Tape Notes
Tape Notes

Tape Notes

In The Woods

Overview
Episodes

Details

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.

Recent Episodes

Reissue | TN:18 The 1975
MAY 14, 2024
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
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87 MIN
TN:136 St. Vincent
APR 30, 2024
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
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72 MIN
TN:135 Bob Vylan & Jonny Breakwell
APR 23, 2024
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
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103 MIN
TN:134 The Libertines
APR 11, 2024
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
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72 MIN
TN:133 Jack Antonoff (Bleachers)
MAR 29, 2024
TN:133 Jack Antonoff (Bleachers)
John catches up with producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Jack Antonoff of Bleachers to discuss how he wrote, recorded, and produced the band’s latest album ‘Bleachers’. Having grown up performing, song writing, and producing bands throughout his teenage years, Jack first saw mainstream success as part of the band Fun, and their global hit track ‘We Are Young’. Since then, he has gone on to co-write and produce records for some of the biggest artists of the past decade, including Lorde, Lana Del Rey, The 1975, and Taylor Swift. Among his numerous awards and accolades, he was named Producer of the Year at the Grammys for three consecutive years. Throughout the conversation Jack discusses his song writing process, from stories of the studio magic that occurs when picking up random instruments, to the unusual mixing and panning techniques he uses to help make parts feel big (rather than actually being big). Tracks discussed: Call Me After Midnight, Jesus Is Dead, We’re Going To Know Each Other Forever 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 ‘Bleachers’ here . Dirty Hit Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Waves Morphoder - https://geni.us/XTO8Bx Soundtoys Tremolator - https://geni.us/bAB3sa Soundtoys FilterFreak - https://geni.us/X6uk Soundtoys Little AlterBoy - https://geni.us/o8nbO Izotope VocalSynth - https://geni.us/ZIbW Roland Juno - https://geni.us/tEKxqpC Moog Synths - https://geni.us/EzWqBu Korg M1 - https://geni.us/GnnNmU8 Ebow - https://geni.us/FnQRXYG Teenage Engineering OP1 - https://geni.us/dg6C9 Chandler TH2 Preamp/DI - https://geni.us/kwoYxl 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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93 MIN