Tape Notes

John catches up with Declan McKenna to talk about his latest album ‘What Happened To The Beach?’Declan McKenna first saw mainstream success in 2015 following the release of his debut single ‘Brazil’ and winning Glastonbury Festival’s Emerging Talent prize. While blending topics of politics and social issues with his indie-pop sound through his first two albums, ‘What Happened To The Beach?’ introduces us to a new world, this time looking inward and drawing on Declan’s personal growth as a musician.As well as opening up his hugely varied bag of demos, musical sketches, and jam sessions, Declan shares stories of his time working in the studio with producer Luca Buccellati, talking through the unusual sounds and fantasy locations that inspired his writing.Tracks discussed: Mulholland’s Dinner & Wine, Breath of Light, MezzanineLINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  linktr.ee/tapenotes Listen to ‘What Happened To The Beach?’ here.Sony Music EntertainmentIntro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel CollectiveGEAR MENTIONSSoundtoys Little AlterboyMWFX The Judder PedalRoland Juno 60Shure SM7BMellotronElectro Harmonix MEL9 PedalAcoustasonic GuitarsLogic auto-wahLogic Pro XAbletonOUR 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 - Executive Producer, Engineer & EditorTim Adam-Smith - Executive Producer, VideographerWill Lyons - EditorNico Varanese - Videographer, EditorGuy Nicholls - Production AssistantJessica Clucas - Production AssistantKatie-Louise Buxton - Production Assistant

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. The first selection is our chat with Dave Bayley (Glass Animals) from summer 2018.  EPISODE NOTESJohn ventures up to Dave Bayley’s new home studio in London Fields to talk about how Glass Animals’ debut album ZABA was recorded and produced. We hear how Dave conjured up the band’s unique style through many late night sessions in his bedroom when he should’ve been studying for medical school. He reveals his producer hero’s and an insatiable appetite for data collection, creating his own sound world through sampling every sound imaginable. Dave guides us through a fascinating breakdown of Gooey – from an early voice demo recorded on his phone to the finished article and we learn some of his trade secrets along the way. Tracks featured: Gooey, Hazey, ToesLINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  linktr.ee/tapenotes Listen to 'ZABA' here.'ZABA' - Wolf Tone LimitedIntro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONSAudio-Technica AT4040Fender Deluxe 57Laney VC20Marshall StackRob Papen Albino SynthRoland Jupiter 6Shure SM57Soundtoys DecapitatorSoundtoys MicroshiftSoundtoys Alter BoyUAD Amp EmulatorsVox AC30Waves KramerAbletonAbleton Spectrum PluginProToolsOUR 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 - Executive Producer, Engineer & EditorTim Adam-Smith - Executive ProducerWill Lyons - EditorNico Varanese - Videographer, EditorGuy Nicholls - Production AssistantJessica Clucas - Production AssistantKatie-Louise Buxton - Production Assistant

John links up with hyper-pop royalty, Laura Les and Dylan Brady, aka 100 gecs, to talk about their latest album ‘10,000 gecs’.100 gecs first broke onto the scene with their debut album ‘1000 gecs’ in 2019. Capturing attention online and amongst music fans, the innovative record was described as ‘one of the year's most fascinating, exhilarating experimental pop albums’. Their second studio album ‘10,000 gecs’, released in 2023, sees them maintain their status as hyper-pop trailblazers, this time blending pop-punk and ska in with their signature maximalist sound.Reflecting on their writing process and how it has changed over the years, the conversation covers a range of topics, from the vast number of alternatives each track goes through, to the crazy sound design and effects that make up such an enormous part of their style.  Tracks discussed: Hollywood Baby, 757, The Most Wanted Person In The United States----------------Thanks to Audiomovers for supporting this episode. Their Listento Plugin has been a gamechanger for us and we use it across all of our remote interviews and recordings.To see their full range of plugins, visit audiomovers.com and use the promo code TAPENOTES1 at checkout to get your free month (usually only two days).----------------Thanks to Tape It for supporting this episode. Tape It is a recording app designed specifically for musicians and songwriters. Among many of Tape It's incredible features, you can record straight from lock screen, set markers and have complete control over your record settings, and that just the start.To find out more and get the full app free for a month, head to www.tape.it/tapenotes----------------LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  linktr.ee/tapenotes Listen to ‘10,000 gecs’ here .Dog Show Recordings, Atlantic RecordingsIntro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel CollectiveGEAR MENTIONSNative Instruments Guitar RigWaves Tune Real TimeSoundtoys DecapitatorToontrack Superior DrummerXfer Serum SynthMace Guitar AmpShure SM7BOrange AmpV-DrumsMesa Dual Rectifier Amp HeadSpliceLogic Pro XOUR 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 - Executive Producer, Engineer & EditorTim Adam-Smith - Executive Producer, VideographerWill Lyons - EditorNico Varanese - Videographer, EditorDavid Yu - Engineer (LA)Guy Nicholls - Production AssistantRaphi Elton-Rowley - Production AssistantJessica Clucas - Production AssistantKatie-Louise Buxton - Production Assistant

