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John catches up with Declan McKenna to talk about his latest album ‘What Happened To The Beach?’ Declan McKenna first saw mainstream success in 2015 following the release of his debut single ‘Brazil’ and winning Glastonbury Festival’s Emerging Talent prize. While blending topics of politics and social issues with his indie-pop sound through his first two albums, ‘What Happened To The Beach?’ introduces us to a new world, this time looking inward and drawing on Declan’s personal growth as a musician. As well as opening up his hugely varied bag of demos, musical sketches, and jam sessions, Declan shares stories of his time working in the studio with producer Luca Buccellati, talking through the unusual sounds and fantasy locations that inspired his writing. Tracks discussed: Mulholland’s Dinner & Wine, Breath of Light, Mezzanine LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to ‘What Happened To The Beach?’ here. Sony Music Entertainment Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Soundtoys Little Alterboy MWFX The Judder Pedal Roland Juno 60 Shure SM7B Mellotron Electro Harmonix MEL9 Pedal Acoustasonic Guitars Logic auto-wah Logic Pro X 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 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. The first selection is our chat with Dave Bayley (Glass Animals) from summer 2018.   EPISODE NOTES 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 Gooey – from an early voice demo recorded on his phone to the finished article and we learn some of his trade secrets along the way.  Tracks featured: Gooey, Hazey, Toes LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to 'ZABA' here. 'ZABA' - Wolf Tone Limited Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective  GEAR MENTIONS Audio-Technica AT4040 Fender Deluxe 57 Laney VC20 Marshall Stack Rob Papen Albino Synth Roland Jupiter 6 Shure SM57 Soundtoys Decapitator Soundtoys Microshift Soundtoys Alter Boy UAD Amp Emulators Vox AC30 Waves Kramer Ableton Ableton Spectrum Plugin 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 - Executive Producer, Engineer & Editor Tim Adam-Smith - Executive Producer Will Lyons - Editor Nico Varanese - Videographer, Editor Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant Jessica Clucas - Production Assistant Katie-Louise Buxton - Production Assistant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John links up with hyper-pop royalty, Laura Les and Dylan Brady, aka 100 gecs, to talk about their latest album ‘10,000 gecs’. 100 gecs first broke onto the scene with their debut album ‘1000 gecs’ in 2019. Capturing attention online and amongst music fans, the innovative record was described as ‘one of the year's most fascinating, exhilarating experimental pop albums’. Their second studio album ‘10,000 gecs’, released in 2023, sees them maintain their status as hyper-pop trailblazers, this time blending pop-punk and ska in with their signature maximalist sound. Reflecting on their writing process and how it has changed over the years, the conversation covers a range of topics, from the vast number of alternatives each track goes through, to the crazy sound design and effects that make up such an enormous part of their style.   Tracks discussed: Hollywood Baby, 757, The Most Wanted Person In The United States ---------------- Thanks to Audiomovers for supporting this episode. Their Listento Plugin has been a gamechanger for us and we use it across all of our remote interviews and recordings. To see their full range of plugins, visit audiomovers.com and use the promo code TAPENOTES1 at checkout to get your free month (usually only two days). ---------------- Thanks to Tape It for supporting this episode. Tape It is a recording app designed specifically for musicians and songwriters. Among many of Tape It's incredible features, you can record straight from lock screen, set markers and have complete control over your record settings, and that just the start. To find out more and get the full app free for a month, head to www.tape.it/tapenotes ---------------- LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to ‘10,000 gecs’ here . Dog Show Recordings, Atlantic Recordings Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Native Instruments Guitar Rig Waves Tune Real Time Soundtoys Decapitator Toontrack Superior Drummer Xfer Serum Synth Mace Guitar Amp Shure SM7B Orange Amp V-Drums Mesa Dual Rectifier Amp Head Splice Logic Pro X 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 David Yu - Engineer (LA) Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant Raphi Elton-Rowley - Production Assistant Jessica Clucas - Production Assistant Katie-Louise Buxton - Production Assistant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John ventures into the depths of Kent to catch up with Matthew Herbert and discuss his latest work ‘The Horse’. Renowned for his innovative sound exploration, Matthew gained recognition under various names, including Doctor Rockit, Wishmountain, and Herbert. He's produced for artists such as Bjork and Róisín Murphy, composed for stage and screen, and earned international acclaim for his records. His latest collaboration with the London Contemporary Orchestra resulted in 'The Horse.' Alongside a full album playback, the conversation covers the thought process behind the sounds, collaborators and story of each track, Matthew also shares his thoughts on ways in which to engage with music and creativity, and how to do it in a way that keeps you continuously inspired. Tracks discussed: Full Album LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to ‘The Horse’ here. Matthew Herbert, Modern Recordings, BMG 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 Will Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & Editor Tim Adam-Smith - Executive Producer Will Lyons - Editor Nico Varanese - Videographer, Editor Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant Jessica Clucas - Production Assistant Katie-Louise Buxton - Production Assistant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John links up pop-rock band Fall Out Boy, and producer Neal Avron, to talk about their latest studio album ‘So Much (For) Stardust’.  