Tape Notes In The Woods
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- Music
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.
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TN:138 Charli XCX, George Daniel & A.G. Cook
John is joined by singer, songwriter, and producer Charli XCX, as well as producers A.G. Cook and George Daniel, to discuss how they wrote and recorded the album ‘Brat’.
Charli XCX first saw success collaborating on Icona Pop's 2012 smash hit ‘I Love It’ and Iggy Azalea's chart-topping single ‘Fancy’. Since releasing her debut album in 2013, she has continued to innovate and energise the music scene, earning a Global Impact Award in recognition of her contributions to pop. More recently, Charli released her sixth album ‘Brat’ working alongside George Daniel and PC Music pioneer A.G. Cook.
Sitting down with Charli, A.G., and George, the three cover a range of topics including the inspiration behind each track. As well as treating us to plane demos and stories of testing tracks in Charli’s club at home, the trio discuss how they approach collaboration, and break down what truly makes something Brat.
Tracks discussed: Club Classics, Apple, 365
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 50% off.
MUSIVERSAL
Skip the waitlist and get your 25% discount HERE
LISTEN to ‘BRAT’ here.
Atlantic Recording Corporation
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES
linktr.ee/tapenotes
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective
GEAR MENTIONS
Native Instruments Reaktor
Native Instruments Razor
Celemony Melodyne
Antares Autotune
Xfer Serum
Xfer Serum Presets
Soma Pulsar
Malekko Manther Synth
Logic Echo
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
Will Brown
Tim Adam-Smith
Will Lyons
Nico Varanese
Guy Nicholls
Jessica Clucas
Katie-Louise Buxton
Seb Brunner-Stolovitzky
Jonathon Coughlin
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TN:137 IDLES, Kenny Beats & Mikko Gordon
John is joined by IDLES' Bowen, along with producer Kenny Beats, and producer and engineer Mikko Gordon, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘TANGK’.
Idles are a British post-punk band who gained recognition with their 2017 debut album ‘Brutalism’. Known for their gritty, powerful sound and explosive live shows, their five albums to date have earned them nominations for the Mercury Prize, BRIT & Grammy Awards. Their latest record, ‘TANGK’, sees the band team up with producers Nigel Godrich and Kenny Beats, and digs into topics of love and gratitude, all while maintaining their signature Idles energy.
Linking up between Kenny’s LA studio and Mikko’s London studio, the trio discuss how they utilised the different strands of experience and expertise from all involved. As well as dubious covers and Christmas day demos, they share stories of writing team breakouts and the unexpected moments that came when they drew inspiration beyond their usual domains.
Tracks discussed: Roy, A Gospel, POP POP POP
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 50% off.
MUSIVERSAL
Skip the waitlist and get your 25% discount HERE
LISTEN to ‘TANGK’ here.
Partisan Records
GEAR MENTIONS
Venn Audio V-Clip
Electro Harmonix Loop Station
Electro Harmonix POG Pedal
Moogerfooger Pedals
Vongon Pedal
Beyerdynamic M500 Mic
Electro-Voice RE10
U47 Microphones
1176 Compressor
API EQ 560
Shure SM57
Empirical Labs Distressor
Altec Solid State Mixers
Altec Tube Mixers
Augspurger Speakers
Yamaha Disklavier Piano
Ableton Saturator
Ableton
OUR GEAR
https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective
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
Will Brown
Tim Adam-Smith
Will Lyons
Nico Varanese
Guy Nicholls
Jessica Clucas
Katie-Louise Buxton
Seb Brunner-Stolovitzky
Jonathon Coughlin
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Reissue | TN:18 The 1975
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. This selection is our conversation with Matty and George of The 1975, recorded back in March 2019.
EPISODE NOTES
John ventures up to Spitfire Audio to meet with Matty and George from The 1975 to talk about how the album 'A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships' was recorded and produced.
Somewhat bleary eyed after a massive night at the Brits (scooping two awards), the boys reveal the inner workings of The 1975's production methods and writing techniques. We're treated to demo versions and extensive track breakdowns from their award winning album, showing what it takes to create a 1975 hit.
We get to hear why Matty scats to write lyrics, how George uses a Barry White bass trick for creating lush vocals, and hear THE definitive explanation of side-chain compression.
Tracks discussed: I Like America & America Likes Me, How To Draw / Petrichor, It's Not Living (If It's Not With You)
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 50% off.
MUSIVERSAL
Skip the waitlist and get your 25% discount HERE
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES
linktr.ee/tapenotes
Listen to ‘A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships’ here
Dirty Hit, Polydor Records, Interscope Records
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective
GEAR MENTIONS
Arturia Synth Emulators
Izotope Vocal Synth
Korg Legacy Collection
Moog
Shure SM58
Teenage Engineering OP1
Waves CLA Vocal Plugin
Yamaha DX7
Yamaha Reface DX
Logic Pro
Cubase
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
Or 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
Will Brown
Tim Adam-Smith
Will Lyons
Nico Varanese
Guy Nicholls
Jessica Clucas
Katie-Louise Buxton
Seb Brunner-Stolovitzky
Jonathon Coughlin
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
TN:136 St. Vincent
John sits down with American singer and guitarist Annie Clark, aka St Vincent, to talk about her latest album ‘All Born Screaming’.
