Tape Notes In The Woods

Thanks to SoundBetter for supporting this episode of Tape Notes.
SoundBetter is the world's leading music production talent marketplace, giving you access to the best mixing & mastering engineers, singers, songwriters, producers, and studio musicians
in the industry. You can work with Billie Eilish's drummer, U2's mix engineer, or hire the topliners that wrote on the latest BTS record, these pros are keen to work with Indy artists.
Head to SoundBetter.com to find out more.

In this special live episode, John heads to Mother Advertising to chat with returning guest SG Lewis about how he wrote, recorded, and produced his new album ‘AudioLust & HigherLove’.  

Starting writing after taking ten days off music making and getting bored, Sam reflects on the times spent with his collaborators in the studio and on exotic retreats, sharing the sparks of songwriting inspiration that came from their stories and lives.

In this all-round production masterclass, we’re treated to a deep dive into Sam’s process of updating sounds and processing techniques from past eras for a modern audience, as well as mixing tips including the best ways to make a kick and bass punch over iPhone speakers.

Listen to find out why the phonetics of lyrics are so important, how to create a convincing fake vocoder, and what some of the most effective ways are to gain confidence as a singer when you’re not a singer.
 
Tracks discussed: Lifetime, Call On Me, Something About Your Love
 
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  
linktr.ee/tapenotes 
 
Listen to ‘AudioLust & HigherLove’ here.
Jasmine Records, PMR, Universal
 
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective
 
GEAR MENTIONS
Decimort Bit Crusher
GEM Dopamine Plugin
Native Instruments Transient Designer
Native Instruments Komplete
Oek Sound Soothe
Oliver Loops
Serato Sampler
Sonnox Oxford Inflator
Soundtoys Little Alterboy
UAD API 20500 Compressor
UAD Tape Emulation
Waves CLA Guitar Plugin
Waves H Delay
Waves Doubler
Waves API 2500 Compressor
Valhalla Reverbs
Xfer OTT Compressor
Korg MS20
LinnDrum
Oberheim OB6
Roland Juno
Roland TR-909 Drum Machine
Sequential Prophet 5
ZenDelay Pedal
U87 Microphone
Logic
Logic ES1
Splice
 
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

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

TAPE NOTES TEAM
Will Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & Editor
Tim Adam-Smith - Executive Producer
Will Lyons - Editor
Herbie Elton-Rowley - Videographer
Matt Purbrick - Production Assistant
Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant
George Durston - Production Assistant
Nathan Hetherington - PR
Rebecca Ibbotson - Digital Marketing 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanks to SoundBetter for supporting this episode of Tape Notes.
SoundBetter is the world's leading music production talent-marketplace, giving you access to the best mixing & mastering engineers, singers, songwriters, producers and studio musicians
in the industry. You can work with Billie Eillish's drummer, U2's mix engineer or hire the topliners that wrote on the latest BTS record, these pros are keen to work with Indy artists.
Head to SoundBetter.com to find out more.

In this episode, John heads to Miloco Studios to catch up with Charlie Puth about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘CHARLIE’.

Thinking back to the moments that sparked the initial ideas for each of his songs, Charlie talks us through how he translates the almost fully finished versions from his head to the DAW. From using auto-tune to satisfy his perfect pitch, to the simple chorus tricks he uses to help it all punch.

As well as looking back to his early days on YouTube and social media, Charlie discusses how the platforms have evolved and their impact on the way he writes, allowing him to include so many people in his music making process. 

Listen to find out what Monday would sound like if it was a song, which of his viral sounds was faked, and how to play guitar like you’re a pianist.
 
Tracks discussed: Light Switch, That’s Hilarious, Loser
 
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  
linktr.ee/tapenotes 
 
Listen to ‘CHARLIE’ here.
Atlantic Records
 
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective
 
GEAR MENTIONS
Waves NS1 Noise Suppressor
iZotope VocalSynth
Soundtoys Decapitator
U-he Diva
Antares Auto-Tune
Native Instruments Kontakt Pre-Bass
Native Instruments Kontakt Church Organ
LFO Tool
Valhalla Reverb
Oberheim Synth Digital
Thomas Penton Sample Pack
Oliver Sample Pack
Roland D-50 Synth
Roland TR-808
Roland Juno 60
Splice
Casio Keyboard
Rhodes
 
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

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

TAPE NOTES TEAM
Will Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & Editor
Tim Adam-Smith - Executive Producer
Will Lyons - Editor
Herbie Elton-Rowley - Videographer
Matt Purbrick - Production Assistant
Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant
Nathan Hetherington - PR
Rebecca Ibbotson - Digital Marketing 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, John links up with Lizzy McAlpine and producers Philip Etherington and Ehren Ebbage, to talk about how they wrote, recorded, and produced Lizzy’s album ‘five seconds flat’.
 
Looking back at their time writing and recording in a makeshift Airbnb studio, Lizzy, Philip, and Ehren dig into their enormous archive of song versions (including John Mayer versions), talking through their process of chipping away at each track and shaping the sounds to match the core expression. 
 
As well as highlighting exactly why parts of Lizzy’s performance are so key to the foundation of each song, we’re treated to backing vocal masterclasses, stories of secret weapon synths, and beats tied together with Philip’s mouldy can of nuts. 
 
Listen to find out how to create sounds that are quietly big and impactful, why all U47s are not created equally, and why as a producer you first have to be an audience member.
 