Emerging from Chicago’s hardcore punk scene in the early 2000’s, Fall Out Boy rose to fame with hits including ‘Sugar, We’re Goin Down’ and 'Thnks fr th Mmrs’. Constantly innovating, their eight studio albums have seen them embrace all sides of music, including R&B, and electro-pop. For their latest record ‘So Much (For) Stardust’, they return to their roots, working with producer Neal Avron.  Chatting with Patrick and Neal, the conversation covers the band’s approach to the early stages of demoing, their collaboration with a full orchestra and some of the best players in the business, and how they divide different writing responsibilities amongst each other. Tracks discussed: Love From The Other Side, Heaven, Iowa, So Much (For) Stardust LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to ‘So Much (For) Stardust) here. Fueled By Ramen, Elektra Music Group Inc. Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Native Instruments Kontakt Native Instruments Guitar Rig Audiomovers Listento Fender Strat Orange Amps Dave Smith Poly Evolver Synth Ensoniq Fizmo Synth Roland TR-66 Rhythm Arranger Neumann U 47 1176 LA-2A Slingerland Drums Guild S-100 Guitar Gibson Les Paul Neve Console 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 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 Will Lyons - Editor Nico Varanese - Videographer, Editor Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant Jessica Clucas - Production Assistant Katie-Louise Buxton - Production Assistant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John sits down with indie rock band Bombay Bicycle Club to talk about their sixth studio album ‘My Big Day’.  Bombay Bicycle Club are a four-piece band from London, that broke onto the indie music scene with their genre defining debut album ‘I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose’ in 2009. Since then they have been releasing a steady stream of music which has been met with high critical acclaim, earning them an Ivor Novello and a Mercury Prize nominations.  Chatting with band members Jack Steadman and Ed Nash, the three cover a range of topics including the inspiration behind the album, their use of sampling in their music, how over-thinking can negatively influence the production process, and their collaboration with music legends Damon Albarn, Paul Epworth & Chaka Khan. Tracks discussed: My Big Day, Heaven, Just A Little More Time ---------------- Thanks to Tape It for supporting this episode. Tape It is a recording app designed specifically for musicians and songwriters. Among many of Tape It's incredible features, you can record straight from lock screen, set markers and have complete control over your record settings, and that just the start. To find out more and get the full app free for a month, head to www.tape.it/tapenotes ---------------- To support the show and become a Patron, head to Patreon.co.uk/tapenotes. Any and all support is hugely appreciated, we don't take it for granted so thank you. ---------------- LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to ‘My Big Day’ here - https://songwhip.com/bombay-bicycle-club/my-big-day  Mmm…Records, AWAL Recordings Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://songwhip.com/laurelcollective/sunshinebuddy    GEAR MENTIONS Magix Samplitude - https://geni.us/iBEqbXn Casio Keyboard - https://geni.us/hKfe Korg Monotron - https://geni.us/T5K1H Native Instruments Kontakt - https://geni.us/AFPeU Paul Epworth's Neve Desks - https://geni.us/TFoT0 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 Will Lyons - Editor Nico Varanese - Videographer, Editor Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant Jessica Clucas - Production Assistant Katie-Louise Buxton - Production Assistant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, John is reunited with Mike Kerr of Royal Blood, to talk about how the band wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Back To The Water Below’. Following the success of their fourth number one album, Mike reflects on how their purpose as musicians has changed over the years, sharing their process of working out what they love, but haven't done with Royal Blood yet. Giving us an in depth look behind each track, we hear stories of musical experiments, including making a new ‘wall of sound’ guitar and playing specially modified pianos, while simultaneously inviting new genres into the Royal Blood sound. Listen to find out the best way to beat the sounds on your demos, tips on how to keep a two-hour live set engaging, and thoughts on why you shouldn’t wait for inspiration to come. Tracks discussed: Triggers, There Goes My Cool, Waves ---------------- Thanks to Tape It for supporting this episode. Tape It is a recording app designed specifically for musicians and songwriters. Among many of Tape It's incredible