Tape Notes

James Blake discusses his album 'Playing Robots Into Heaven' and his journey with modular synthesizers. They analyze elements in a song and share mixing preferences. They clear a sample from the band Raggart Wins and explore the power of reverb. They also delve into the emotional impact of voicings and pitch changes, and the relationship between music and mental health.

Electronic music duo Disclosure, producers of the album 'Alchemy', discuss their reassessed approach to creativity, managing burnout and heartbreak, and the key production choices in each track. They share Howard's AirBnb demos, Guy's method of creating kicks, and the small additions that make a track sparkle. They also talk about the quickest way to come up with a new track idea, the benefits of being musically naive, and the best ways to check if things still sound cool.

Amber Bain, Chloe Kraemer, and George Daniel of The Japanese House discuss the process of creating, recording, and producing their album 'In The End It Always Does'. They share stories of misunderstood lyrics and spontaneous studio moments, as well as the importance of collaboration and different personalities in the room. They also touch on the impact of lockdown on their creative process and the significance of acoustic elements and experimenting with different sounds.

In this episode, John is joined by Blur frontman Damon Albarn and producer James Ford, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘The Ballad of Darren’.With Damon’s initial demos to hand, the pair give us a guided tour of the record, right through the early versions and studio sessions, from the moments that reignited the feelings they had when writing in the 90s, to piecing together the musical jigsaw that forms the Blur sound.Along with stories of Damon’s inspirational chickens and the dangers of making pesto while writing an album, we’re treated to an in depth production and songwriting masterclass, with details on manufacturing the sound of a room, and the importance of energy and intention behind a song.Listen to find out what makes the first performance of something so special, why a 4-track recorder can sometimes be a great replacement pillow, and what benefits come with giving yourself distance from a record.Tracks discussed: St. Charles Square, The Everglades (For Leonard), The NarcissistLINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  linktr.ee/tapenotes Listen to ‘The Ballad of Darren’ here  Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group CompanyIntro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel CollectiveGEAR MENTIONSEventide H3000U47 MicNeve 1073 PreampNeve DeskTON-1501 Analog Strings SynthesizerPowertran Transcendent 2000Coles 4038 MicsMellotronWhurliClavinetFender AmpsSemler AmpsGaragebandOUR 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 - EditorVideographer - Andy Tindall/Herbie Elton-RowleyGuy Nicholls - Production Assistant

In this episode, John is joined by Ben Howard and producer Nathan Jenkins aka Bullion, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Ben’s latest album ‘Is It?’.Looking back on their time together, Ben and Nathan talk us through their collaborative journey, from their initial coffee shop discussions, to the 10 day stint recording in the South of France. Sharing their initial sketches, voice note demos and the unexpected moments that changed the direction of each of the tracks.In addition to stories of delay tuning and the potentially negative effects of singing with too much reverb, the pair share their thoughts on the importance of considering different musical approaches and giving time to ideas to allow them to flourish.Listen to find out why you’ll never need four mics on an amp, why one wrong note with a delay can ruin a whole take, and why laziness is fundamental to Ben’s creativity.Tracks discussed: Walking Backwards, Days Of Lantana, SpiritLINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  linktr.ee/tapenotes Thanks to Strongroom Studios for having us!InstagramTwitter Listen to ‘Is It?’ here.Island, Universal Music Operations LimitedIntro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel CollectiveGEAR MENTIONSKorg Volca BeatCR78 Drum MachineShure SM57Shure SM58EchoPlexRoland Space Echo RE-201Teenage Engineering OP1Eventide H3000 Ultra HarmoniserOUR 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.ukHELP 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.TAPE NOTES TEAMWill Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & EditorTim Adam-Smith - Executive ProducerWill Lyons - EditorVideographer - Andy TindallGuy Nicholls - Production Assistant

