Tape Notes

In this episode, John catches up with Nova Twins’ Amy and Georgia along with producer Jim Abbiss to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced their debut album ‘Who Are The Girls?’ Reflecting on venturing into the studio for the first time with a ‘big name’ producer, Amy, Georgia and Jim delve into their “ropey” demos written in a tiny room at Georgia's house, unravelling how they formed their raucous balance of electronics, punk and heavy hitting guitar and bass riffs. We’re given a glimpse into the secrets of the duo's mammoth pedal boards, revealing how they are so much more than extensions of their instruments. Listen to hear drum parts written for drummers with more than two arms, studio debates about a cowbell, and how many biscuits were consumed during the making of the album. Tracks discussed: Vortex, Taxi, Play Fair LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes Listen to 'Who Are The Girls?' here.'Who Are The Girls?' -Nova Twins Ltd in collaboration with 333 Wreckords Crew GEAR MENTIONSEarthQuaker Devices PedalsFender MustangBypass LooperGretsch GuitarsLogic ProGarageband 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 Jacob Collier to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced his albums Djesse Volumes 1, 2 & 3.With original Logic sessions, demos and heaps of stems in hand, Jacob unravels the wealth of ideas charting the development of each volume’s sonic environment. We hear his approach to getting the right balance between the simple and complex, illustrated with samples constructed from audience recordings, scrapped key changes and demo raps.  Listen to find out about the benefits and burdens of knowledge, creating tongue twister grooves for the brain and how to take music beyond the twelve tones as we know them.Tracks discussed: With The Love In My Heart, Nebaluyo, All I Need LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to 'Djesse Vol. 1' here.Listen to 'Djesse Vol. 2' here.Listen to 'Djesse Vol. 3' here.'Djesse Vol. 1, 2 & 3' - Hajanga Records, Geffen Records/Decca, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited GEAR MENTIONSKiii 3 SpeakersShure SM7BShure SM58XLN Audio RC-20 PluginXFER Records LFO ToolSpectrasonics OmnisphereNative Instruments BatteryLogic Pro Kontakt 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 Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil and producer Rich Costey to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘A Celebration of Endings’.Armed with the very first demos and ‘work-in-progress’ recordings, Simon and Rich talk us through each song's evolution, from rehearsals on a farm to getting down intricate drum sounds and a 30-piece orchestra at Abbey Road.We’re given an insight into Simon’s vocal recording process as well as his approach to the biology of a guitar. Rich shares some of his producer wizardry, talking through single mic recording tricks, common rock mixing problems as well as the amps and gear used to help craft the band’s sound.Listen to find out how the pair blew up a pre-war Gibson Amp, what tuning their instruments did to the music and why you should go and follow @tempojunkee on Twitter. Tracks discussed: North of No South, Instant History, Cop SyrupLINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to 'A Celebration of Endings' here.'A Celebration of Endings' - 14th Floor Records Limited, a Warner Music Group company.Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  GEAR MENTIONS Michael Landau Signature StratocasterGibson Les PaulBoss Metal Zone PedalsJHS Kilt PedalSunn Drone PedalsSequential Prophet 61969 100w Marshall AmpBlack VoltVox AC30Roland JC-120 Sunn Amplifiers 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 brothers Guy and Howard of Disclosure, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘ENERGY’.Chosen from over 200 songs, the pair break apart the individual parts and distinct sounds from the handful of tracks that made the cut. The boys take a deep dive into what it takes to make a Disclosure hit, revealing the tricks and tools they use along the way. Listen to find out why the best hooks are written in 20 minutes, how conversations with Pharrell led to new chord progressions, and why the brothers nearly went the same way as Oasis.Tracks discussed: Douha (Mali Mali), Who Knew? & Birthday LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  GEAR MENTIONS:Korg PolySixAbletonNative InstrumentsAmple BassIzotope Vocal SynthTube-Tech CL 1B CompressorNeve DeskMoog Little PhattyRoland Juno 106Roland Boutique Synths Roland D50Roland SH-101Universal Audio Apollos 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  

Launching into a brand new season, John rockets over to The Church Studios to catch up with super-producer Paul Epworth, Harry Edwards and Riley MacIntyre to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Paul’s debut album ‘Voyager’. Paul shines a light on the five year on-off process of bringing the record to life, pulling apart the cosmic sounds and samples that form the basis of the album. From turning his studio desk into an instrument to serendipitous happenings, we hear Paul’s techniques of creating the perfect environment suitable for writing an expansive space concept album. Listen to find out what happens when you put a guitar through his ‘multi-story car park’ of pedals, how a SpaceX launch impacted the album, and how Paul stopped himself from just making techno.  Tracks discussed: Distant Planets, Where Do We Come From?, Space Inc. & Epilogue LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to 'Voyager' here.'Voyager' - Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  GEAR MENTIONSElectro Harmonix Freeze PedalElectro-Harmonix Superego Guitar Effects PedalMoogerfooger MF-104M Analog DelayMoog MF-103 Moogerfooger 12-Stage Phaser 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 5. If you haven't heard every episode from the last season, this is a good way to introduce yourself to some of the other artists and producers we've had on and hear their tips, tricks and stories. Have a listen to see what you've been missing! You'll hear highlights from:FoalsCaribouJack GarrettTom Misch & Adam JaffreyGhostpoetRina Sawayama & Clarence ClarityBadly Drawn Boy & Gethin PearsonGrouplove & Dave SitekEnter ShikariEOB & Flood LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes OUR GEARhttps://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear  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  Follow us on Social Media to keep up to date with the latest episodes and submit questions:InstagramFacebookTwitter Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk 

In this episode, John heads over to Sports Team HQ to catch up with Oli, Rob and producer Burke Reid, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced their Mercury nominated debut album ‘Deep Down Happy’.With DIY demos and a bag of stems, Oli, Rob and Burke break apart what goes into creating the band’s signature raucous sound. We’re treated to tales of sleeping in rehearsal rooms, sneaking into studios and mixing at the kitchen table. Burke talks us through some of his tricks of the trade, from managing the chaos of recording the band while they all still had day jobs, to making simple repeated things sound new and exciting.Listen to hear why they like to annoy Alex during his vocal takes, which stock Logic drummer has become an integral part of the band’s writing process and how they tailor their live sets so no one goes to the bar. Tracks discussed: Kutcher, Here It Comes Again, Fishing  Listen to 'Deep Down Happy' here.'Deep Down Happy' - Big Desert Records, Universal Music Operations Limited Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  GEAR MENTIONSAudacity Audio Kitchen Big Trees PedalEpiphone CasinoFender AmpsMu-Tron PedalsNeumann U67Rickenbacker BassRoland RE-20 Space EchoBoss SD-1 PedalWEM AmpsLogic Pro SUBMIT A JINGLEFor all of the details on sending in a jingle email jingles@tapenotes.co.uk  Submit your Tape Notes jingle and we'll play our favourites each week on the podcast.Jingles can be in any style, can feature the Tape Notes theme, lyrics, or none of those things - be as creative as you'd like (as long as they're between 5-15 seconds). 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  Follow us on Social Media to keep up to date with the latest episodes and submit questions:InstagramFacebookTwitter Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk    

Back at the start of lockdown, John caught up with Georgia and producer Mark Ralph to bring together a special episode for Aim House on how they wrote, recorded and produced Georgia’s Mercury nominated album ‘Seeking Thrills’. Delving right into the first demos inspired by a night out, Georgia and Mark talk us through their fluid process of bringing the songs to life, from drawing intricate details from their dynamic list of influences, to studio days together programming rooms full of synths.  We’re given an insight into Georgia’s move to becoming a singer, stepping out from behind the drum kit, and Mark shares some of his producer wizardry, enlightening us on song structure, the small things can completely change the feel of a track and much much more.Listen to hear how a grammatically incorrect sentence became the focus of a song, clips of hook lines written on a glockenspiel and discussions on how to make a computer groove. Tracks discussed: Started Out, About Work The Dancefloor LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to 'Seeking Thrills' here.'Seeking Thrills' - Domino Recording Co LtdIntro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  GEAR MENTIONSMoogNord WaveRoland SH-101Roland Jupiter 6Roland TR-808Roland TR-909Sequential OB6 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  Follow us on Social Media to keep up to date with the latest episodes and submit questions:InstagramFacebookTwitter Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk 

In this episode, John heads up to Assault & Battery Studios to chat with EOB – the solo project from Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien - and legendary producer Flood, to talk through how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Earth’. Armed with demos and tracks written during Ed’s time in Brazil, the pair take a deep dive into the sonic trenches, sharing their musings on the creative process, and reflect on their time working together in the studio. From fortuitous iTunes plays to jamming with world-renowned musicians, we hear Ed’s thoughts on transitioning from the realm of backing vocalist to lead vocalist, as well as the intricacies of blending carnival and dance music.  Listen to find why sometimes it’s a challenge finding beat 1, which track initially began with a swarm of Vihuelas, and why you should never use the word ‘demo’ in the studio.   Tracks discussed: Brasil, Olympik, Long Time Coming LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to 'Earth' here.'Earth' - Capitol Records, Over Normal Limited, under exclusive license for UMG Recordings, Inc.Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  GEAR MENTIONSAkai MPC Looper ARPElectro-Harmonix Memory ManElektron MachineEventide H3000Gibson Les PaulSoft Tube OTO BiscuitRoland System 700Roland Juno 60Boss RC-1 Looping PedalShure SM58OUR 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  Follow us on Social Media to keep up to date with the latest episodes and submit questions:InstagramFacebookTwitter Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk  

Rou Reynolds, the dynamic frontman and producer of Enter Shikari, dives into the eclectic world of their latest album, blending genres from techy metal to rave. He reveals the creative process behind tracks like 'The Great Unknown' and 'Satellites', showcasing spontaneous songwriting and emotional depth. Rou recounts quirky anecdotes, like the origins of gibberish lyrics and recording with a toy drum kit, while emphasizing the band’s DIY spirit and innovative recording techniques. Get ready to explore how they create their unique auditory landscapes!