Tape Notes

In this episode, John catches up with Fred Gibson, better known as Fred Again.., to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Actual Life (April 14 - December 17 2020)’.Having written and produced almost all of the album outside of the studio, Fred talks us through his recording and sampling process, digging into the ways in which each new environment helped shape the individual sound of each track.Fred enlightens us on the best bits about recording on an iPhone and why it’s so key to his writing process. We’re treated to stories of recreating the voice notes compressor in Logic, jamming along with tracks in the club and playback sessions in the pub.Listen to find out how a small change in harmony can completely reframe emotion, why mixing will never solve any song problems, and the best ways to fill time when you're not feeling inspired.Tracks discussed: Sabrina (I Am A Party), Me (Heavy), Angie (I’ve Been Lost) LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes   Listen to ‘Actual Life (April 14 - December 17 2020)’ here. ‘Actual Life (April 14 - December 17 2020)’ - Warner Music UK Limited. An Atlantic Records UK, 2021 Fred Gibson Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  GEAR MENTIONSSamplrMorph Plugin Logic - Silver Compressor Logic - Retro Synth Logic - Step FXAlbino SynthNative Instruments BatteryTeenage Engineering OP1 Shure SM7B Roland TR-808 Neumann U47 Yamaha NS10Zoom iPhone Mic OUR GEARhttps://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear  HELP SUPPORT THE SHOWIf 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 KEEP UP TO DATEFor behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on: Instagram: @tapenotes Twitter: @tapenotes Facebook: @tapenotespodcast  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

In this episode, John ventures up to The Old Workshop Studio to catch up with Johnny Flynn and producer Charlie Andrew about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Lost in the Cedar Wood’.From the summer walks with co-writer Robert Macfarlane to tracking the bones of the album in a solar-powered woodland cottage, Johnny recalls shaping the world of the record, combining both timeless sonics and the ancient stories that are relatable even today. Getting into the technical elements, Charlie pulls apart some of the detailed sounds and techniques used to enhance each song's energy. We hear stories of stairwell recording, unpredictable gear and creating rhythmic textures from everything except drums.Listen to find out why impatience in the studio is often a good thing, why Johnny had to make a last-minute Charango order, and the best way to shut your kids up when recording.Tracks discussed: Ferryman, Bonedigger, Ten Degrees of Strange LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to ‘Lost in the Cedar Wood’ here.‘Lost in the Cedar Wood’ - Transgressive, Johnny Flynn Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  GEAR MENTIONS National Trojan Resonator GuitarFender P BassSpace EchoChorus EchoTape DelayVox AC30 AmpegRoland Juno 60MicroKorgRhodesProToolsLogic Pro OUR GEARhttps://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear  HELP SUPPORT THE SHOWIf 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 KEEP UP TO DATEFor behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on: Instagram: @tapenotes Twitter: @tapenotes Facebook: @tapenotespodcast  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

In this episode John heads over to Pixel Studios to chat with Dodie and producer Joe Rubel about how the album ‘Build A Problem’ was written, recorded and produced.Unearthing Dodie’s first phone recordings made in her bedroom, the pair dig into the ways in which they preserved and developed her DIY/scrapbook sound in the studio. As well as lots of sumptuous album easter eggs, Joe indulges us in a multitude of audio tricks. We find out how they managed to flawlessly capture Dodie’s incredibly quiet, intimate vocals, as well as the sounds of windows, Tupperware, screaming and people's thighs.Listen to hear tales of mood-matching songs and lyrics (then the doing the opposite), how Dodie’s Instagram followers influenced a guitar tuning, and the effects of revisiting songs in different head spaces.Tracks discussed: Special Girl, Sorry, Before the Line LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to ‘Build a Problem’ here. ‘Build a Problem’ - doddleoddle, The Orchard Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  GEAR MENTIONSShure SM7BKemper Amps Thermionic Culture VultureTube-Tech CL 1B CompressorSibeliusAny Sponge OUR GEARhttps://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear  HELP SUPPORT THE SHOWIf 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 KEEP UP TO DATEFor behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on: Instagram: @tapenotes Twitter: @tapenotes Facebook: @tapenotespodcast  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

