Tape Notes

John sits down with electronic producer and DJ Porter Robinson, to discuss how he wrote and recorded his third album ‘SMILE! :D’ Having begun self-producing at just twelve years old, Porter Robinson has since risen to become one of the most acclaimed artists within the EDM world, performing alongside artists such as Skrillex and Tiësto. His work has seen him tour extensively around the world and has even earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording, back in 2019.In this episode, Porter dials in from North Carolina to chat about how he came up with his signature synth sounds, some of his favourite gear, including giving a guitar demo, and drawing inspiration from Coldplay tracks. Tracks discussed: Cheerleader, Is There Really No Happiness?, Russian RouletteTAPE ITThanks 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.TRINITY LABAN Find out more about Trinity Laban's Songwriting MA here.MUSIVERSALSkip the waitlist and get your discount hereLISTEN to ‘SMILE! :D’ here.'Mom+Pop'LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  linktr.ee/tapenotes Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONSU-He DivaPolyverse ManipulatorD16 TourverbSoundtoys EchoBoyLine 6 Helix NativeKilohearts Trance GateFL StudioFL Studio Sequencer 3X OSCFL Studio HarmorCLA PluginsWarm Audio MicsSpectrasonics OmnisphereOUR GEARhttps://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgearHELP SUPPORT THE SHOWIf 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 DATEFor behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on: Instagram: @tapenotes Twitter: @tapenotes Facebook: @tapenotespodcast  YouTube: Tape Notes PodcastDiscord: Tape NotesPatreon: Tape NotesTo 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.ukTAPE NOTES TEAMJohn KennedyWill Brown Tim Adam-Smith Will Lyons Nico Varanese Guy Nicholls Jessica ClucasAli LewisEvan Lawday

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 from Summer 2020, with Josh Davis, better know as DJ Shadow.EPISODE NOTESIn 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 gate-crash a Run the Jewels gig. Tracks discussed: Nobody Speak, Rocket Fuel, Drone WarfareTAPE ITThanks to our partners at TapeIt! Click here for 20% off TapeIt Pro.TRINITY LABAN Find out more about Trinity Laban's Songwriting MA here. 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 MENTIONSAkai MPC SamplerPioneer PLX 1000Sonos SpeakerTechnics SL-1200Technics SL-1210ProToolsAbleton OUR GEARhttps://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgearHELP SUPPORT THE SHOWIf 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 DATEFor behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on: Instagram: @tapenotes Twitter: @tapenotes Facebook: @tapenotespodcast  YouTube: Tape Notes PodcastDiscord: Tape NotesPatreon: Tape NotesTo 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.ukTAPE NOTES TEAMJohn KennedyWill Brown Tim Adam-Smith Will Lyons Nico Varanese Guy Nicholls Jessica ClucasAli Lewis

Join Olly Alexander, the charismatic frontman of Years & Years and LGBTQ+ activist, alongside acclaimed producer Danny L Harle, known for his work with pop stars like Charli XCX. They dive into the creative journey behind Olly's album 'Polari,' exploring the spontaneous songwriting process and the emotional depth of tracks like 'Whisper in the Waves' and 'Cupid's Bow.' Olly reflects on the lyrical significance of 'Make Me A Man,' while Danny shares insights on optimizing creative flow, collaboration, and the fascinating cultural roots of Polari.

Liam Ivory and Chris Davids, the creative duo behind Maribou State, delve into their latest album, ‘Hallucinating Love’. They share fascinating insights on immersive writing retreats that inspired their unique sound. The duo discusses the challenge of producing over 25 demos for a single track and the innovative 'sound harvest' sessions where they create custom samples from everyday objects. Additionally, they reflect on balancing self-care with creativity and the importance of community in their music-making process.

