Tape Notes

In this episode, John joins Orla Gartland and producer Tom Stafford to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Orla’s debut album ‘Woman on the Internet’.From the early stages of throwing musical ideas at the wall to the almost infinite list of recording secrets picked up from their time at Middle Farm Studios, Orla and Tom look back on trying to capture and emulate the original magic from their early sessions, along with bringing light and shade to the record as a whole.Unearthing old voice memos and opening up the original sessions, we hear stories of blind microphone testing, trying and failing to recreate cheap sounds with ‘posh’ synths, and introducing some of Tom’s modular madness to Orla’s folk-pop sound.Listen to find out how to get good results when recording with a kids karaoke machine, what making things sound orange and sparkly means, and how gigs at a cereal cafe may have been the start of numerous musical careers.Tracks discussed: You’re Not Special Babe, Over Your Head, More Like Your Listen to ‘Woman on the Internet’ here.‘Woman on the Internet’ - New Friends Music Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  GEAR MENTIONSA100 Analogue Modular SystemKorg Stage EchoMoog OneMicroKorgNord KeyboardsOrganelle SynthFender TelecasterEchoplex Pedal Warm Audio 47API Channel StripSummit TLA 100 Shure 267 PreampAntaresFreakshow Industries MishbyOutput MovementSoundtoys Alter BoySoundtoys Devil-Loc Logic Flex Time 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  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.uk 

In this episode, John links up with Lauren, Iain and Martin of CHVRCHES to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Screen Violence’.Largely working remotely from different parts of the world, the trio look back on how they adapted their writing process, discussing how the effects of the pandemic ended up shaping some of the themes and meanings within the album.Sharing some of their day one demos, we hear stories of forming entire songs around single elements, combining and blending vintage gear with modern recording techniques, and using creative production tricks to respond to and reinforce certain lyrics.Listen to find how powerful hidden live drums on an electronic beat can be, why you should always keep your day one demo in a session, and how to react when Robert Smith emails you saying “what do you want?” Tracks discussed: How Not To Drown, He Said She Said, CaliforniaListen to ‘Screen Violence’ here.‘Screen Violence’ - EMI, Virgin Records Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  GEAR MENTIONSAuto-TuneMelodyneSoundtoys Alter BoySoundtoys MicroshiftSoundtoys DecapitatorValhalla DelayUniversal Audio OX AmpArcadeRoland D50Roland Juno 106 Siel Orchestra SynthesizerFender 6 Bass AMS Reverb Space EchoTube-Tech CL 1B Compressor Pultec1176 CompressorLA-2A Leveling Amp 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  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.uk

In this episode, John ventures over to Baltic Studios to catch up with Frank and Dean of Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes about how they wrote, recorded and produced their latest album ‘Sticky’.Unearthing demos and recordings from their time in a Norfolk holiday cabin, the pair look back on how their process has changed over the years, sharing thoughts on broadening their horizons and blurring the lines of writing and recording.As well as personal stories of self-sabotage, imposter syndrome and competition within music, the pair single out the ingredients that form their chaotic cacophony of sound, from homemade microphones and recycling unused material, to tuning gunshots from Call of Duty.Listen to find out why you should collaborate with people that make you feel lazy, how to react when Dave Grohl brings you a tray of shots mid set, and why Frank may soon be performing Moonlight Sonata. Tracks discussed: Rat Race, Go Get A Tattoo, Take It To The Brink  Listen to ‘Sticky’ here.‘Sticky’ - International Death Cult, AWAL Recordings Ltd Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  GEAR MENTIONSArturia Waves MondoModValhalla RoomSoundtoys Decapitator  Soundtoys EchoBoySoundtoys Alter BoySpliceTelephone Mic ConversionShure SM7BUniversal Audio 1176 Compressor Thermionic Culture VultureFender Mustang BassFender AmpsSelmer AmpsRoland TR-808Whurlitzer 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  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.uk