In this episode, John catches up with Rostam to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced his new album ‘Changephobia’.Giving us a full tour, Rostam talks us through his incredibly varied songwriting processes, from demoing beats on a Japanese bullet train and jamming with the TV, to improvising parts in the studio and simply writing without his brain. Going in deep, we’re treated to beat constructions, reverb breakdowns and sax playing that is just all feel, all alongside the subtle sounds that completely transform the emotion in a track.Listen to find out which plugin changed the way he thinks about recording vocals, why clarity can sometimes completely destroy a vibe, and how to treat an addiction to groove.Tracks discussed: From The Back of a Cab, 4Runner, Starlight LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to ‘Changephobia’ here. 'Changephobia’ - Matsor ProjectsIntro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  GEAR MENTIONSMoog VoyagerKorg TridentSolaris SynthRoland Juno 60Line 6 PedalsELA M 251 MicAKG C414Eventide H3000Eventide Swell ReverbUAD Eventide H910 HarmoniserNeve BCM 10 Vari-Mu CompressorTube-Tech CL 1B CompressorNeve Preamp 500 Series 1073LBWaves CLA Vocal PluginUniversal Audio 1176 Compressor Valhalla ShimmerMcDSP M404 AbletonSibeliusProTools OUR GEARhttps://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear  HELP SUPPORT THE SHOWIf 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 KEEP UP TO DATEFor behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on: Instagram: @tapenotes Twitter: @tapenotes Facebook: @tapenotespodcast  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 

In this episode John links up with Marie Ulven, aka girl in red, and producer Matias Tellez, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced her debut album ‘if i could make it go quiet’.With Marie’s original bedroom recordings to hand, the pair take us through how they built on the framework of her demos, singling out the minuscule details in each track that you probably wouldn’t notice, but are completely responsible for the vibe. Alongside stories of recording without reverb and taking energy from different genres, Marie discusses the sentiment behind her lyrics as well as the individual syllable and pronunciation changes that had such big impacts. Listen to find out how to create an electronic beat from acoustic instruments, why you should always check things with a tremolo on, and what the appropriate response is when Taylor Swift posts about your album!Tracks discussed: Body And Mind, Did You Come?, Apartment 402 LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes   Listen to ‘if i could make it go quiet’ here.  ‘if i could make it go quiet’ - World In Red, AWAL RecordingsIntro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  GEAR MENTIONSStam Audio SA-47Neve PreampsRetro Instruments Sta-Level CompressorSoundtoys Devil-LocSoundtoys Alter Boy OUR GEARhttps://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear  HELP SUPPORT THE SHOWIf 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 KEEP UP TO DATEFor behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on: Instagram: @tapenotes Twitter: @tapenotes Facebook: @tapenotespodcast  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

In this episode, John heads down to Royal Blood’s secret studio near Brighton to catch up with Mike and Ben about how they wrote, recorded and produced their chart-topping album ‘Typhoons’.Having written the majority of the record apart from each other in lockdown, the duo reflect on their creative process, from forming demos on the living room sofa to dipping their toes in musical moves they’ve never had the guts to do before.Incorporating the dance floor into their world for the first time, we hear how they combined disco influences with sounds from the depths of hell, as well as the inside details on song structuring, adapting drum parts, and tricks to help nail vocal writing. Listen to find out how a looped mistake can become the basis of a hook, how a £30 amp from eBay helped form the majority of the record’s sound, and how Brad Pitt almost made a feature.Tracks discussed: Typhoons, Limbo, Mad Visions LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to ‘Typhoons’ here.‘Typhoons’ - Warner Records UK, Imperial Galactic Limited, Black Mammoth  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  GEAR MENTIONSUniversal Audio Apollo TwinUniversal Audio PreampsShure SM7B Spectrasonics KeyscapeSoundtoys Pan ManOverstayer OUR GEARhttps://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear  HELP SUPPORT THE SHOWIf 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 KEEP UP TO DATEFor behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on: Instagram: @tapenotes Twitter: @tapenotes Facebook: @tapenotespodcast  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