RÜFÜS DU SOL, the acclaimed Australian indie-dance trio who have captivated global audiences, join to share insights on their latest album, 'Inhale / Exhale.' They delve into their unique creative process, highlighting the importance of collaboration and connection. The band discusses the evolution of tracks like 'Pressure' and 'Fire / Desire,' as well as innovative techniques such as the use of breathwork for enhancing performances. Their exploration of soundscapes and conceptual depth illuminates their artistic journey, blending emotion and experimentation.

Welcome to this bonus episode! Back in Summer 2023 John sat down with podcasting legend Adam Buxton, live at the Podcast Festival for a two part chat into their respective careers, and Adam’s new music.In this, part one, Adam takes the reins as host, turning the spotlight on John’s incredible career in radio. The conversation digs into John’s journey from the early days of Xfm to Radio X, the creation of the legendary X-Posure show, which introduced artists like Adele, The XX, and Scroobious Pip to the airwaves, and the evolving landscape of radio and podcasting, including insights into Tape Notes.Adam also gives us an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at his musical process, sharing the inspiration and demos behind his much-loved theme, “Ramble Chat.”TAPE ITThanks 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.MUSIVERSALSkip the waitlist and get your discount HERELINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  linktr.ee/tapenotes Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel CollectiveOUR GEARhttps://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgearHELP SUPPORT THE SHOWIf 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 DATEFor behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on: Instagram: @tapenotes Twitter: @tapenotes Facebook: @tapenotespodcast  YouTube: Tape Notes PodcastDiscord: Tape NotesPatreon: Tape NotesTo 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.ukTAPE NOTES TEAMJohn KennedyWill Brown Tim Adam-Smith Will Lyons Nico Varanese Guy Nicholls Jessica ClucasAli Lewis

John links up with Snarky Puppy founder and band leader Michael League to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the band’s latest record ‘Empire Central’, as well as works from Varijashree Venugopal and a new project, Ellipsis. Michael League is an American producer, multi-instrumentalist, and founder of jazz fusion ensemble Snarky Puppy. Now with a reputation as one of the most innovative bands of the 21st century, constantly pushing the boundaries of improvisation and the styles they draw from, Snarky Puppy’s 20 year back catalogue includes 16 albums, and five Grammy wins. Outside of the band, Michael has shared his production and writing talents on records from David Crosby, Becca Stevens, Varijashree Venugopal and many more.Speaking from his home studio in Spain, Michael digs into his production process, from crafting rough Logic demos and editing lengthy improvisations to blending global influences with Western jazz. He also shares the technical details of Snarky Puppy’s vast recording setup and treats us to a live demo of his current go-to, the Danelectro Sitar.Tracks discussed: Bet, Ranjani, ObbakosoTAPE ITThanks 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.MUSIVERSALSkip the waitlist and get your discount HERELISTEN to ‘Empire Central’ here.GroundUP MusicLISTEN to ‘Vari’ here.GroundUP MusicLINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  linktr.ee/tapenotes Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel CollectiveGEAR MENTIONSLauten Audio LS-208Lauten Audio Snare MicLauten Audio Atlantis FC-387Audio-Technica MicsDanelectro SitarF-Bass Hammertone 12-StringFender RhodesRoland Space-EchoEbowMoog BassLogic ProAvid ProToolsOUR GEARhttps://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgearHELP SUPPORT THE SHOWIf 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 DATEFor behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on: Instagram: @tapenotes Twitter: @tapenotes Facebook: @tapenotespodcast  YouTube: Tape Notes PodcastDiscord: Tape NotesPatreon: Tape NotesTo 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.ukTAPE NOTES TEAMJohn KennedyWill Brown Tim Adam-Smith Will Lyons Nico Varanese Guy Nicholls Jessica ClucasAli Lewis

