Tape Notes

In The Woods
  • 4.9 (161)
  • MUSIC INTERVIEWS
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY
Tape Notes

Tape Notes is a podcast about the art and craft of music production. Hosted by John Kennedy, each episode reunites an artist and producer to talk about the highlights of their collaboration in the studio. Their conversations lift the lid on every stage of the creative process, from kindling the first spark of a song idea, through decisions on style and instrumentation, to finessing the final product. Full of fascinating anecdotes, the conversations also feature early demo versions and stems from the original session recordings. The result is a unique insight into the working methods of some of the most innovative and exciting talents in music.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    TN:152 Olly Alexander & Danny L Harle

    John is joined by Olly Alexander and producer Danny L Harle, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced ‘Polari’ Olly Alexander is an English singer, actor, and LGBTQ+ activist, best known as the frontman of Years & Years. The band found global success in the mid 2010’s with the hit ‘King’ and released two UK #1 albums before Olly transitioned to a solo career. As well as representing the UK at Eurovision in 2024 with ‘Dizzy’, Olly has collaborated with numerous pop icons including Elton John and Kylie Minogue. His 2025 album Polari was co-written and produced by Danny L Harle, a sought-after British producer known for his work on P.C. Music, and with artists including Charli XCX, and Caroline Polachek and many more. Catching up at Strongroom Studios, where Olly recorded most of the album’s vocals, the conversation explores the stories and sounds behind each track. Along the way, they share early demos featuring Olly’s first vocal musings, while Danny discusses songwriting habits, optimising a producer’s workflow, and techniques for achieving a creative flow state. Tracks discussed: Whisper In The Waves, Cupid’s Bow, Beautiful, Polari TAPE IT Thanks 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 20% off. MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Polari’ here. LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS Korg Triton Rhizomatic Synthesis Plasmonic Waves Tune Valhalla Room Tenor Viol Korg MS-10 Yamaha RX5 Drum Machine Roland GAIA Audacity Logic Varispeed Logic OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If 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 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 Patreon: 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 TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis

    1h 54m

  2. FEB 5

    TN:151 Maribou State

    This week, John is joined by electronic music duo Maribou State to discuss the making of their third studio album, ‘Hallucinating Love’. Maribou State first gained traction after releasing a string of EPs back in 2011, but truly broke through with their debut album, ‘Portraits’, propelling the duo to international recognition. Since then, they’ve become a staple of the global dance music scene, selling out tours across the UK, Europe, and North America. Sitting down at Strongroom Studios, the pair discuss their immersive writing retreats, the challenge of creating over 25 demos for a single track, and their ‘sound harvest’ sessions - entire studio days focused on building custom sample libraries from everyday objects and experimenting with an array of gear. Tracks discussed: Blackoak, Otherside, Rolling Stone TAPE IT Thanks 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 20% off. MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Hallucinating Love’ here - https://lynkify.in/album/hallucinating-love/9fqbKqy9  LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS SOMA Laboratory ETHER Teenage Engineering TP-7 Marantz Cassette Tape Portable Field Recorder Korg MS-200 Korg MS-20 Sequential Prophet 8 Grampian 636 Spring Reverb Moog Matriarch Moog Sub 37 Moog MF-104M Analog Delay Moog Synths Roland SP-404  Roland TB-303 Roland SPD Roland SRE-555 Chorus Echo Neural DSP Digital Effects Modeler 1176 Compressor Native Instruments Kontakt Nord Stage Neumann U87 Coles Mic EMT Plate Reverb SVT Ampeg Bass Amp Ludwig Drums Ableton Cubase Logic OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If 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 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 Patreon: 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 TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis

