I Don't Want to Play Guitar on This

Lizzie didn't think of herself as a guitar player, John says. "It's just it comes naturally to me," Lizzie tells CNN about her ability to keep the song in tune with itself. The singer and guitarist have established rules for how they want their music to sound on this new album.

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Episode notes

In this episode, John links up with Lizzy McAlpine and producers Philip Etherington and Ehren Ebbage, to talk about how they wrote, recorded, and produced Lizzy’s album ‘five seconds flat’.

Looking back at their time writing and recording in a makeshift Airbnb studio, Lizzy, Philip, and Ehren dig into their enormous archive of song versions (including John Mayer versions), talking through their process of chipping away at each track and shaping the sounds to match the core expression.

As well as highlighting exactly why parts of Lizzy’s performance are so key to the foundation of each song, we’re treated to backing vocal masterclasses, stories of secret weapon synths, and beats tied together with Philip’s mouldy can of nuts.

Listen to find out how to create sounds that are quietly big and impactful, why all U47s are not created equally, and why as a producer you first have to be an audience member.

Tracks discussed: an ego thing, ceilings, reckless driver

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES

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Listen to ‘Five Seconds Flat’ here.