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Tape Notes

In The Woods

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 innovative and exciting talents in music.

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Yesterday · 1 hr 41 min
TN:189 Bonobo
BONOBO SPECIAL! - 50% of Tape It Pro at tape.it/bonobo (available until 30th September 2026) John is joined by Simon Green, aka Bonobo, to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Distance in Static’. Simon Green, aka Bonobo, is a British musician, producer, and DJ, considered one of electronic music’s defining voices. Across eight albums, including the seminal ‘Black Sands’, ‘Migration’ and ‘Fragments’, he has built a celebrated career blending electronic, jazz and organic instrumentation, and received seven Grammy nominations. His latest record, Distance in Static, arrived in September 2026. Sitting down at Platoon Studios in London, Simon deep dives into what he reveals might be his last “broad, multi-genre Bonobo record”. He discusses the album’s collaborations and reveals his techniques and go-to gear for vocal processing, producing strings and “humanising” drum sounds. Tracks discussed: Me and You, Fire on the Water, Talk to Me LISTEN to ‘Distance in Static’ (Ninja Tune): Distance in Static by Bonobo TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast and inspiring Simon with great tools! Visit tape.it/bonobo to get 50% off. Try the new Tape It Denoiser currently 50% off! IMAGINE PLUGINS BY SOUNDBETTER Build and sell your own plugins. Get your FREE Vocal Effect plugin here 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 Audio Damage Quanta Cable Box ShaperBox FabFilter Simplon Oeksound Soothe MakeNoise Morphogene Polyverse Wider Valhalla Plugins Valhalla Shimmer TapeIt Yamaha CP Rhodes Moog Bass Celemony Melodyne Korg Monopoly Fender Rhodes 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 2 · 1 hr 20 min
TN:188 Tame Impala
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! IMAGINE PLUGINS BY SOUNDBETTER Build and sell your own plugins. Get your FREE Vocal Effect plugin here 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
August 18 · 1 hr 39 min
TN:187 Overmono
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! IMAGINE PLUGINS BY SOUNDBETTER Build and sell your own plugins. ⁠Get your FREE Vocal Effect plugin here⁠ 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
August 4 · 1 hr 37 min
TN:186 Joy Anonymous
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! IMAGINE PLUGINS BY SOUNDBETTER Build and sell your own plugins. ⁠Get your FREE Vocal Effect plugin here⁠ 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
July 21 · 1 hr 42 min
TN:185 Charli xcx, A. G. Cook & Finn Keane
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! IMAGINE PLUGINS BY SOUNDBETTER Build and sell your own plugins. ⁠Get your FREE Vocal Effect plugin here⁠ 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
July 7 · 1 hr 54 min
Reissue | TN:54 Disclosure
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
June 23 · 1 hr 45 min
TN:184 Myles Smith & Peter Fenn
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
June 9 · 1 hr 30 min
TN:183 Arlo Parks & Baird
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
May 26 · 1 hr 36 min
TN:182 Bleachers (Jack Antonoff)
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
May 19 · 1 hr 10 min
TN:181 Tom Misch
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
May 5 · 1 hr 16 min
TN:180 Foo Fighters
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
April 21 · 1 hr 31 min
TN:179 TOMORA (Tom Rowlands of Chemical Brothers & AURORA)
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
April 14 · 1 hr 40 min
TN:178 Holly Humberstone & Rob Milton
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
March 31 · 1 hr 41 min
Reissue | TN:49 Enter Shikari
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
March 25 · 1 hr 50 min
TN:177 Imogen Heap
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
March 11 · 1 hr 43 min
TN:176 Fred again..
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
February 25 · 1 hr 50 min
TN:175 Mumford & Sons and Aaron Dessner
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
February 13 · 1 hr 26 min
TN:174 Danny L Harle
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
January 28 · 1 hr 38 min
TN:173 Emma-Jean Thackray
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
January 14 · 1 hr 48 min
TN:172 Artemas & Toby Daintree
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

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