Tape Notes

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 to a more elaborate Garage Band creation knocked together on the top deck of a bus.  Listen to find out how the band learns songs from street beat boxing, the challenge of writing an album for the ‘shuffle generation’, and which seat on the bus James sits in when writing on Garage Band.  Tracks discussed: You Can't Steal My Joy, Quest For Coin, Why You Mad?   LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'You Can't Steal My Joy' here. 'You Can't Steal My Joy' - Enter The Jungle Records   Intro

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 big man.  Listen to find out how the band channelled their feminine energy, how a monorail journey ended up as a drumbeat, and what happens if you drunkenly text Elvis Costello in the middle of the night.  Songs: Seven Veils, Dexter and Sinister, On Deronda Road    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'Giants of All Sizes' here. 'Giants of All Sizes' - Polydor Records Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENTIONS Pig Nose Guitar Audio Ease Altiverb Coles 4038 Ribb

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 philosophy on writing and recording as TNP.  Listen to find out why jack had to avoid barking attack dogs whilst recording in Berlin, what Harmonic Re-synthesis is, and why some sessions were hospital inducing experiences.  Tracks discussed: Infinity Vibraphones, Where the Trees are on Fire, A-R-P   LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'Inside The Rose' here. 'Inside The Rose' - These New Puritans, Infectious Music Ltd., BMG  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR M

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 tracking each individual drum and ‘talent boosting’ your own performances is never a bad thing, and how Rick Astley and Barry White left their mark the record.  Tracks discussed: Love Like Waves, Can’t Wait Forever, Almost Midnight    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes   Listen to 'Inflorescent' here. 'Inflorescent' - Friendly Fires, Polydor Records, Universal Music Operations Limited Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENTIONS ARP Odyssey ARP 2600 CodeKnobs Prophet Editor Softwa

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 track and music production in general. Listen to find out why a Patrick Fitzgerald sample worked it’s way into ‘Deal Wiv It’, when you really know a track is finished, and why Alex’s girlfriend is a wise lady.   Tracks discussed: Deal Wiv It, Live Like We’re Dancing, Teenage Headache Dreams.   LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'R.Y.C.' here. 'R.Y.C.' - Anchor Point Records, Polydor Records, Universal Music Operations Limited Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENT

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 Carey Nitin Sawhney Floating Points Tune-Yards Jamie Lidell Cold War Kids & Lars Stalfors The Lumineers & Simone Felice Easy Life & Rob Milton (Live at Latitude Festival)   LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear   HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can 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 episo

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 melodies are flowing, and why Murray maybe isn’t as good at the trumpet as he once thought. Tracks Discussed: Pockets, Earth   LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'Pockets' here. Listen to 'Earth' here. 'Pockets' & 'Earth' - Easy Co Limited, Island Records, Universal Music Operations Limited Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective   GEAR MENTIONS Nord Keyboards Shure SM7B Logic Pro   OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear    KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the la

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 breakdowns of the finished songs. It’s a veritable masterclass in songwriting and music production.  Listen to find out why the boys are ‘perfectionists for imperfection’, hear the moment Gloria was conceived when nature called during a bike ride in the mountains, and how sometimes the demo version is all you need.  Tracks discussed: Gloria, Leader Of The Landslide, Salt And The Sea    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'III' here. 'III' - The Lumineers, Decca Records, Universal Music Operat

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 Tools inspired the intro to Dirt In My Eyes, and what helps Lars sleep at night.  Tracks Discussed: Complainer, Dirt In My Eyes, Beyond The Pale    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'New Age Norms 1' here. 'New Age Norms 1' - CWKTWO Corp. u AWAL Recordings Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENTIONS ProTools X-Form Plugin Ampeg Fliptop Ampeg B-15 Amp Earthquaker Dispatch Farfisa Fender Vintage Super Reverb  Line 6 Pedals Mellotron Moog Sub-37 Minimoog Voyager Native Inst

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 working with his friends, how the falling of the Berlin wall landed him a special microphone, and how Another Day transformed from a whiskey fuelled experiment to a sunny upbeat toe-tapper, all thanks to some late night carrot chopping.  Tracks discussed: Multiply, Another Day, When I come Back Around, A Rose.    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'Multiply' here. Listen to 'Jim' here. Listen to 'Building a Beginning' here. 'Multiply' & 'Jim' - Warp Records 'Building A Beginning' - Jam