John is joined by Oli Sykes and Lee Malia of Bring Me The Horizon, as well as producer Dan Lancaster, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the band’s latest album ‘POST HUMAN: NeX GEn’.Bring Me the Horizon, formed in 2004 in Sheffield, evolved from deathcore to genre-blending innovators, incorporating electronics, classical, and pop influences. With seven studio albums, over 5 million records sold, and electrifying live shows, they’ve built a global fanbase and earned multiple Grammy nominations. Their latest release, ‘POST HUMAN: NeX GEn’, continues their evolution, produced by long-time collaborator Dan Lancaster.Catching up at Stongroom Studios, Oli, Lee and Dan talk us through the incredibly fast-paced process of bringing the album together, sharing the countless demos, crazy sound design, and secret details meticulously hidden within each track. Tracks discussed: Kool-Aid, Top 10 staTues tHat CriEd bloOd, DIg It, TAPE ITThanks 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.MUSIVERSALSkip the waitlist and get your discount HERELISTEN to ‘POST HUMAN: NeX GEn’ here.Sony Music EntertainmentLINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  linktr.ee/tapenotes Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel CollectiveGEAR MENTIONSElastiquePitch 2Soundtoys Little AlterBoyNative Instruments KontaktGetGood DrumsAntares AutotuneAudioMoversOutput ArcadeDJI LAV MicMoisesAvid ProToolsOUR GEARhttps://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgearHELP SUPPORT THE SHOWIf 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 DATEFor behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on: Instagram: @tapenotes Twitter: @tapenotes Facebook: @tapenotespodcast  YouTube: Tape Notes PodcastDiscord: Tape NotesPatreon: Tape NotesTo 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.ukTAPE NOTES TEAMJohn KennedyWill Brown Tim Adam-Smith Will Lyons Nico Varanese Guy Nicholls Jessica ClucasAli Lewis

John is joined by Lizzy McAlpine, and co-producer Mason Stoops and co-writer Taylor Mackall, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Older (and Wiser)’.Lizzy McAlpine is a singer-songwriter and producer who first gained popularity by sharing covers on SoundCloud and YouTube. Her debut album, ‘Give Me a Minute’, arrived in 2020, however, it was her second album, ‘Five Seconds Flat’, that solidified her as a rising force, with the platinum-selling single ‘ceilings’ becoming a global hit. Her latest record, ‘Older’, blurs the lines between studio and stage, exploring themes of heartbreak and self-acceptance; recorded in LA, it was produced by Lizzy and Mason Stoops.Catching up at Miloco’s The Pool studio ahead of the London leg of their tour, Lizzy, Mason, and Taylor discuss their approach to writing the album—from Lizzy’s intimate, bedroom demos to their collaborative recording process that transformed it into a full band album.Tracks discussed: The Elevator, Pushing It Down and Praying, Force of NatureTAPE ITThanks 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.MUSIVERSALSkip the waitlist and get your discount HERELISTEN to ‘Older (and Wiser)’ here. RCA Records, Indigo Blue LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  linktr.ee/tapenotes Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel CollectiveGEAR MENTIONSBaldwin Fun MachineBaldwin Fun Machine (VST) Danelectro Bass VIAustin Hooks Projector AmpBenson Nathan Junior AmpUnivox U45B AmpEchoplex EP2 PedalChase Bliss Audio PedalsMellotronShure SM57Neumann U67Neumann U87OUR GEARhttps://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgearHELP SUPPORT THE SHOWIf 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 DATEFor behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on: Instagram: @tapenotes SubStack: Tape NotesFacebook: @tapenotespodcast  YouTube: Tape Notes PodcastDiscord: Tape NotesPatreon: Tape NotesTo 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.ukTAPE NOTES TEAMJohn KennedyWill Brown Tim Adam-Smith Will Lyons Nico Varanese Guy Nicholls Jessica ClucasAli Lewis

Charles Thompson, frontman of the influential band Pixies, and producer Tom Dalgety, known for his work with notable bands, share an insider's look at creating their latest album, 'The Night The Zombies Came.' They discuss behind-the-scenes stories, including the last-minute addition to the tracklist and how nature inspired their songwriting. The duo explores unique production techniques, the emotional journey of their songs, and the unpredictable yet rewarding nature of collaboration, all while sharing humorous anecdotes that showcase their creative process.