dream incarnation of Davi
TN:20 Little Dragon
In this episode John is joined by Erik and Yukimi from Little Dragon to talk about how they recorded and produced the album 'Ritual Union'. Chatting from the studio in Gothenburg where the album was recorded, the pair reflect on the techniques and approaches they used in the recording of their 3rd studio release. We hear how Little Man was transformed by The Smurfs playing drums, how the accidental recording of electricity cables from the Gothenburg tramline bolstered Crystalfilm and wh
TN:19 Wolf Alice & Justin Meldal-Johnsen
In this episode John is joined by Joel and Theo from Wolf Alice and legendary producer and bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen (Beck, M83, Paramore) to dissect how their Mercury Prize winning album 'Visions of a Life' was recorded and produced.
We hear how they rose to the challenge of a 7 minute piece in 3 movements (and why it's no longer called Massive A*** Bleach Attack). With demos of all the tracks to be heard it's a fascinating insight into the intense amount of thought this band put in to rea
TN:18 The 1975
John ventures up to Spitfire Audio to meet with Matty and George from The 1975 to talk about how the album 'A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships' was recorded and produced.
Somewhat bleary eyed after a massive night at the Brits (scooping two awards), the boys reveal the inner workings of The 1975's production methods and writing techniques. We're treated to demo versions and extensive track breakdowns from their award winning album, showing what it takes to create a 1975 hit.
We get to h
TN:17 Slaves & Jolyon Thomas
John is joined by Laurie & Isaac form Slaves and producer Jolyon Thomas to talk about how they recorded and produced the band's sophomore album 'Acts Of Fear And Love'. We get to hear some of the early demos where the original lyrics don't quite sound the way they should, how Laurie and Jolyon layered up the guitar instead of using distortion and why Isaac's simple drum setup is actually a lot harder to play than it looks. All the usual anecdotes and lots to be inspired by as Laurie
TN:16 Alt-J & Charlie Andrew
In this episode John is joined by Gus Unger-Hamilton and Joe Newman from Alt-J, and producer Charlie Andrew to talk about how they recorded and produced the album 'RELAXER'. The boys give a fascinating account of the thought processes and production techniques used in the recording of RELAXER. Hear how a friend's pavlovian response to the smell of burning wood, the Gus whistle test, and swearing at an old school master all left their mark on the band's third album. Tracks discussed: 3WW
TN:15 Metromony
In this episode John is joined by Joseph Mount from Metronomy at Iguana Studios to talk about how the album 'Nights Out' was recorded and produced. In celebration of 10 years since its release, Joe dusts off his old hard drive to reminisce over how he created the tracks on this underground classic. Hear how buying instruments at a carboot sale in Chiswick, being an asthmatic whilst trying to clap, and watching TV on the kitchen table with an acoustic guitar all left their mark on the re
TN:14 Frank Turner & Josh Block
John is back at Iguana Studios once again joined this time by artist Frank Turner, but there’s a twist! In an exciting first for Tape Notes this episode’s producer, Josh Block, is coming to us live from the other side of the Atlantic at his studio Niles City Sound in Fort Worth, Texas. We hear how Frank’s approach to his latest album led him to push beyond the guitar based arrangements of previous work. The journey takes us through many demos, one of which Frank confesses they all grew
TN:13 Jessie Ware & Dave Okumu
In this episode of Tape Notes, John takes a trip to Deptfrod to visit Jessie Ware and Dave Okumu in Dave’s newly built studio to talk about how they recorded and produced the album 'Devotion'.
Jessie and Dave look back to the beginnings of their creative relationship and discuss the excitement and trepidation of working together for the first time. We hear demo versions made by Dave ahead their sessions and also dig deep into some of the arrangements and the production philosophy behind the mak
TN:12 Glass Animals
John ventures up to Dave Bayley’s new home studio in London Fields to talk about how Glass Animals’ debut album ZABA was recorded and produced. We hear how Dave conjured up the band’s unique style through many late night sessions in his bedroom when he should’ve been studying for medical school. He reveals his producer hero’s and an insatiable appetite for data collection, creating his own sound world through sampling every sound imaginable. Dave guides us through a fascinating breakdow
TN:11 HONNE
John ventures up to Bow to chat with James Hatcher and Andy Clutterbuck from the band HONNE to find out how they produced and recorded the album ‘Love Me, Love Me Not’.
The boys discuss the changes in their approach to songwriting and production from their first album and go into fascinating detail picking apart three of the early releases from their latest record.
We hear how a studio cancellation lead to an unexpectedly fruitful session writing on their phones, what Metalica legend Kirk Hammet
TN:10 Vök & Brett Cox
John joins the band Vök back stage at their headline show in London to talk about how they recorded and produced the album 'Figure' with producer Brett Cox. We hear how Brett and the band teamed up over the course of a sunny Icelandic summer to work their demos (complete with minion lyrics) into the finished article, helped along the way by the generosity of the band’s home town, Reykjavik. The search for a perfect middle 8, sampling studio light switches and type writers, plus the crea
TN:09 London Grammar & MyRiot
John journeys up to Rak Studios to meet with Dan Rothman from London Grammar and producer duo MyRiot and talk about their work together on the album ‘If You Wait’. We hear how the band adjusted from the self-produced recording environment, to working with producer stalwarts Tim Bran & Roy Kerr in the musical playground of State of the Ark Studios and then on to global success. Dan and the boys relive their favourite moments together in the studio and rediscover some of the productio
TN:08 The Big Moon & Catherine Marks
John returns to Iguana Studios once more where he is joined by The Big Moon and producer Catherine Marks to talk about their work together on the album 'Love in the 4th Dimension'. The girls re-live some of their favourite moments in the studio with Catherine and dig into the production processes behind a few of their favourite tracks on the album. We hear how bringing inflatable pool toys to the studio, using stealth instruments and pretending to play oversized guitars all played a par
TN:07 Jordan Rakei & Jim Macrae
Back at Iguana Studios once more, John is joined by Australian artist/producer Jordan Rakei and producer Jim Macrae to talk about their work together on the album 'Wallflower'.
We hear how Jordan made the 10,000 mile journey from Brisbane to London to pursue a career in music and the stories behind how his sophomore album 'Wallflower' was created.
The duo discuss Algorithmic chaos, re-recording drums in a local cafe and shed light on many of the production techniques they used during the recor
TN:06 Francobollo & Charlie Andrew
In this episode John is joined by Square Leg Records boss/producer Charlie Andrew and the label’s first signing Francobollo to talk about the recording and production of the band's debut album, 'Long Live Life'. We hear how inviting fans into a sweaty studio was instrumental in capturing the band’s notorious live energy and why writing lyrics about your audience can be slightly awkward at times. Tracks discussed: Kinky Lola, Future Lover, Worried Times LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES ht
TN:05 Lucy Rose & Tim Bidwell
John takes a trip to Clockwork Owl Studios in Brighton to talk with Lucy Rose and producer Tim Bidwell about their work together recording the album 'Something’s Changing'. We hear how Lucy relished being back in a home studio set-up, how singing between a pair of curtains is like being in a duvet and why miking up a piano and leaving it alone it is sometimes the best way forward. Tracks discussed: No Good At All, Love Song, Is This Called Home LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/ta
TN:04 Will Joseph Cook & Hugh Worskett
In this episode of Tape Notes John takes a trip to The Dairy Studios in Brixton to talk to Will Joseph Cook and his producer Hugh Worskett mid-way through recording the album 'Sweet Dreamer'. The duo discuss their working relationship in the studio and we discover how middle 8 love, early phone demos from English classroom E and Nile Rogers impersonation all played their part in the making of Will Joseph Cook’s debut album. Tracks discussed: Beach – I Wanna Make You Mine, Girls Like Me,
TN:03 Sivu & Charlie Andrew
John Kennedy is back at Iguana Studios once more to talk to singer songwriter Sivu and producer Charlie Andrew about their collaboration on Sivu’s second album 'Sweet Sweet Silent'.
From early production meetings in a pub function room, to slinging microphones up in trees by a river in Kent, we learn about the duo’s unique approach to recording and hear the early demos and session audio that documents the journey these songs undertook whilst in the studio.
Tracks discussed: Childhood House, Dr
TN:02 Django Django & Neil Comber
John Kennedy is joined by Dave Maclean and Neil Comber who reveal the working methods they used in the making of Django Django’s sophomore album 'Born Under Saturn'.
We hear how Dave coped with the transition from the bedroom production of their first album to a residential stint at Angelic studios and how having Neil onboard as producer helped the band develop their sound in this more hi-tech environment.
From wet hand claps to piano mutilation, Dave & Neil uncover the secrets behind the album
TN:01 Rosie Lowe & Dave Okumu
Rosie Lowe and her producer Dave Okumu join John Kennedy at Iguana Studios to discuss what went on behind the scenes in the making of her highly acclaimed debut album 'Control'.
We hear the demos that paved the way and how doing the dishes, wetsuits for pianos and Devon rain all contributed to the making of this album. Rosie shares her experience of handing one’s ideas over to another and the trust that allowed her to relinquish control. And Dave gives a us fascinating glimpse of the creative f