Tracks discussed: an ego thing, ceilings, reckless driver

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  
linktr.ee/tapenotes 

Listen to ‘Five Seconds Flat’ here.
Harbour Artists and Music, AWAL
 
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective
 
GEAR MENTIONS
Philip’s Can of Mixed Nuts
Casio SK1
Korg CR4
Audio Technica Boundary Mics
AKG C414
U47 Microphone
Martin 00-17 Guitar
Martin Guitars
Nord Keyboard
Rubber Bridge Guitar
SSL Compressor
Tree Audio Branch II
 
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

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

TAPE NOTES TEAM
Will Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & Editor
Tim Adam-Smith - Executive Producer
Will Lyons - Editor
Herbie Elton-Rowley - Videographer
Matt Purbrick - Production Assistant
Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant
Nathan Hetherington - PR
Rebecca Ibbotson - Digital Marketing 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, John reunites with Alex Crossan, a.k.a. Mura Masa, to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced his latest album ‘Demon Time’.
 
Reflecting on the process of working out what a lockdown album would sound like and making the complete opposite of that, Alex shares his thoughts on controlling the vibe of a record while still managing to explore every random studio idea with each of his collaborators.
 
As well as giving us a tour of some of the weirdest sounds in his sample folder, Alex treats us to production gold, demonstrating some of the simplest yet most effective Garage tricks, and the ways in which he created the impression of fake DJ across the album.
 
Listen to find out how a citrus salad led to a revelation about frequencies, why if an idea’s making you laugh then that’s the right one to follow, and how to sneakily get people to write for your album in their own writing session. 
 
Tracks discussed: demon time, hollaback bitch, e-motions
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  
linktr.ee/tapenotes 
 
Listen to ‘Demon Time’ here.
Anchor Point Records, Polydor, Universal Music
 
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective

GEAR MENTIONS
Soundiron Elysium Harp
Arturia Analog Lab
Moog DFAM
Soyuz Microphones
Hoover Synth Sound
Ableton Operator Synth
 
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
 
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
 
TAPE NOTES TEAM
Will Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & Editor
Tim Adam-Smith - Executive Producer
Will Lyons - Editor
Herbie Elton-Rowley - Videographer
Matt Purbrick - Production Assistant
Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant
Nathan Hetherington - PR
Rebecca Ibbotson - Digital Marketing 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, John reunites with Fred Gibson, a.k.a. Fred Again.., at his house, to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Actual Life 3 (January
1 - September 9 2022)’.
 
Reflecting on what’s been a very busy 18 months, Fred discusses how the success of the Actual Life series has had an impact on how and why he writes music. From the tricks he uses to keep his writing process fast and fun, to the moments his creativity was lost and the advice that came from Brian Eno to focus it.
 
As well as sharing demos written with The 1975 and sampling songs by his brother, Fred gets hands on with his explanations of the plugins and process he uses, treating us to live beat builds, piano demonstrations and examples of compression demonstrated through table drumming.
 
Listen to find out what Fred’s reaction to switching DAWs was, why you should put off any technical aspects of a track until the end, and why some people may call the harmonic modulations in his music ‘the work of the devil’. 
 
Tracks discussed: Delilah (pull me out of this), Berwyn (all that I got is you), Kelly (end of a nightmare)
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES 
linktr.ee/tapenotes 
 
Listen to ‘Actual Life 3 (January
1 - September 9 2022)’.
Atlantic Records, Warner Music
 
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective
 
GEAR MENTIONS
Expert Sleepers Spectral Conquest
Samplr App 
Pioneer Mixer and CDJs
Logic Pro X
Ableton
Apple Wired Headphones
 
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
 
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

TAPE NOTES TEAM
Will Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & Editor
Tim Adam-Smith - Executive Producer
Will Lyons - Editor
Herbie Elton-Rowley - Videographer
George Durston - Production Assistant
Matt Purbrick - Production Assistant
Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant
Nathan Hetherington - PR
Rebecca Ibbotson - Digital Marketing 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode John is joined by Vincent Fenton better known as FKJ (French Kiwi Juice) to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced three tracks across his releases - ‘Time For A Change’, ‘Ylang Ylang’ and ‘Vincent’.
 
Giving us a glimpse at his musical journey through the years, Vincent reflects on each of the decisive elements that help characterise his signature sound, from location and significant life events, to his early homemade synth presets and sample libraries. 
 
Alongside his tricks on how to bring electronic drums to life, and the different headspaces that help focus his music making, we hear thoughts on why limitations can be so exciting and how so often ‘bad’ pieces of gear create something that ‘amazing’ gear simply can’t.
 
Listen to find out how miniscule chord changes can drastically alter the emotion of a vocal line, what challenges come with moving your entire studio to the middle of the jungle in the Philippines, and why combining your adult and child minds can be the key to creativity.
 
Tracks discussed: So Much To Me, Ylang Ylang, Different Masks For Different Days

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES 
linktr.ee/tapenotes 
 
Listen to ‘V I N C E N T’ here
AWAL Recordings
 
Listen to ‘Ylang Ylang’ here
AWAL Recordings
 
Listen to ‘Time For A Change’ here
Roche Musique
 
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective
 
GEAR MENTIONS
Native Instruments - The Gentleman
Native Instruments Kontakt
Soundtoys Radiator
Soundtoys Little Plate
Soundtoys Echoboy
Soundtoys Filter Freak
Soundtoys Bundle
Antares Choir
Schoeps MK41 
Schoeps CMC6 
Neumann TLM 102
WMD Chimera Percussion Module 
Ableton
 
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
 
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
 
TAPE NOTES TEAM
Will Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & Editor
Tim Adam-Smith - Executive Producer
Will Lyons - Editor
Herbie Elton-Rowley - Videographer
Andy Tindall - Videographer
George Durston - Production Assistant
Matt Purbrick - Production Assistant
Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant
Nathan Hetherington - PR
Rebecca Ibbotson - Digital Marketing 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices