
Tape Notes
Tape Notes is a podcast about the art and craft of music production. Hosted by John Kennedy, each episode reunites an artist and producer to talk about the highlights of their collaboration in the studio. Their conversations lift the lid on every stage of the creative process, from kindling the first spark of a song idea, through decisions on style and instrumentation, to finessing the final product. Full of fascinating anecdotes, the conversations also feature early demo versions and stems from the original session recordings. The result is a unique insight into the working methods of some of the most innovative and exciting talents in music.
Latest episodes

Oct 16, 2024 • 1h 6min
TN:145 Clean Bandit (Part 2)
Jack Patterson and Grace Chatto of Clean Bandit dive into their creative journey behind recent hits like 'Symphony' and 'Cry Baby.' They explore how TikTok has reshaped the music landscape, giving older songs new life. The duo shares insights on their evolving songwriting process, the significance of collaboration, and the emotional depth in their work, reflecting on their experiences from earlier tracks to their latest releases featuring diverse influences. Their discussion highlights modern music's blend of nostalgia and innovation in today's soundscape.

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Oct 1, 2024 • 1h 49min
TN:144 Bonobo
Simon Green, known as Bonobo, is an acclaimed English musician and DJ celebrated for his smooth Trip Hop tracks. In this engaging conversation, he dives into his creative process and the evolution of his sound. He shares insights into crafting unique drum patterns and the use of innovative tools like Ableton and modular synthesis. Bonobo discusses his latest single, 'Expander,' and reflects on the inspiration behind 'Sapien' during lockdown. Listeners will also discover his journey with sampling and the impact of travel on his music.

Sep 5, 2024 • 1h 46min
TN:143 Rex Orange County, Teo Halm & Jim Reed
Rex Orange County, an English singer-songwriter known for his genre-blending hits, joins producers Teo Halm and Jim Reed to discuss the creative process behind his new album, 'The Alexander Technique.' They share insights on innovative collaborations and the use of mobile apps for sound design. The trio reflects on the emotional journeys captured in songs like '2008' and 'The Table,' while highlighting the spontaneity and trust that define their artistic chemistry. Expect fascinating discussions on experimenting with vocals and recording techniques.

Aug 20, 2024 • 1h 36min
TN:142 Clean Bandit (Part 1)
Jack Patterson and Grace Chatto of Clean Bandit share their journey of blending classical music with pop. They dive into the creation of their Grammy-winning hit 'Rather Be' and the collaborative spirit that fuels their songwriting. The duo recounts memorable moments, like composing while riding the Tube and an intense vocal session that tested their limits. Additionally, they discuss the unique synth sounds that define their tracks and the transformative power of joyful melodies on their careers.

Aug 6, 2024 • 2h 2min
TN:141 A. G. Cook
In this episode, A. G. Cook, a pioneer of hyper pop and founder of the label PC Music, shares insights into his new album, 'Britpop.' He discusses the album's innovative three-disc structure, blending pop, experimental sounds, and emotional depth. Cook dives into the creative processes behind standout tracks like 'Heartache' and 'Lucifer,' revealing intricate production techniques and his approach to collaboration with artists like Charli XCX. Listeners gain a unique perspective on his journey from traditional music to digital innovation.

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Jul 30, 2024 • 1h 24min
Reissue | TN:29 Floating Points
Sam Shepard, known as Floating Points, is a renowned electronic music artist and producer. In this engaging discussion, he shares insights on his creating process for the album 'Crush', revealing how live performance and classical influences shape his music. He dives into the making of tracks like 'Last Bloom' and 'Anasik Modula', emphasizing experimentation with various synthesizers. Their conversation touches on the blend of emotional depth and technical skill in contemporary music, showcasing his unique approach to soundscapes and musical creation.

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Jul 16, 2024 • 1h 57min
TN:140 Four Tet
Four Tet, the innovative producer, discusses his production journey, sharing tips on arrangement, loop maintenance, and adding subtle textures. Tracks like Daydream Repeat and Skater are broken down, highlighting his production techniques and inspirations. The podcast explores the evolution of music creation, intricate arrangements, mastering tracks, and the importance of embracing creativity in music.

Jul 4, 2024 • 1h 37min
TN:139 Kasabian
John joins Kasabian producer, songwriter, and frontman Serge Pizzorno to discuss the band’s latest record, ‘Happenings’.Kasabian, an English rock band formed in the late 1990s, burst onto the scene in the early 2000s with iconic anthems like ‘LSF’ and ‘Club Foot’. Since then, they have released eight albums, earning multiple NME Awards and a Brit Award for Best British Group in 2010.Sitting down with guitarist and co-founder Serge Pizzorno, the conversation dives into his production journey—from experimenting with a loop pedal at eleven years old to collaborating with renowned producer Mark Ralph. Serge shares insights into his hours-long loop jams, reveals how he transformed an Asda voice note into a fully-fledged track, and discusses the secrets behind crafting iconic riffs.Tracks discussed: Call, Coming Back To Me Good, G.O.A.T.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 50% off.MUSIVERSALSkip the waitlist and get your 25% discount HERELISTEN to ‘Happenings’ here.Sony MusicLINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES linktr.ee/tapenotes Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel CollectiveGEAR MENTIONSXLN Audio RC20Soundtoys Decapitator Soundtoys Little AlterBoyValhalla ReverbsAtari ST SamplerOctaMEDARP 2600Hofner BassMoogerfooger DelayBehringer PRO-1Roland TR-808Fairchild CompressorCubase DistortionFruity LoopsOUR 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 TEAMWill Brown Tim Adam-Smith Will Lyons Nico Varanese Guy Nicholls Jessica ClucasKatie-Louise Buxton Seb Brunner-Stolovitzky Jonathon Coughlin

Jun 19, 2024 • 1h 33min
TN:138 Charli XCX, George Daniel & A.G. Cook
Charli XCX, A.G. Cook, and George Daniel discuss the creation process of their album 'Brat', including inspiration behind tracks like Club Classics and Apple. They share stories of testing songs in Charli's club at home, their approach to collaboration, and what truly defines the 'Brat' sound.

May 30, 2024 • 1h 49min
TN:137 IDLES, Kenny Beats & Mikko Gordon
IDLES' Bowen, producer Kenny Beats, and engineer Mikko Gordon discuss the making of the album 'TANGK'. They share insights on love and gratitude themes, team breakouts, dubious covers, and unexpected inspirations beyond their usual domains. The trio talks about utilizing different expertise and experience between LA and London studios while sharing witty stories and moments from the creative process.
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