In this episode, John catches up with Mr Jukes, aka Jack Steadman, and Barney Artist to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced their joint album ‘The Locket’.Breaking the elements down to their very beginnings, Jack talks us through his sampling process, from YouTube crate digging and detailed editing, to processing and pitching individual hits from his vault of free sample packs.As well as sharing their thoughts on privilege and ‘making it’ in the world of music, the pair reflect on their partnership, as friends and creatives, discussing some of the most fundamental elements that enabled its success.Listen to find out why Barney’s battered Peugeot 307 is on the album cover, why it’s not always best to tell a rapper you’ve been making beats, and how to turn a 70s jazz-fusion track into a football chant.Tracks discussed: Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind), The Locket, Vibrate LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to ‘The Locket’ here.‘The Locket’ - Locket Records, Virgin MusicIntro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  GEAR MENTIONSSerato DJ SoftwareMWM Bluetooth Needle 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  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.uk  

In this episode, John heads over to Jungle’s West London HQ to catch up with Josh Lloyd-Watson about how the band wrote, recorded and produced their latest record ‘Loving in Stereo’.Having written a lot of the album in their shed over the last two years, Josh takes us all the way back to the almost 30-minute demos, talking through the process of cherry-picking the best parts and forming the tracks as we know them.As well as sharing his thoughts on originality, natural creative flow and knowing when to stop, we hear stories of building samples, constantly layering vocals, and blending synths, guitars and orchestral elements into a singular unified sound.Listen to find out how to get as close to the cheesy line as possible, what happens when you combine a Ron Burgundy flute solo with Baker Street sax, and how to do a great siren impression. Tracks discussed: Keep Moving, All of the Time, Bonnie Hill LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to ‘Loving In Stereo’ here.‘Loving In Stereo’ - Caiola Records, AWAL Recordings LtdIntro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  GEAR MENTIONSMPC SamplerSequential Prophet 8Neumann U67Neumann U87Moog One MellotronSequential ProphetHow Music Works - David ByrneRoland RE-501 - Chorus EchoSoundtoys DecapitatorHammond OrganKemper Profiler RackProToolsLogic 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  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.uk

In this episode, John links up with Dan and Wayne of Imagine Dragons to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced their latest album 'Mercury - Act 1.Having spent almost three years writing almost 300 demos, Dan and Wayne look back on the process of whittling down the tracklist and forming the album, from capturing their ideas as quickly as possible, through to working with legendary producer Rick Rubin and deconstructing everything to its purest essence.As well as sharing their thoughts on creativity, songwriting and their life experiences in the world of music, the pair speak openly about the inspiration and meaning behind some of their most honest tracks to date, while also demonstrating how they let the subject of each song help define its production.Listen to find out why samples can sometimes work better than a live performance, how raw magic often is captured on a first take, and the wealth of instruments that Dan can create using only his mouth.Tracks discussed: Dull Knives, It’s Ok, Wrecked LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to ‘Mercury - Act 1’ here.‘Mercury - Act One’ - Interscope Records, KIDinaKORNER  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  GEAR MENTIONSAnalogue Design Black Box PluginApTriggaSoundtoys Devil-Loc TrackSpacer PluginFab Filter Pro-Q3MelodyneAntares Auto-TuneGoodhertz Wow Control UAD E SSL Channel StripValhalla ReverbsNative Instruments Guitar RigNative Instruments Drum Lab Native Instruments RickenbackerGibson Les PaulEbowVox AC30Marshall ShredMaster PedalShure SM57Royer MicrophoneNeumann U47Neumann U67Neve 1073Kemper Profiler RackFender TelecasterFender Princeton AmpRoland TR-808Ableton Tube AmpAbleton CompressorAbletonCakewalkLogic ProCubase 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  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.uk 