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 favourite Gangsta, hearing of its humble beginnings in front of an audience in Germany to a full track breakdown.  Listen to find out how Merrill makes her yodel loops, how Walkman’s and Telephone’s left their mark on Gangsta, and whether or not we find out what the band's undercover pseudonym is when they want to play anonymously.  Tracks discussed: Gangsta, SIGNS (Detroit's Theme), Revealed, Steve Lift’s Party   LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'WHOKILL' here. Listen to 'Sorry To Bo

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 addition to experimenting with the impressive number of synths he’s collected over the years. Geekery is in abundance in this episode.  Listen to find out why space was scant in Sam’s student bedroom, who sick Anna actually is and why sometimes all you need is a Yamaha Reface CS in your backpack.  Tracks discussed: Last Bloom, Annasickmodualr, Bias.   LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'Crush' here. 'Crush' - Pluto Records, Ninja Tune. Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENT

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 some of the traditional Indian compositional techniques used throughout the album.  Listen to find out why an sm58 is pretty much all you need to record an album, how those mind boggling vocals in The Conference were created, and why Nitin’s guitar is his favourite piece of kit.  Tracks discussed: Homelands, Serpents, Immigrant, Letting Go, The Conference   LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'Beyond Skin' here. 'Beyond Skin' - Outcaste Records Ltd Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laur

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 why Dan is the ultimate sonic evil genius.  Tracks discussed: Marshall Law, We Die, I Trap You LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'The Book of Traps and Lessons' here. 'The Book of Traps and Lessons' - Republic Records, American Recordings, UMG Recordings, Inc. Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENTIONS Brauner VM1 Buchla Music Easel Swarmatron Metasonix Drum Machine Neumann U47 Neumann U67 Neumann U87 Roland CR-8000 Sequential Prophet 6 Shure SM7B Telefunken

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 find out why there's more to using a broken glass samples than meets the eye, that sampling Michelle Obama is a big deal, and why you should never leave the room when you're making a beat with Naomi & Richard.  Tracks discussed: Oya, Transmission/Michaelion, No Man is Big Enough for My Arms    Big thanks to AIM, National Album Day, and Miloco Studios for teaming up with us and making this happen.    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'Ibeyi' here. Listen to 'Ash' here. 'Ibeyi' and 'Ash' - XL Recording

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 phone demo of Send My Love that offers a true glimpse of the creative process in full swing, and find out what life changing piece of advice John Savage gave David.  Tracks discussed: The One, Send My Love, Hold On, Conventional Ride    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'Any Human Friend' here. 'Any Human Friend' - AMF Records, Virgin EMI Records, Universal Music Operations Limited Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENTIONS Apogee Duet Interface Rhodes Fender Mus

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 Justin's guitar solos are more 'Top Gun' than they are 'Joey Santiago'.  Tracks discussed: Violence, Darkness at the Door, Nothingness   LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'Violence' here. 'Violence' - Play It Again Sam  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENTIONS Aelita Synth Arturia MiniBrute Eventide Izotope Stutter Edit Korg MS-20 Max for Live Granulator Moog Neumann U87 Pioneer CDJ-900NXS Roland RS-505 Paraphonic Roland Juno 106 Spitfire Enigma Library Uni

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 hear the impressive bedroom demos Jack crafted as a music obsessed 15 year old plus fascinating breakdowns from some of the tracks from the album.  Listen to find out why 'Dust On The Ground' didn't end up as an 8 minute instrumental, how using a fan can create some pretty unique guitar sounds and hear a brilliant break down of 'Always Like This'.  Tracks discussed: Cancel On Me, Dust On The Ground, Always Like This    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'I Had The Blues But Shook Them Loose

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 an Armagnag fuelled drum performance on 'Preach' was cleaned up, and why Maverick likes to write with movies playing in the background.  Tracks discussed: Preach, Slow Down, Her Grace    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'When I Wake Up' here. 'When I Wake Up' - FAMM Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENTIONS API Desk Aria Jazz Guitar Fairchild 660 Compressor Fab-Filter Multiband Compressor Fender Deluxe Gibson ES-335 M-Audio Mic Roland RD-64 Steinway Pianos

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 David Bowie had for Nick before recording 'Dancing for the Answers', and whether daily micro-dosing of psychedelics was a studio success.  Tracks Discussed: Fever to the Form, Venus, Dancing For The Answers    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'First Mind' here. 'First Mind' - Fiction Records, Universal Music Operations Limited. Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENTIONS Buchla Synth Swarmatron Gretsch Falcon Mellotron Moog Mu-Tron Pedals Roland Jupiter 6 Prophet ‘08