    2h 4m

  3. JAN 22

    TN:150 RÜFÜS DU SOL

    John sits down with indie-dance trio RÜFÜS DU SOL  to discuss how they wrote, recorded and produced their most recent album ‘Inhale / Exhale’. Hailing from Sydney, Rüfüs Du Sol—comprised of Tyrone Lindqvist, Jon George, and James Hunt—joined together in 2010 through a shared passion for electronic music. Since their formation, they have evolved from local talents to global dance music icons, through their immersive blend of melodic and atmospheric sounds. With five chart-topping albums to their name, they have embarked on global tours, performed at renowned festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza, and won a GRAMMY Award for Best Dance/Electronic Recording in 2022. Today, they join us from each side of the US to dig into their latest project, ‘Inhale / Exhale’. As well as reflecting on their ever-changing writing processes, they explore the production techniques at the heart of their sound, sharing insights on distorting Tyrone’s vocals, gating, and having ‘bass wars’ to work out the best parts. Tracks discussed: Pressure, Fire / Desire, Exhale TAPE IT Thanks 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 20% off. MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Inhale/Exhale’ here - https://lynkify.in/album/inhale-exhale/EQNVipUP  LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS Cableguys ShaperBox Slate & Ash Choreographs Slate & Ash Plugins Soundtoys EchoBoy Soundtoys Decapitator Xfer Serum Culture Vulture Emulator Audio Imperia Cinematic Tension Strings Teletone Audio Scarbo Moog Synths Sequential OB6 Sequential Prophet 6 UDO Super 6 Korg MS-20 Ableton Splice OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If 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 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 Patreon: 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 TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis

    1h 48m

  4. 12/27/2024

    Bonus Episode - John Kennedy & Adam Buxton (Live)

    Welcome to this bonus episode! Back in Summer 2023 John sat down with podcasting legend Adam Buxton, live at the Podcast Festival for a two part chat into their respective careers, and Adam’s new music. In this, part one, Adam takes the reins as host, turning the spotlight on John’s incredible career in radio. The conversation digs into John’s journey from the early days of Xfm to Radio X, the creation of the legendary X-Posure show, which introduced artists like Adele, The XX, and Scroobious Pip to the airwaves, and the evolving landscape of radio and podcasting, including insights into Tape Notes. Adam also gives us an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at his musical process, sharing the inspiration and demos behind his much-loved theme, “Ramble Chat.” TAPE IT Thanks 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 20% off. MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  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 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 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 Patreon: 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 TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis

    38 min

  5. 12/11/2024

    TN:149 Snarky Puppy (Michael League)

    John links up with Snarky Puppy founder and band leader Michael League to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the band’s latest record ‘Empire Central’, as well as works from Varijashree Venugopal and a new project, Ellipsis.  Michael League is an American producer, multi-instrumentalist, and founder of jazz fusion ensemble Snarky Puppy. Now with a reputation as one of the most innovative bands of the 21st century, constantly pushing the boundaries of improvisation and the styles they draw from, Snarky Puppy’s 20 year back catalogue includes 16 albums, and five Grammy wins. Outside of the band, Michael has shared his production and writing talents on records from David Crosby, Becca Stevens, Varijashree Venugopal and many more. Speaking from his home studio in Spain, Michael digs into his production process, from crafting rough Logic demos and editing lengthy improvisations to blending global influences with Western jazz. He also shares the technical details of Snarky Puppy’s vast recording setup and treats us to a live demo of his current go-to, the Danelectro Sitar. Tracks discussed: Bet, Ranjani, Obbakoso TAPE IT Thanks 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 20% off. MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Empire Central’ here. GroundUP Music LISTEN to ‘Vari’ here. GroundUP Music LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Lauten Audio LS-208 Lauten Audio Snare Mic Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 Audio-Technica Mics Danelectro Sitar F-Bass Hammertone 12-String Fender Rhodes Roland Space-Echo Ebow Moog Bass Logic Pro Avid ProTools OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If 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 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 Patreon: 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 TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis

    1h 49m

  6. 11/27/2024

    TN:148 Bring Me The Horizon & Dan Lancaster

    John is joined by Oli Sykes and Lee Malia of Bring Me The Horizon, as well as producer Dan Lancaster, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the band’s latest album ‘POST HUMAN: NeX GEn’. Bring Me the Horizon, formed in 2004 in Sheffield, evolved from deathcore to genre-blending innovators, incorporating electronics, classical, and pop influences. With seven studio albums, over 5 million records sold, and electrifying live shows, they’ve built a global fanbase and earned multiple Grammy nominations. Their latest release, ‘POST HUMAN: NeX GEn’, continues their evolution, produced by long-time collaborator Dan Lancaster. Catching up at Stongroom Studios, Oli, Lee and Dan talk us through the incredibly fast-paced process of bringing the album together, sharing the countless demos, crazy sound design, and secret details meticulously hidden within each track.  Tracks discussed: Kool-Aid, Top 10 staTues tHat CriEd bloOd, DIg It,  TAPE IT Thanks 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 20% off. MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘POST HUMAN: NeX GEn’ here. Sony Music Entertainment LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS ElastiquePitch 2 Soundtoys Little AlterBoy Native Instruments Kontakt GetGood Drums Antares Autotune AudioMovers Output Arcade DJI LAV Mic Moises Avid ProTools OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If 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 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 Patreon: 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 TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis

    1h 43m

  7. 11/13/2024

    TN:147 Lizzy McAlpine, Mason Stoops & Taylor Mackall

    John is joined by Lizzy McAlpine, and co-producer Mason Stoops and co-writer Taylor Mackall, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Older (and Wiser)’. Lizzy McAlpine is a singer-songwriter and producer who first gained popularity by sharing covers on SoundCloud and YouTube. Her debut album, ‘Give Me a Minute’, arrived in 2020, however, it was her second album, ‘Five Seconds Flat’, that solidified her as a rising force, with the platinum-selling single ‘ceilings’ becoming a global hit. Her latest record, ‘Older’, blurs the lines between studio and stage, exploring themes of heartbreak and self-acceptance; recorded in LA, it was produced by Lizzy and Mason Stoops. Catching up at Miloco’s The Pool studio ahead of the London leg of their tour, Lizzy, Mason, and Taylor discuss their approach to writing the album—from Lizzy’s intimate, bedroom demos to their collaborative recording process that transformed it into a full band album. Tracks discussed: The Elevator, Pushing It Down and Praying, Force of Nature TAPE IT Thanks 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 20% off. MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Older (and Wiser)’ here. RCA Records, Indigo Blue  LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Baldwin Fun Machine Baldwin Fun Machine (VST)  Danelectro Bass VI Austin Hooks Projector Amp Benson Nathan Junior Amp Univox U45B Amp Echoplex EP2 Pedal Chase Bliss Audio Pedals Mellotron Shure SM57 Neumann U67 Neumann U87 OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If 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 DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  SubStack: Tape Notes Facebook: @tapenotespodcast   YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: 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 TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis

    1h 59m

  8. 10/31/2024

    TN:146 Pixies & Tom Dalgety

    John is joined by Pixies, Charles Thompson (aka Black Francis), and producer Tom Dalgety, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the band’s latest album ‘The Night The Zombies Came’. The Pixies are an American alternative rock band widely acclaimed as one of the pioneers of the late 1980s rock movement. Their first three albums - Surfer Rosa (1988), Dolittle (1989) and Bossanova (1990) - defined an era as well as earning the band much critical success. The Pixies have influenced numerous prominent artists including Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, The Strokes and Weezer. Since re-forming in 2004, they have maintained a steady creative output, working closely with producer Tom Dalgety. Catching up at Strongroom Studios, Charles and Tom share stories from their album writing process, including the last minute track that Tom snuck onto the record, the inspiration that came from trips around the English countryside, and the creative results of Charles’s temper tantrums (which included his songwriting notebook ending up on the studio roof!). Tracks discussed: The Vegas Suite, I Hear You Mary, Jane (The Night the Zombies Came) TAPE IT Thanks 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 20% off. ROLAND Get 10% off Roland Cloud Ultimate Membership with the code TAPENOTES RC-1024 at rolandcloud.com MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘The Night The Zombies Came’ here. Pixies Recordings, BMG Rights Management Limited LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Eventide H9 Max Shure SM7B MXC Carbon Copy TC Electronic Bucket Brigade Fender Reverb Tank Vox Practice Amp AC30 Amp Takamine Guitars Martin Guitars Avid ProTools OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If 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 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 Patreon: 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 TAPE NOTES TEAM John Kennedy Will Brown  Tim Adam-Smith  Will Lyons  Nico Varanese  Guy Nicholls  Jessica Clucas Ali Lewis

    1h 50m
See All (165)

4.9
out of 5
161 Ratings

About

Tape Notes is a podcast about the art and craft of music production. Hosted by John Kennedy, each episode reunites an artist and producer to talk about the highlights of their collaboration in the studio. Their conversations lift the lid on every stage of the creative process, from kindling the first spark of a song idea, through decisions on style and instrumentation, to finessing the final product. Full of fascinating anecdotes, the conversations also feature early demo versions and stems from the original session recordings. The result is a unique insight into the working methods of some of the most innovative and exciting talents in music.

Information

  • Creator
    In The Woods
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    165
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © In The Woods 2020
  • Show Website
    Tape Notes

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