Guest Matthew Herbert, renowned for his innovative sound exploration, discusses his latest work 'The Horse' and the thought process, collaborators, and story behind each track. Topics also include creating music with bone flutes, the evolution of music, recording challenges and the Tape It app, controversial aspects of horse racing, exploring ideas and the power of sound, unconventional sounds in music, challenges of creativity in the music industry, and excitement for a unique music piece.

Patrick Stump, the dynamic vocalist and guitarist of Fall Out Boy, joins forces with producer Neal Avron, known for shaping sounds across genres. Together, they dive into their latest album, discussing their return to roots and the innovative collaboration with a full orchestra. They explore the intricacies of tracks like 'Love From The Other Side' and 'Heaven, Iowa,' highlighting the blend of genres and the emotional depth of their songwriting. Their creative process reveals the balance between musical experimentation and authentic self-expression.

John sits down with indie rock band Bombay Bicycle Club to talk about their sixth studio album ‘My Big Day’. Bombay Bicycle Club are a four-piece band from London, that broke onto the indie music scene with their genre defining debut album ‘I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose’ in 2009. Since then they have been releasing a steady stream of music which has been met with high critical acclaim, earning them an Ivor Novello and a Mercury Prize nominations. Chatting with band members Jack Steadman and Ed Nash, the three cover a range of topics including the inspiration behind the album, their use of sampling in their music, how over-thinking can negatively influence the production process, and their collaboration with music legends Damon Albarn, Paul Epworth & Chaka Khan.Tracks discussed: My Big Day, Heaven, Just A Little More Time----------------Thanks to Tape It for supporting this episode. Tape It is a recording app designed specifically for musicians and songwriters. Among many of Tape It's incredible features, you can record straight from lock screen, set markers and have complete control over your record settings, and that just the start.To find out more and get the full app free for a month, head to www.tape.it/tapenotes----------------To support the show and become a Patron, head to Patreon.co.uk/tapenotes. Any and all support is hugely appreciated, we don't take it for granted so thank you.----------------LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  linktr.ee/tapenotes Listen to ‘My Big Day’ here - https://songwhip.com/bombay-bicycle-club/my-big-day Mmm…Records, AWAL RecordingsIntro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://songwhip.com/laurelcollective/sunshinebuddy   GEAR MENTIONSMagix Samplitude - https://geni.us/iBEqbXnCasio Keyboard - https://geni.us/hKfeKorg Monotron - https://geni.us/T5K1HNative Instruments Kontakt - https://geni.us/AFPeUPaul Epworth's Neve Desks - https://geni.us/TFoT0OUR 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 - Executive Producer, Engineer & EditorTim Adam-Smith - Executive ProducerWill Lyons - EditorNico Varanese - Videographer, EditorGuy Nicholls - Production AssistantJessica Clucas - Production AssistantKatie-Louise Buxton - Production Assistant

In this episode, John is reunited with Mike Kerr of Royal Blood, to talk about how the band wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Back To The Water Below’.Following the success of their fourth number one album, Mike reflects on how their purpose as musicians has changed over the years, sharing their process of working out what they love, but haven't done with Royal Blood yet.Giving us an in depth look behind each track, we hear stories of musical experiments, including making a new ‘wall of sound’ guitar and playing specially modified pianos, while simultaneously inviting new genres into the Royal Blood sound.Listen to find out the best way to beat the sounds on your demos, tips on how to keep a two-hour live set engaging, and thoughts on why you shouldn’t wait for inspiration to come.Tracks discussed: Triggers, There Goes My Cool, Waves----------------Thanks to Tape It for supporting this episode. Tape It is a recording app designed specifically for musicians and songwriters. Among many of Tape It's incredible features, you can record straight from lock screen, set markers and have complete control over your record settings, and that just the start.To find out more and get the full app free for a month, head to www.tape.it/tapenotes----------------To support the show and become a Patron, head to Patreon.co.uk/tapenotes. Any and all support is hugely appreciated, we don't take it for granted so thank you.----------------LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  linktr.ee/tapenotes Listen to ‘Back To The Water Below’ here.Imperial Galactic, Black Mammoth, Warner RecordsIntro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel CollectiveGEAR MENTIONSSoundtoys Devil-LocSpectrasonics KeyscapeMrs Mills PianoAvid ProToolsOUR 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 - Executive Producer, Engineer & EditorTim Adam-Smith - Executive ProducerWill Lyons - EditorNico Varanese - Videographer, EditorGuy Nicholls - Production AssistantJessica Clucas - Production AssistantKatie-Louise Buxton - Production Assistant

DodIe and Martin Luke Brown of FIZZ, along with producer Pete Miles, discuss the making of their album ‘The Secret To Life’. They share stories, stems, and creative approaches, including jamming over loops and recording voice notes in the bath. They delve into the importance of surprise in songs and introduce the Tape It app. They also discuss their creative process, recording techniques, and the desire to create a dramatic ending for the album. Breaking routine, embracing imperfections, and relying on gut instinct are also emphasized.

In this episode, John is joined by Olivia Dean and producer Matt Hales to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Olivia’s Mercury-nominated debut album ‘Messy’.Taking us back to the very start of their story, the pair discuss the inspiration for the album, sharing their approach to marrying different musical cultures and the importance of the chats they had before writing.As well as playing their writing session voice notes showing the exact moments each song took shape, we hear stories of mouth trumpet demos, creating artefacts to make instruments sound sampled, and the thought process behind choosing mix engineers. Listen to find out why so much of what makes a good record can come from turning things off, why it’s so valuable to just have things around the studio, and why tea can be such an integral part of the creative process.Tracks discussed: UFO, Messy, Carmen----------------Thanks to Tape It for supporting this episode. Tape It is a recording app designed specifically for musicians and songwriters. Among many of Tape It's incredible features, you can record straight from lock screen, set markers and have complete control over your record settings, and that just the start.To find out more and get the full app free for a month, head to www.tape.it/tapenotes----------------Thanks to Audiomovers for supporting this episode. Their Listento Plugin has been a gamechanger for us and we use it across all of our remote interviews and recordings.To see their full range of plugins, visit audiomovers.com and use the promo code TAPENOTES1 at checkout to get your free month (usually only two days).----------------LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  linktr.ee/tapenotes Listen to ‘Messy’ here - https://songwhip.com/oliviadean/messy2023 EMI, Universal MusicIntro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://songwhip.com/laurelcollective/sunshinebuddy   GEAR MENTIONSAudioThing ReelsShure SM7BBoss CE1 PedalMoog SynthsSteinberg CubaseOUR 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 - Executive Producer, Engineer & EditorTim Adam-Smith - Executive ProducerWill Lyons - EditorNico Varanese - Videographer, EditorHerbie Elton-Rowley - VideographerGuy Nicholls - Production Assistant

Bakar, a genre-blending musician known for his hit 'Big Dreams', teams up with innovative producer Zach Nahome, a long-time collaborator. They discuss their creative process behind the album 'Halo', sharing insights on spontaneous songwriting in various locations, from hotel rooms to iconic studios. Listeners learn why old beats should be preserved and how unexpected influences can shape a track's sound. They also explore the balance between inspiration and routine, illustrating how collaboration and setting can ignite creativity.