In this episode John is joined by Joel and Theo from Wolf Alice and legendary producer and bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen (Beck, M83, Paramore) to dissect how their Mercury Prize winning album 'Visions of a Life' was recorded and produced. We hear how they rose to the challenge of a 7 minute piece in 3 movements (and why it's no longer called Massive A*** Bleach Attack). With demos of all the tracks to be heard it's a fascinating insight into the intense amount of thought this band put in to real...
Mar 13, 2019•1 hr 16 min
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 hea...
Mar 05, 2019•1 hr 26 min
John is joined by Laurie & Isaac form Slaves and producer Jolyon Thomas to talk about how they recorded and produced the band's sophomore album 'Acts Of Fear And Love'. We get to hear some of the early demos where the original lyrics don't quite sound the way they should, how Laurie and Jolyon layered up the guitar instead of using distortion and why Isaac's simple drum setup is actually a lot harder to play than it looks. All the usual anecdotes and lots to be inspired by as Laurie and Isaa...
Feb 27, 2019•1 hr 48 min
In this episode John is joined by Gus Unger-Hamilton and Joe Newman from Alt-J, and producer Charlie Andrew to talk about how they recorded and produced the album 'RELAXER'. The boys give a fascinating account of the thought processes and production techniques used in the recording of RELAXER. Hear how a friend's pavlovian response to the smell of burning wood, the Gus whistle test, and swearing at an old school master all left their mark on the band's third album. Tracks discussed: 3WW, House o...
Feb 19, 2019•1 hr 42 min
In this episode John is joined by Joseph Mount from Metronomy at Iguana Studios to talk about how the album 'Nights Out' was recorded and produced. In celebration of 10 years since its release, Joe dusts off his old hard drive to reminisce over how he created the tracks on this underground classic. Hear how buying instruments at a carboot sale in Chiswick, being an asthmatic whilst trying to clap, and watching TV on the kitchen table with an acoustic guitar all left their mark on the record. Tra...
Feb 13, 2019•1 hr 12 min
John is back at Iguana Studios once again joined this time by artist Frank Turner, but there’s a twist! In an exciting first for Tape Notes this episode’s producer, Josh Block, is coming to us live from the other side of the Atlantic at his studio Niles City Sound in Fort Worth, Texas. We hear how Frank’s approach to his latest album led him to push beyond the guitar based arrangements of previous work. The journey takes us through many demos, one of which Frank confesses they all grew to veheme...
Aug 30, 2018•1 hr 14 min
In this episode of Tape Notes, John takes a trip to Deptfrod to visit Jessie Ware and Dave Okumu in Dave’s newly built studio to talk about how they recorded and produced the album 'Devotion'. Jessie and Dave look back to the beginnings of their creative relationship and discuss the excitement and trepidation of working together for the first time. We hear demo versions made by Dave ahead their sessions and also dig deep into some of the arrangements and the production philosophy behind the maki...
Jul 25, 2018•1 hr 13 min
John ventures up to Dave Bayley’s new home studio in London Fields to talk about how Glass Animals’ debut album ZABA was recorded and produced. We hear how Dave conjured up the band’s unique style through many late night sessions in his bedroom when he should’ve been studying for medical school. He reveals his producer hero’s and an insatiable appetite for data collection, creating his own sound world through sampling every sound imaginable. Dave guides us through a fascinating breakdown of Gooe...
Jun 19, 2018•1 hr 19 min
John ventures up to Bow to chat with James Hatcher and Andy Clutterbuck from the band HONNE to find out how they produced and recorded the album ‘Love Me, Love Me Not’. The boys discuss the changes in their approach to songwriting and production from their first album and go into fascinating detail picking apart three of the early releases from their latest record. We hear how a studio cancellation lead to an unexpectedly fruitful session writing on their phones, what Metalica legend Kirk Hammet...
May 16, 2018•1 hr 11 min
John joins the band Vök back stage at their headline show in London to talk about how they recorded and produced the album 'Figure' with producer Brett Cox. We hear how Brett and the band teamed up over the course of a sunny Icelandic summer to work their demos (complete with minion lyrics) into the finished article, helped along the way by the generosity of the band’s home town, Reykjavik. The search for a perfect middle 8, sampling studio light switches and type writers, plus the creation of ‘...
Apr 27, 2018•45 min
John journeys up to Rak Studios to meet with Dan Rothman from London Grammar and producer duo MyRiot and talk about their work together on the album ‘If You Wait’. We hear how the band adjusted from the self-produced recording environment, to working with producer stalwarts Tim Bran & Roy Kerr in the musical playground of State of the Ark Studios and then on to global success. Dan and the boys relive their favourite moments together in the studio and rediscover some of the production techniq...
Apr 09, 2018•1 hr 6 min
John returns to Iguana Studios once more where he is joined by The Big Moon and producer Catherine Marks to talk about their work together on the album 'Love in the 4th Dimension'. The girls re-live some of their favourite moments in the studio with Catherine and dig into the production processes behind a few of their favourite tracks on the album. We hear how bringing inflatable pool toys to the studio, using stealth instruments and pretending to play oversized guitars all played a part in the ...
Nov 29, 2017•1 hr 11 min
Back at Iguana Studios once more, John is joined by Australian artist/producer Jordan Rakei and producer Jim Macrae to talk about their work together on the album 'Wallflower'. We hear how Jordan made the 10,000 mile journey from Brisbane to London to pursue a career in music and the stories behind how his sophomore album 'Wallflower' was created. The duo discuss Algorithmic chaos, re-recording drums in a local cafe and shed light on many of the production techniques they used during the recordi...
Oct 03, 2017•1 hr
In this episode John is joined by Square Leg Records boss/producer Charlie Andrew and the label’s first signing Francobollo to talk about the recording and production of the band's debut album, 'Long Live Life'. We hear how inviting fans into a sweaty studio was instrumental in capturing the band’s notorious live energy and why writing lyrics about your audience can be slightly awkward at times. Tracks discussed: Kinky Lola, Future Lover, Worried Times LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://link...
Sep 18, 2017•1 hr 3 min
In this episode of Tape Notes John takes a trip to The Dairy Studios in Brixton to talk to Will Joseph Cook and his producer Hugh Worskett mid-way through recording the album 'Sweet Dreamer'. The duo discuss their working relationship in the studio and we discover how middle 8 love, early phone demos from English classroom E and Nile Rogers impersonation all played their part in the making of Will Joseph Cook’s debut album. Tracks discussed: Beach – I Wanna Make You Mine, Girls Like Me, Take Me ...
Aug 09, 2017•53 min
John Kennedy is back at Iguana Studios once more to talk to singer songwriter Sivu and producer Charlie Andrew about their collaboration on Sivu’s second album 'Sweet Sweet Silent'. From early production meetings in a pub function room, to slinging microphones up in trees by a river in Kent, we learn about the duo’s unique approach to recording and hear the early demos and session audio that documents the journey these songs undertook whilst in the studio. Tracks discussed: Childhood House, Dras...
Jul 19, 2017•57 min
John Kennedy is joined by Dave Maclean and Neil Comber who reveal the working methods they used in the making of Django Django’s sophomore album 'Born Under Saturn'. We hear how Dave coped with the transition from the bedroom production of their first album to a residential stint at Angelic studios and how having Neil onboard as producer helped the band develop their sound in this more hi-tech environment. From wet hand claps to piano mutilation, Dave & Neil uncover the secrets behind the al...
Jul 05, 2017•42 min
Rosie Lowe and her producer Dave Okumu join John Kennedy at Iguana Studios to discuss what went on behind the scenes in the making of her highly acclaimed debut album 'Control'. We hear the demos that paved the way and how doing the dishes, wetsuits for pianos and Devon rain all contributed to the making of this album. Rosie shares her experience of handing one’s ideas over to another and the trust that allowed her to relinquish control. And Dave gives a us fascinating glimpse of the creative fl...
Jun 18, 2017•55 min