In this episode we pick out a selection of highlights from Season 7. 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 and hear some of their top studio tips, writing processes and all-round philosophies towards creating a record.  You’ll hear highlights from: BicepIdles with Nick Launay and Adam GreenspanKing Gizzard and the Lizard WizardPaul Weller with Stan Kybert and Charles ReesAdam BuxtonFontaines DC and Dan CareySlowthai with Kwes DarkoSG Lewis LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to the albums featured this season with the links below.Bicep - ‘Isles’IDLES - ‘Ultra Mono’King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - ‘K.G.’ & ‘L.W.’  Paul Weller - ‘On Sunset’Fontaines D.C. - ‘Dogrel’ & ‘A Hero’s Death’Slowthai - ‘TYRON’S.G. Lewis - ‘Times’  OUR GEARhttps://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOWIf 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 KEEP UP TO DATEFor behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on: Instagram: @tapenotes Twitter: @tapenotes Facebook: @tapenotespodcast  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  'Isles' - Ninja Tune 'Ultra Mono' - Partisan Records'K.G.' and 'L.W' - A KGLW Release'On Sunset' - A Polydor Records Release; Solid Bond Productions Limited, under exclusive license to Universal MusicOperations Limited'Dogrel' and 'A Hero's Death' - Partisan Records‘TYRON' - A Method Records/Interscope/AWGE release.'Times' - A PMR/EMI release, under exclusive license to Universal Music Operations Limited

SG Lewis, English DJ and record producer, discusses his disco grooves and album 'Times'. They explore the process of releasing the album, collaborating with Nile Rogers, and adding random elements to tracks. Lewis also shares his journey in the music industry, the challenges of updating a mix, and the creative process behind the song 'Chemicals'. He also discusses the importance of a good synth and gives advice on getting music heard.

In this episode, John is joined by slowthai and producer Kwes Darko at Iguana Studios, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Tyron’.With voice messages, demos and stems in hand, Ty and Kwes lay out the development of each track, from the gear and technicalities of capturing vocals and making a beat that hits hard, to the smallest production details that often have the biggest emotional impact.Delving into the deep stuff, the pair discuss the philosophies and attitudes at the heart of their tight artist-producer relationship, as well as sharing wise words on creativity, development and some of the best forms of inspiration. Listen to find out why Ty had to out rap a rapper on his own track, how they used Twitter as a creative tool, and the reason why you should always check a mix in the car. Tracks discussed: MAZZA, PLAY WITH FIRE, adhd LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective Listen to 'TYRON' here.'TYRON' - A Method Records/Interscope/AWGE release. GEAR MENTIONSAKG C414Neumann U87MellotronRoland TR-808Soundtoys DecapitatorEmpirical Labs DistressorTube-TechNeve PreampsUniversal Audio Neve 1073Universal Audio ApollosUniversal AudioNeumann NDH 20Genelec MonitorsFender StratocasterNative Instruments KompleteEast West Virtual Instruments OUR GEARhttps://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOWIf 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 KEEP UP TO DATEFor behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on: Instagram: @tapenotes Twitter: @tapenotes Facebook: @tapenotespodcast  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 

Catching up on some much-needed studio goodness, John returns to Mr Dan’s studio to chat with Conor and Tom of Fontaines D.C. and producer Dan Carey, about how they wrote, recorded and produced the albums 'Dogrel’ and ‘A Hero’s Death’.With rehearsal room and garden shed demos in hand, Conor, Tom and Dan give us a rundown of some of the key moments of the band’s career, from first meetings at a 20 person gig to recording an entire album in LA, and then redoing it in London.Digging into the recording process, we hear thoughts on the ultimate ways to capture the full experience of a live band, and Dan explains the ins and outs of getting things down on tape.Listen to find out what was achieved when the band built an amp castle, how a room became their new sixth member, and why so much skill is involved in playing one note bass lines.Tracks discussed: Too Real, A Hero’s Death, You Said LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to 'Dogrel' here.Listen to 'A Hero's Death' here.'Dogrel' and 'A Hero's Death' - Partisan Records Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  GEAR MENTIONS SwarmatronLogic Pro Ludwig Black BeautyFender Coronado Fender MustangRainger Minor Concussion OUR GEARhttps://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear  HELP SUPPORT THE SHOWIf 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 KEEP UP TO DATEFor behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on: Instagram: @tapenotes Twitter: @tapenotes Facebook: @tapenotespodcast  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