Tape Notes

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 recording from 9pm through to 11am, fuelled by cookies with cream cheese, breakfast burritos and copious amounts of weed.  We hear theories on how people’s souls enter your body to give you songs, why Dave has been the cause of multiple people’s synth addictions, and we are treated to unheard midnight vocal takes recorded just before Hannah’s vocal surgery.    Tracks discussed: Deleter, Expectations, Places    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'Healer' here. 'Healer' - Atlantic Recording Corporation, WEA International Inc., Warner Music Group Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENTIONS Dunlop Echoplex Pedal Mellotron Sequential Prophet 6   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

12 Aug 20201h 31min

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 development of the album and gain a fascinating insight into the philosophy behind their creative decisions. From a post Valentine’s breakfast date and a shared love of the Beastie Boys, Gethin and Damon reflect on their time working together and the importance of the relationship between producer and artist.  Listen to hear how Damon’s chat after a toilet break was sampled into something much more meaningful, how he managed to include Brexit, his unborn child and Bono in the same song, and why the best piece of equipment you can have is a good artist.    Tracks discussed: Colours, Banana Skin Shoes, Is This A Dream?    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'Banana Skin Shoes' here. 'Banana Skin Shoes' - Damon Gough, AWAL Recordings Ltd Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENTIONS ProTools ProTools EQ Adam Audio Monitors Akai S950 Sampler Roland RE-20 Space Echo Roland TR-808 Tascam 4Trk Recorder Teenage Engineering OP1 Yamaha Clavinova   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

6 Aug 20202h

In this episode, John catches up with Rina Sawayama and producer Clarence Clarity to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Rina’s debut album ‘Sawayama’.     Diving deep into the almost 100 track sessions, Rina and Clarence reflect on how the album took shape, from writing demos in Rina’s bedroom to spending months in an LA studio. We hear the pair’s philosophies on creativity and the hustle of making it in the world of music, along with the secrets in crafting their fusion of R&B, noughties pop and nu-metal.     Listen to find out why Rina tries includes at least 10 hooks in each song, how Clarence tried to match a trap beat to Rina’s mum’s Beethoven performance and which member of The 1975 made a secret appearance on the record.    Tracks discussed: Dynasty, Love Me 4 Me, Snakeskin   LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'Sawayama' here. 'Sawayama' - Dirty Hit Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENTIONS Ableton Sontronics Saturn Soundelux U99   OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear    HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can 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 Discord: Tape Notes   Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk

29 Juli 20201h 52min

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 hear how Obar crafts his music despite a lack of traditional music theory, revealing the methods and approaches he uses to tap directly into the feeling of a song.    Listen to find out how birdsong was meticulously edited to perfectly fit the music, why Obaro has only just managed to use his Mellotron, and how he charmed Sarasara into singing on the record.    Tracks discussed: Breaking Cover, When Mouths Collide, Social Lacerations    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep' here. 'I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep' - Ghostpoet, Play It Again Sam Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENTIONS Logic Pro Critter and Guitari Organelle M Eventide Harmonizer Fender Bassman Amp Flea C12 Microphone Mellotron Melos Delay Unit Sequential Prophet 6  Studer A80 Analogue Tape Machine   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 Discord: Tape Notes Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk

22 Juli 20201h 33min

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.  Listen to find out why a fan made an almost 10-hour round trip to deliver the coveted OP1, what words Tom sings on his songs without lyrics, and why sometimes having a hangover in the studio can benefit the writing process.    Tracks discussed: Last 100. The Reel, Nightrider.     LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to ‘What Kinda Music’ here. ‘What Kinda Music’ - Beyond The Groove. Blue Note Records/Caroline Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENTIONS Dynacord Tape Echo Electro-Voice RE20 Eventide Moogerfooger MF-101 Pedal Teenage Engineering OP1 Universal Audio Universal Audio Neve 1073 UAD Thermionic Culture Vulture UAD Korg SD300 Plugin UAD Oxide (Tape Emulation Plugin) Zvex Lofi Junky Logic Pro ProTools   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

14 Juli 20201h 16min

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 a core guitar riff was saved by a lucky phone recording, how his childhood trombone skills are now coming in handy, and how a few pearls of wisdom from producer Jacknife Lee have impacted his song writing.    Tracks discussed: Time, Anyone, Only The Bravest    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'Love, Death & Dancing' here. 'Love, Death & Dancing' - Island Records Release, Universal Music Operations Limited Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENTIONS Arturia Buchla Easel Plugin Arturia Prophet V3 Plugin Behringer D Model Critter & Guitari Pocket Piano Fender Stratocaster  Goodhertz Wow Control Minimoog Roland TR-808 Roland TR-909 Roland Boutique Synths Sequential Prophet Shure SM57 Sonic Charge Permut8 Ableton Logic Pro Logic Pro - Space Designer   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

7 Juli 20201h 43min

In this episode John links up with Caribou a.k.a. Dan Snaith, to breakdown how Suddenly -  his first release in five years - was written, recorded and produced.  Diving deep into his hard drive Dan treats us to a plethora of demo versions, track breakdowns and even plays us a few nuggets live. We get to hear the philosophy and stories behind creating his most personal album yet and discover how he reduced a monumental 900 ideas down to a single record.  Listen to hear the results of when Dan was let loose in Floating Points' Studio, how leaving his internet browser open while recording provided a moment of compositional serendipity, and why the title of this podcast could well have been 'Things I learned from Timberland'.    Songs Discussed: Magpie, Like I Love You, Sister    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes      Listen to 'Suddenly' here. 'Suddenly' - City Slang Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENTIONS API Lunchbox Arp 2600 ARP Rhodes Chroma Rhodes Flea 47 Native Instruments Reaktor Spectrasonics Omnisphere Spectrasonics Trilian Synthesis Technology - E370 Quad Morphing VCO ToneBoosters Reelbus Universal Audio 1176 Compressor Waves MondoMod Yamaha CS-70   OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear    HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can 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

1 Juli 20201h 58min

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 NS10 cones were hacked to create a makeshift microphone, what Yannis projects on to the wall when recording vocals, and how the band managed to tie songs together with trips to Paris and cycling adventures in Annecy.    Tracks Discussed: Syrups, Exits & Neptune     LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to 'Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost - Part One' here. Listen to 'Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost - Part Two' here. 'Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost - Parts 1 & 2' - Foals, Warner Music UK Limited Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective    GEAR MENTIONS Binson Echorec Chandler Preamp Rhodes Chroma Polaris MXR Phaser Pedal Eurorack Korg Minilogue Line 6 Pedals Memory Moog Boss RC-1 Looping Pedal Shure SM7B Teenage Engineering OP1 Yamaha NS10 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

24 Juni 20201h 27min