Immersed in music since childhood, after studying at Berklee College of Music, Annie toured with acts including The Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens. Adopting the name 'St. Vincent', in 2006 she released her debut EP 'Paris Is Burning', and released her debut album 'Marry Me' the following year. As well as having collaborated with artists including David Byrne, Jack Antonoff and Taylor Swift, St Vincent has released seven acclaimed studio albums, and has won four Grammy Awards.
John and Annie dig into the inspiration behind the record’s creation, touching on her development as an artist and producer, as well as her collaborations with esteemed artists such as Dave Grohl, Mark Guiliana, Josh Freese, and numerous others.
Tracks discussed: Broken Man, Hell Is Near, Sweetest Fruit
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 50% off.
MUSIVERSAL
Skip the waitlist and get your 25% discount HERE
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES
linktr.ee/tapenotes
Listen to ‘All Born Screaming’ here.
Total Pleasure Records
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective
GEAR MENTIONS
Neumann U87
Neumann U67
Coles Ribbon Mics
Neve Console
Buchla Synth
Arturia Lab 5
Sequential Synths
Roland TR-808
Publison Synth
Korg MS20
Lomo 19A19
EMT 140 Plate
Federal Compressor
Erica Synths Perkons Drum Machine
Eventide H3000
1176 Compressor
Nashville Telecaster
St Vincent Signature Series Guitar
Tascam Cassette Tracks
Avid ProTools
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
Or 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
Will Brown
Tim Adam-Smith
Will Lyons
Nico Varanese
Alex Patterson
Guy Nicholls
Jessica Clucas
Katie-Louise Buxton
Seb Brunner-Stolovitzky
Jonathon Coughlin
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
TN:135 Bob Vylan & Jonny Breakwell
John catches up with Bob Vylan and producer Jonny Breakwell to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the ‘Humble As The Sun’.
Bob Vylan, are a grime and punk rock duo who emerged in 2017. Despite facing resistance for their provocative themes on racism and inequality, they gained a loyal following. Their albums, 2020’s ‘We Live Here’ and 2022’s ‘Bob Vylan Presents the Price of Life’ earned critical acclaim, and saw the duo win Best Alternative Act at the MOBO Awards. Their latest, ‘Humble as the Sun,’ sees the duo flex their musical muscles, drawing on soul, drill, and punk, brought together with their trademark intensity.
Chatting in Miloco’s The Pool Studio, where some of the album was recorded, the conversation includes insights into navigating the independent artist landscape and the pivotal moments balancing personal and musical life. The pair also reflect on the process of refining Bobby's initial demos into polished tracks, exploring the production techniques that enhance the depth and character of the band’s sound.
Tracks discussed: Humble As The Sun, Reign, Makes Me Violent
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 50% off.
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES
linktr.ee/tapenotes
Listen to ‘Humble As The Sun’ here.
Ghost Theatre
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective
GEAR MENTIONS
FabFilter Saturn 2
FabFilter Pro Q3
Soundtoys Radiator
Boz Labs Big Clipper
Native Instruments Battery
Native Instrument Kontakt
Native Instruments Massive
Native Instruments Guitar Rig
Valhalla Delay
Seventh Heaven Reverb
Plugin Alliance Black Box
Waves CLA Compressor
Ableton Overdrive Plugin
UAD Apollo
Leslie Rotating Speaker
SE Electronics SE2200 Condenser Microphone
AKG414 Microphone
BeesNeez Arabella Microphone
Lomo 19A19 Microphone
Shure KSM353 Ribbon Mic
Shadow Hills Mono GAMA Mic Pre
Culture Vulture Distortion
Neve one of a kind Distortion Unit (Marshall Studios)
Neve 80’s series desk (Marshall Studios)
Marshall Jaguar Amp
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
Or 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
Will Brown - Executive Producer
Tim Adam-Smith - Executive Producer
Will Lyons - Editor
Nico Varanese - Videographer, Editor
Alex Patterson - Engineer
Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant
Jessica Clucas - Production Assistant
Katie-Louise Buxton - Production Assistant
Seb Brunner-Stolovitzky - Production Assistant
Jonathon Coughlin - Production Assistant
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
TN:134 The Libertines
John catches up with English rock band The Libertines to discuss how they wrote and recorded their latest album ‘All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade’.
The Libertines formed in 1997 and shot to fame with their debut album, 'Up the Bracket,' becoming pillars of the British indie/alternative resurgence of the early 2000s.
Thirty years after their careers started, they have unveiled their fourth studio album, 'All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade,' primarily recorded at their studio, The Albion Rooms, in Margate, with producer Dimitri Tikovoï.
Sitting down with frontmen Carl Barat and Peter Doherty, the pair discuss their song writing process from idea to finished album. As well as sharing exclusive insights into the evolution of the Libertines’ recording process, we hear demos and ideas from their early days writing together up to recent studio time in Jamaica.
Tracks discussed: Run Run Run, Merry Old England, & Shiver
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 50% off.
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES
linktr.ee/tapenotes
Listen to ‘All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade’ here
Libertines Recording Limited, Universal Music Operations, EMI
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective
GEAR MENTIONS
1957 NY Epiphone Casino Guitar
Gibson J45 Guitar
Marshall Amps
Whurli
The Albion Rooms Gear
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
Or 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
Will Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & Editor
Tim Adam-Smith - Executive Producer, Videographer
Will Lyons - Editor
Nico Varanese - Videographer, Editor
Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant
Jessica Clucas - Production Assistant
Katie-Louise Buxton - Production Assistant
Seb Brunner-Stolovitzky - Production Assistant
Jonathon Coughlin - Production Assistant
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices