Tape Notes

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 with Matty and George of The 1975, recorded back in March 2019.EPISODE NOTESJohn ventures up to Spitfire Audio to meet with Matty and George from The 1975 to talk about how the album 'A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships' was recorded and produced.Somewhat bleary eyed after a massive night at the Brits (scooping two awards), the boys reveal the inner workings of The 1975's production methods and writing techniques. We're treated to demo versions and extensive track breakdowns from their award winning album, showing what it takes to create a 1975 hit.We get to hear why Matty scats to write lyrics, how George uses a Barry White bass trick for creating lush vocals, and hear THE definitive explanation of side-chain compression.Tracks discussed: I Like America & America Likes Me, How To Draw / Petrichor, It's Not Living (If It's Not With You)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 HERELINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  linktr.ee/tapenotes Listen to ‘A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships’ here Dirty Hit, Polydor Records, Interscope RecordsIntro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel CollectiveGEAR MENTIONSArturia Synth EmulatorsIzotope Vocal SynthKorg Legacy CollectionMoogShure SM58Teenage Engineering OP1Waves CLA Vocal PluginYamaha DX7Yamaha Reface DXLogic ProCubaseOUR GEARhttps://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgearHELP 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 :) DonateOr 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