In this episode, John joins Dom Harrison, a.k.a. YUNGBLUD and producer Mati Schwartz to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Dom’s debut album, ‘21st Century Liability’.Digging into the very first tracks that the pair worked on together, Dom and Mati share the story of how their relationship began, looking back at the early rejection and tough love moment that kicked Dom into action, and forming the Yungblud sound as we know it today.As well as talking through the evolution of his tracks, including playing unheard sections and old vocal takes, we’re treated to thoughts on the importance of individuality in music, and the huge impact that comes with really knowing what you want to say.Listen to find out one of the best excuses for buying more guitars, how simple hi-hats can make a song bounce, and what happens when you bump into Chris Martin naked in a steam room. Tracks discussed: I Love You Will You Marry Me, Anarchist, Polygraph Eyes, LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  linktr.ee/tapenotes Listen to ‘21st Century Liability’ here.Locomotion Recordings, Geffen Records, InterscopeIntro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel CollectiveGEAR MENTIONSWaves CLA VocalsUAD CompressorsLogic CompressorAddictive DrumsGibson B25 1964Fender Strat 1963Martin GuitarsOUR 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 Notes 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.ukTAPE NOTES TEAMWill Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & EditorTim Adam-Smith - Executive ProducerWill Lyons - EditorVideographer - Herbie Elton-RowleyGuy Nicholls - Production Assistant

Get 50GB of DAW project storage with our sponsor Aux: https://aux.app/tapenotes In this episode, John joins Nick Douwma, a.k.a. Sub Focus, to talk about how he wrote, recorded, and produced his latest album 'Evolve'.Unable to stop John from dancing out of his chair, Nick ploughs on and talks us through the evolution of his most recent tracks. Sharing some of the first demos and samples that kick-started his process, we hear stories of late-night hotel room sessions and road-testing tracks live before settling into them.As well as delving into some of the history and theory behind Drum & Bass, we're treated to a production masterclass, diving deep with tips on oscillators and tuning, harmonics, and things to bear in mind when you're having phase issues.Listen to find out why you almost never double the speed of an a cappella, why the key of a track is so important, and how to constructively use your time outside of the studio.Tracks discussed: Fine Day, Ready To Fly, SecretsLINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  linktr.ee/tapenotes Listen to ‘Evolve’ hereEMI, Universal Music Operations LimitedIntro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel CollectiveGEAR MENTIONSSonorous PaulXStretchOszillos Mega ScopeXfer LFO ToolThermionic Culture Vulture EmulationClariphonic DSP MkIIKorg M1 Piano VSTValhalla ShimmerCelemony MelodyneAkaizerSpitfire StringsXfer SerumROMpler InstrumentReese BassRoland Juno 60Shure SM58Neumann U87Apple AirPods MaxCubaseAbletonOUR 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.ukHELP 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.TAPE NOTES TEAMWill Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & EditorTim Adam-Smith - Executive ProducerWill Lyons - EditorVideographer - Andy TindallGuy Nicholls - Production Assistant

In this episode, John catches up with the mastermind behind Temps, James Acaster, at Strongroom Studios, to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘PARTY GATOR PURGATORY’.Reflecting on the genesis of Temps, James talks us through the initial moments of creation, from recording and chopping up his drums from an unaired mockumentary, through to his selection of almost 40 collaborators and how they each steered the music in such unexpected directions.As well as stories of field recording and Pokemon catching on Brighton beach, we hear thoughts on the differences and crossover points between creating as a standup comedian and as a musician, discussing failure, taste, and the importance of considering your audience.Listen to find out, why embracing deliberate imperfection can yield surprising results, how metal drums can transform into an emotional waltz, and why, on whatever project, the most important thing is that you love it.Tracks discussed: lookaliveandplaydead, at(moves), slowreturnLINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  linktr.ee/tapenotes Thanks to Strongroom Studios for having us!InstagramTwitter Listen to ‘PARTY GATOR PURGATORY’ here.Bella UnionIntro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel CollectiveGEAR MENTIONSLogic Pro XGaragebandYeti MicrophoneOUR 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.ukHELP 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 :) DonateTAPE NOTES TEAMWill Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & EditorTim Adam-Smith - Executive ProducerWill Lyons - EditorVideographer - Andy TindallGuy Nicholls - Production Assistant

