TN:131 Declan McKenna

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 EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  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

18 Juni 202043min

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 ventures over to Wendy House Studios to catch up with hip-hip royalty Josh Davis AKA DJ Shadow, to talk through how he recorded and produced his latest album ‘Our Pathetic Age’ and his chart-topping album ‘The Mountain Will Fall’.   Josh gives us a full insight in to his largest most diverse project yet, breaking down his writing process from the moment he randomly dips in to his vast record collection for inspiration, to discovering unlikely source material such as an abandoned record collection rescued from a friend of his father's. We get to hear the original samples that form the basis of some of his biggest hits as well as the raw vocal stems of Nas and Pharoahe Monch rapping at each other from different studios.   Listen to find out about Josh’s meticulous sample editing process, what mixing mistake meant he had to sneakily rerelease a track, and why he had to gatecrash a Run the Jewels gig.  Tracks discussed: Nobody Speak, Rocket Fuel, Drone Warfare   LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'Our Pathetic Age' here. Listen to 'The Mountain Will Fall' here. 'Our Pathetic Age' and 'The Mountain Will Fall' - Mass Appeal/Reconstruction Productions, Inc.   Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENTIONS Akai MPC Sampler Pioneer PLX 1000 Sonos Speaker Technics SL-1200 Technics SL-1210 ProTools Ableton   OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear   HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can 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

31 Mars 20201h 37min

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 and phone recordings including the sound of Matt’s unborn son’s heartbeat which was crafted into a drum loop.  Listen to find out what how Blaine ended up in an Icelandic Spa with Bjork, what images he looks at to get the best vocal take and who he turns to when struggling with lyrics.   Songs discussed: Screwdriver, Wrong Side of the Tracks, A Billion Heartbeats   LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'A Billion Heartbeats' here. 'A Billion Heartbeats' - Mystery Jets, Caroline International   Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENTIONS AKG C414 Digitech Space Station Fender Amps Gamechanger Audio Plasma Distortion Pedal Marshall Amps Mellotron Moog Roland Juno 106 Boss RC-300 Loop Station Selmer Amps Sequential Pro One  Sequential OB6 Shure SM57 Zoom Recorders Logic Pro   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

26 Mars 20201h 54min

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 Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENTIONS Garageband Logic Pro   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

18 Mars 20201h 43min

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 Ribbon Mic Ebow Moog Theremin Neumann U87 RME Babyface Pro Yamaha 4TRK Recorder   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

11 Mars 20201h 51min

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 MENTIONS Sibelius Logic Pro Rhodes Shure Mics   OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear    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 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    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

4 Mars 20201h 28min

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 Software Coles 4038 Ribbon Mic Electro-Voice RE20 Kemper Profiler Rack Korg MS-20 Moog Model D Oberheim DMX Drum Machine Peavey T-40 Bass Rob Papen Sub Boom Bass Plugin Roland JD-800 Roland TR-808 Roland TR-09  Roland TR-909 Roland SH-101 Roland Juno 60 Scaler Plugin Sequential Prophet 6 Sequential Prophet 5 Sennheiser MD-421 Sherman Rodec Restyler Filter Simmons Drum Machine Spectrasonics Omnisphere SSL Xfer Cthulhu Logic Pro   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

26 Feb 20201h 46min

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 MENTIONS Soundtoys Little Plate Goodhertz Wow Control Sequential Prophet Korg MS-20 Kemper Profiler Rack Line 6 Pedals Soyuz 017 Tube Microphone Rhodes Ableton   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

19 Feb 20201h 46min