Back in summer 2020, John headed over to The Church Studios to catch up with James Vincent McMorrow, Paul Epworth and Lil Silva to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced James’s album ‘Grapefruit Season’.Taking tracks from Dublin to London to LA and back, James talks us through the myriad of iterations the songs went through, exploring the different writing situations and how all of his collaborators had such varied musical impacts.Paul and TJ lend their producer expertise pulling out individual stems and breaking songs apart, as well as discussing their approaches towards bringing energy to the studio, and sharing thoughts on how production, sounds and songwriting are one and the same. Listen to find out about the lyric James spent all of his life waiting for, why Paul was such a terrible studio assistant and how a serendipitous ‘adapter’ hunt led to the trio’s partnership.Tracks discussed: Headlights, Gone, Paradise LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to 'Grapefruit Season' here.'Grapefruit Season' - Sony Music Entertainment UKIntro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  GEAR MENTIONSSequential OB6Moog OneMoog GrandmotherPaul's Big Modular MoogTeisco SynthXfer Serum SynthRoland TR-808Spectrasonics OmnisphereUniversal Audio Apollo TwinMellotron iZotope IrisFaith Saturn GuitarLinnDrumProToolsProTools Air Kill EQApple Mac 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 returns to Pixel studios to chat with Maisie Peters and producer Joe Rubel about how they wrote, recorded and produced Maisie’s debut album ‘You Signed Up For This’.Going through their WhatsApp log of voice notes and ideas, Maisie and Joe look back on the chaotic methods of bringing an album together over lockdown, pulling apart how they carefully married Maisie’s original acoustic sound with more produced elements.Alongside the wealth of Joe’s production goodness, Maisie sheds some light on her lyric writing process, from the internal rhyming patterns and carefully considered syllables in her writing, to the subtle nods hidden throughout each track.Listen to find out why Maisie wouldn’t play instruments on her own songs, how to proceed after deciding it’s time to write a banger, and which part of a song you will now have to try and clap along to.Tracks discussed: You Signed Up For This, I’m Trying (Not Friends), Love Him I Don’t LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes   Listen to ‘You Signed Up For This’ here.‘You Signed Up For This’ - Warner Music, Asylum Records, Gingerbread Man Records Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  GEAR MENTIONSArturia Prophet V3 PluginRoland Juno 60  Binson Tape Machine LinnDrumSequential Prophet SpliceSpectrasonics KeyscapeShure SM7BAustrian Audio OC818Chandler Preamp Tube-Tech CL 1B CompressorNashville Guitar TuningMartin Guitars  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  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.uk

In this episode we look back over Season 8 picking out a selection of highlights and some of the most memorable moments from the artists and producers we were lucky enough to speak to. If you haven’t heard every episode from the last season, this is a good way to introduce yourself to some of the guests 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:  Royal Blood Girl In Red and Matias Tellez Rostam Dodie and Joe Rubel Johnny Flynn and Charlie Andrew Fred Again.. Easy Life and Rob Milton   LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  https://linktr.ee/tapenotes    Listen to the albums featured this season with the links below. Royal Blood - ‘Typhoons’ Girl In Red and Matias Tellez - ‘if i could make it go quiet’ Rostam - ‘Changephobia’ Dodie and Joe Rubel - ‘Build a Problem’ Johnny Flynn and Charlie Andrew - ‘Lost in the Cedar Wood’ Fred Again.. - ‘Actual Life (April 14th – December 17th 2020)‘ Easy Life and Rob Milton - ‘Life's A Beach’   Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective   OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear    HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If 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 DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  Twitter: @tapenotes  Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: 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.uk  - http://www.tapenotes.co.uk    ‘Typhoons’ - Warner Records UK, Imperial Galactic Limited, Black Mammoth  ‘if i could make it go quiet’ - World In Red, AWAL Recordings ‘Changephobia’ - Matsor Projects ‘Build a Problem’ - doddleoddle, The Orchard ‘Lost in the Cedar Wood’ - Transgressive, Johnny Flynn ‘Actual Life (April 14th – December 17th 2020)’ - Warner Music UK Limited. An Atlantic Records UK, 2021 Fred Gibson ‘Life's A Beach’ - Universal Music, Island Records

In this episode, John is reunited with Murray Matravers from Easy Life and producer Rob Milton, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the band’s debut album ‘Life’s A Beach'.From recording in and around lockdowns, in basements, bedrooms and studios, Murray and Rob reflect on the writing process, singling out the sounds, ideas and samples that encapsulate the meaning within the songs.As well as thoughts on retaining fun in the music and creating joke ideas, we hear stories of intentionally not wanting things to sound good, along with the not very Easy Life elements that are crucial to an Easy Life track.Listen to find out what to do when you’re stuck in garage MC mode, how many times Rob recorded the word ‘Skeletons’, and which synth line made Murray cry (and still does).Tracks discussed: skeletons, ocean view, homesickness LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to ‘Life’s A Beach’ here.‘Life’s A Beach’ - Universal Music, Island RecordsIntro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  GEAR MENTIONSShure SM7BNeumann M149Roland Juno 106Sequential Prophet Rev2Sequential Prophet 5Sequential Prophet 6Arturia Synth EmulatorsWaves J37 Tape Plugin 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