Thanks to Highnote for supporting this episode of Tape Notes.Highnote is the best way to share, store, and discuss your recording projects, a kind of bespoke Dropbox for audio specifically built for communication. Think time-stamped voice comments directly over your audio, nesting versions to toggle and compare in real time, and instant notifications when people comment or listen to a track you’ve shared. Highnote accounts are completely free and include 4 gigabytes of storage to get your started, plus there's a special offer for Tape Notes listeners of 3 months of their 200GB plan for free.Head to highnote.fm/tapenotes to find out more.-------In this episode, John ventures over to Clapton to join James Ellis Ford and talk about how he wrote, recorded, and produced the album ‘The Hum’.His debut solo release after almost two decades working with some of the world's biggest artists, James looks back on how his approach to music has changed over the course of the album, reflecting on the different mindsets and decisions that come with producing his own work compared to that of others.As well as a deep dive into his vast studio setup and hybrid system of new and old creative techniques, we’re treated to thoughts on the fine line of ironing out the humanness of mistakes, and how more often than not, pieces of gear can give you back ideas that you’d never have expected.Listen to find out which undiscovered mics are used across almost all of the records he works on, how to implement a Frippertronics-style tape setup, and what you can create when you push a bass clarinet to its limits.Tracks discussed: I Never Wanted Anything, Squeaky Wheel, The YipsLINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  linktr.ee/tapenotes Listen to ‘The Hum’ here.Warp RecordsIntro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel CollectiveGEAR MENTIONSFabFilter Pro QSoundtoys PrimalTapSoundtoys DevilLocUAD Fairchild PluginsUAD 1176UAD LA2AK-Devices PluginsARP 2600Cirklon SequencerRoland TR-808Korg Maxi-Korg SynthHohner ClavinetPhilicordaBeezneez MicrophonesMelodium Ribbon MicShure SM7BGibson ES-125 GuitarBurns BassEbowMutron Auto WahMutron PhasorEventide H3000 ChorusSpace Station ReverbGrampian Spring ReverbMicMix Master Room Reverb MR-IISelmer 60s FuzzAltec PreampTascam 4TRKJ37 Tape MachineNagra Tape MachineStuder DeskOUR 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 :) DonateKEEP 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 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.ukHELP 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 :) DonateTAPE NOTES TEAMWill Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & EditorTim Adam-Smith - Executive ProducerWill Lyons - EditorVideographer - Andy TindallGuy Nicholls - Production Assistant

In this episode, John links up with Thomas Wesley Pentz, aka Wes aka Diplo, to talk about his work under various guises with Major Lazer, Sia and as Thomas Wesley.With on-going exploration of far reaching and cross-cultural mashups at the centre of his approach, Wes reflects on how working with so many specialists from across the globe has helped him forge a diverse sound and career.Breaking apart three songs, Wes shares his thoughts on the considerations and care that have to be taken when sampling a ‘classic’ South African song, the gatekeeping in Country music and why new sounds are emerging around the genre, and the weird and wild things that Sia often gravitates towards in a song.Listen to find out the specific rules of Amapiano, some of the elements that are essential to any pop song, and why it’s important to fail a lot.Tracks discussed: Mamgobhozi (Major Lazer), Wasted (Thomas Wesley), Elastic Heart (Sia)LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  linktr.ee/tapenotes Listen to ‘Piano Republik’ here.Because MusicListen to ‘Wasted’ here.Mad Decent, Columbia, SonyListen to ‘Elastic Heart’ here.RCA Records, SonyIntro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel CollectiveGEAR MENTIONSFab Filter PluginsSerum SynthSynplantCelemony MelodyneSerato SamplerNative Instruments MassiveAlgoriddim Neural MixOutput ArcadeShure MicsTeenage Engineering OP1Operator SynthRoland TB-303Akai MPC3000WhurlitzerAbleton Mellotron PresetAbleton SamplerAbletonMagix Sound Forge Cool Edit ProLogic ProSpliceOUR 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 Notes 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.ukHELP 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 :) DonateTAPE NOTES TEAMWill Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & EditorTim Adam-Smith - Executive ProducerWill Lyons - EditorGuy Nicholls - Production Assistant