features, you can record straight from lock screen, set markers and have complete control over your record settings, and that just the start. To find out more and get the full app free for a month, head to www.tape.it/tapenotes ---------------- To support the show and become a Patron, head to Patreon.co.uk/tapenotes. Any and all support is hugely appreciated, we don't take it for granted so thank you. ---------------- LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to ‘Back To The Water Below’ here. Imperial Galactic, Black Mammoth, Warner Records Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Soundtoys Devil-Loc Spectrasonics Keyscape Mrs Mills Piano 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 - Executive Producer, Engineer & Editor Tim Adam-Smith - Executive Producer Will Lyons - Editor Nico Varanese - Videographer, Editor Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant Jessica Clucas - Production Assistant Katie-Louise Buxton - Production Assistant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanks to Tape It for supporting this episode. Tape It is a recording app designed specifically for musicians and songwriters. Among many of Tape It's incredible features, you can record straight from lock screen, set markers and have complete control over your record settings, and that just the start. To find out more and get the full app free for a month, head to www.tape.it/tapenotes ------- In this episode, John is joined by Dodie and Martin Luke Brown of FIZZ, along with producer Pete Miles, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘The Secret To Life’. Discussing how FIZZ came into being, Martin and Dodie explain the reasons and implications of setting their solo work to the side (temporarily), to have a holiday from music, but still doing music...   As well as lots of sharing stories, stems and general shenanigans from their time down at Middle Farm Studios, we hear how each band member brought something different to the table, approaching creativity in so many different ways - from jamming over loops, to singing around their house and recording voice notes in the bath. Listen to find out why sometimes it’s better just to yell your guitar solos, which piece of kit is the secret 7th member of FIZZ, and which chorus pedal has the wobbliest chorus of all chorus pedals. Tracks discussed: Secret To Life, Strawberry Jam, The Grand Finale LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to ‘The Secret To Life’ here.  Decca Records, FKA Chairs, Universal Music Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Full Middle Farm Studios Gear Roland RE-301 Chorus Echo Soundtoys Devil Loc Shure M267 Mic Preamp/Limiter ProCo Rat Pedal Electro Harmonix Polychorus Studer A80 Tape Machine 1965 Hammond C3 Leslie Speaker Logic Pro X 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 Will Lyons - Editor Nico Varanese - Videographer, Editor Herbie Elton-Rowley - Videographer Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, John is joined by Olivia Dean and producer Matt Hales to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Olivia’s Mercury-nominated debut album ‘Messy’. Taking us back to the very start of their story, the pair discuss the inspiration for the album, sharing their approach to marrying different musical cultures and the importance of the chats they had before writing. As well as playing their writing session voice notes showing the exact moments each song took shape, we hear stories of mouth trumpet demos, creating artefacts to make instruments sound sampled, and the thought process behind choosing mix engineers.  Listen to find out why so much of what makes a good record can come from turning things off, why it’s so valuable to just have things around the studio, and why tea can be such an integral part of the creative process. Tracks discussed: UFO, Messy, Carmen ---------------- Thanks to Tape It for supporting this episode. Tape It is a recording app designed specifically for musicians and songwriters. Among many of Tape It's incredible features, you can record straight from lock screen, set markers and have complete control over your record settings, and that just the start. To find out more and get the full app free for a month, head to www.tape.it/tapenotes ---------------- Thanks to Audiomovers for supporting this episode. Their Listento Plugin has been a gamechanger for us and we use it across all of our remote interviews and recordings. To see their full range of plugins, visit audiomovers.com and use the promo code TAPENOTES1 at checkout to get your free month (usually only two days). ---------------- LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to ‘Messy’ here - https://songwhip.com/oliviadean/messy2023  EMI, Universal Music Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://songwhip.com/laurelcollective/sunshinebuddy    GEAR MENTIONS AudioThing Reels Shure SM7B Boss CE1 Pedal Moog Synths Steinberg 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 - Executive Producer, Engineer & Editor Tim Adam-Smith - Executive Producer Will Lyons - Editor Nico Varanese - Videographer, Editor Herbie Elton-Rowley - Videographer Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanks to Audiomovers for supporting this episode. Their Listento Plugin has been a gamechanger for us and we use it across all of our remote interviews and recordings. To see their full range of plugins, visit audiomovers.com and use the promo code TAPENOTES1 at checkout to get your free month (usually only two days). In this episode, John is back at Strongroom Studios to catch up with Bakar and producer Zach Nahome about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Halo’. Looking back at the varied starting points of the songs, Bakar and Zach chart the journey of the album writing process, from writing in hotel rooms and AirBnbs to some of the most legendary studios in the world. As well as sharing the conversations that helped fuel their creativity, we are given a glimpse into how the pair forged Bakar’s distinctive sound, sharing tips on bringing modern elements into music that feels old, and building distinctive worlds of reverb. Listen to find out why you shouldn’t delete old beats, how a thief managed to unknowingly shape the sound of a track, and how working with an ‘anti-setup’ outside of the studio can benefit the song. Tracks discussed: Alive!, Facts_Situations, Right Here, for Now LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to ‘Halo’ here.  Black Butter Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Abbey Road Vinyl Soundtoys Effect Rack Arturia Farfisa Synth Arturia Jupiter 8 Spectrasonics Omnisphere Nicky Romero Kickstart Waves API 2500 Compressor Valhalla Vintage Verb Neumann TLM 103 Shure SM7B Neumann U67 Gibson Les Paul Fender Strat Martin Guitars Philips Philicorda Squire PBass KRK Monitors Rokit 8 Monitors Neve Preamps Focusrite Logic Pedals - Vintage Drive Logic Pedals - Flanger Logic Space Designer Logic Pitch Correction Logic EQ Logic Slap Echo Garageband  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 Will Lyons - Editor Nico Varanese - Editor/Videographer Herbie Elton-Rowley - Videographer Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanks to Audiomovers for supporting this episode. Their Listento Plugin has been a gamechanger for us and we use it across all of our remote interviews and recordings. To see their full range of plugins, visit audiomovers.com and use the promo code TAPENOTES1 at checkout to get your free month (usually only two days). In this episode, John is joined by James Blake to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Playing Robots Into Heaven’. With the idea of simplifying his solo work primarily with synths and drums, James shares his process of crafting an album with the purpose of getting away from the computer, reflecting on the impact it had on his creativity and mental health. A true master of modular synths, he talks us through the long journey learning to create ‘listenable’ music with them, discussing the ways in which they are able to create sounds that he couldn't have imagined.  Listen to discover the enlightening advice James received from Universal's Head A&R, how to best record your voice if you plan to pitch it, and how to adopt the mindset of making music for fun. Tracks discussed: Loading, Big Hammer, Playing Robots Into Heaven LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to ‘Playing Robots Into Heaven’ here. Republic Records, Polydor Records, UMG Recordings Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Thermionic Culture Fat Bustard Sequential Prophet 8 Native Instruments Massive Intellijel Metropolis Make Noise MATHS Make Noise Black and Gold Soma Pulsar-23 Roland SH-101 Roland TR-8S Roland TR-909 Erica Synths LX-02 OEK Sound Soothe FXpansion Geist Valhalla Reverbs Valhalla Vintage Verb API Desk Logic Pro 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 Will Lyons - Editor Andy Tindall - Videographer Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanks to Audiomovers for supporting this episode. Their Listento Plugin has been a gamechanger for us and we use it across all of our remote interviews and recordings. To see their full range of plugins, visit audiomovers.com and use the promo code TAPENOTES1 at checkout to get your free month (usually only two days). In this episode, John heads to Miloco’s The Yard Studios, to catch up with Guy and Howard of Disclosure, and talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Alchemy’. Having taken a break from their relentless touring schedule, the pair guide us through their reassessed approach to creativity. From stories of managing burnout and heartbreak, to balancing meaning and feelings with the key production choices of each track. As well as sharing Howard’s very first AirBnb demos, Guy digs deep with a vast production breakdown, including sharing his go-to method of creating kicks and the small additions to a track that can make it sparkle. Listen to find out the quickest way to come up with a new track idea, why it’s so good to be musically naive, and the best ways to check if things still sound cool. Tracks discussed: Looking For Love, Simply Won’t Do, High Than Ever Before LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to ‘Alchemy’ here.  Apollo Records, AWAL Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Soundtoys Little AlterBoy FabFilter Saturn Izotope VocalSynth 2 BigKick - https://geni.us/vOoH Spectrasonics Omnisphere Spectrasonics Keyscape Spectrasonics Trilian Tube Tech Compressor Pultec EQ Neumann Mics SSL SIX Channel Strip Fairchild Compressor Plugin Fairchild Compressor (Real thing) Ampeg Bass Amp GEM Dopamine Kick 2 OEK Sound Soothe Valhalla Reverbs Xfer LFO Tool The God Particle Roland Jupiter 8 DX7 Synth Waldorf Wave Yamaha CS60 Novation Peak Logic EFM Synth Logic Ultrabeat Logic Pro X 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 Will Lyons - Editor Andy Tindall/Herbie Elton-Rowley - Videographer Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices