Tape Notes

Friendly Fires’ Inflorescent is packed with tightly woven beats and hard-hitting nostalgia. In a city spanning episode, John catches up with the band along with super star producer Mark Ralph (Tom Walker, Clean Bandit, Years & Years) at Iguana Studios and Mark’s Studio, Club Ralph, to talk about how they recorded and produced the album. The boys explore everything from what survived in the demos recorded in Ed’s mum’s house, to how blending recording techniques with synths and drum machines h

Returning for another season, John is joined by electronic music producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Alex Crossan A.K.A Mura Masa.Catching up at Iguana Studios, Alex invites us behind the curtain and reveals how his latest album R.Y.C was recorded and produced. We get to hear intimate track breakdowns - including a brilliant dive into the early takes of the Slowthai collaboration ‘Deal Wiv It’ - plus copious amounts of philosophical musings on what it takes to write a Mura Masa track and mus

In this episode we take a look back at some of the best bits from season 3. If you haven't heard every episode from the last season, this is a good way to introduce yourself to some of the artists and producers we've had on, hearing their stories, tips and general philosophy on writing and recording. Have a listen, you never know what you might learn! You'll hear highlights from:Ibeyi & Richard Russel (Live from Miloco Studios)Kate Tempest & Dan CareyNitin SawhneyFloating PointsTune-YardsJamie LidellCold W

Back in July we were invited to Latitude Festival to take part in their podcast stage. In this live recording, we caught up with Murray from Easy Life and Rob Milton to talk about how they write and record music together.After a late entrance from Murray (waylaid somewhere on site!) the boys discuss their working relationship and what it takes to create an Easy Life tune.We learn how the boys ended up working together from unlikely beginnings, why it’s crucial to ‘get it down’ when melodies are flowin

In this episode John ventures up to Spitfire Audio studios to catch up with Wes and Jeremiah from The Lumineers and producer Simone Felice to talk about how they recorded and produced the album III. The guys offer up an epic dissection of their music covering every aspect of the creative process. We’re treated to intimate phone recordings that captured the lightning strike moments when songs were born, copious demo versions detailing their subsequent honing and development, and track breakdowns of the fi

Cold War Kids Show Notes In this episode John straddles the pond and catches up with Nathan from Cold War Kids and producer Lars Stalfors to talk about how the album New Age Norms 1 was recorded and produced. Speaking from a studio in North Hollywood the pair discuss how the album was brought to life shining a light on their writing process and revealing the craft and philosophy behind a Cold War Kids track. Listen to find out why Nathan can only play something once when recording, how an accident with P

In this episode John links up with producer/musician & podcaster Jamie Lidell in his Nashville studio to talk about how he records and produces his music. Dusting off his old G4 mac, Jamie delves into the archives and revisits some classics from the albums Multiply and Jim in addition to some of his more recent work. We get to hear fascinating track breakdowns revealing the techniques and methods he uses when writing and recording. Listen to hear why Jamie’s music is influenced heavily by working with h

In this episode John links up with Merrill and Nate from Tune-Yards to talk about how they recorded and produced the soundtrack to Sorry To Bother You and also dive into a classic from the TY back-catalogue. Speaking from the other side of the pond Merrill and Nate dig into 3 tracks they scored for the Boots Riley directorial debut, exploring the methods and techniques they used whilst recording and discuss how this differs from their usual writing process. We also revisit the Tune-Yards favourite Gangsta,

In this episode John heads to EMS4 studios in Shoreditch to chat with Floating Points a.k.a Sam Shepherd, about how he recorded and produced his latest release, Crush. Talking from deep within Sam’s musical laboratory, we peer behind the curtain and find out how Floating Points music is created and crafted, pulling apart some of the tracks from his second album along the way. We get to hear how live performance and classical music are a serious influence in his writing process in addition to experimentin

In this episode John heads to the Dairy studios to talk with composer/musician/producer Nitin Sawhney about how he recorded and produced the album Beyond Skin. In celebration of 20 years since its release, Nitin dusts off the original Logic 4 sessions and gives a fascinating account of how this classic album, most of which was recorded in his bedroom in Tooting, was brought to life. We not only get to hear some of the tracks broken down in detail but are also treated to live demonstrations of some of the

In this episode John returns to Mr. Dan’s studio in Streatham to talk with Kate Tempest and Dan Carey. Looking back over a track from each album they’ve recorded together, Kate & Dan detail the creative journey they’ve been on since first meeting, and shine a light on the methods and techniques they use collaborating in the studio. We hear how the duo embraced teaming up with legendary producer Rick Rubin, why having a hangover isn’t necessarily a bad idea before a big day of recording, and why Da

In this special live addition of Tape Notes, John is joined by Naomi & Lisa-Kaindé of Ibeyi and XL Recordings head honcho/producer Richard Russell, to talk about how they craft their music together in the studio. In celebration of National Album Day and recorded in The Pool room at Miloco Studios, the trio wax lyrical about their experiences working together and take a deep dive into the methods and techniques used in recording & producing the albums Ibeyi & Ash. Listen to find out why there's more to u

In this episode John catches up with Marika Hackman and producer David Wrench to chat about how they recorded and produced Marika's 3rd album 'Any Human Friend'. Talking from David's new studio in London Fields, the pair look back over their experience working together for the first time and shine a light on the production techniques and methods they used in the making of the record. Listen to find out how an old land lady of Marika's was the victim some unintentional verbal abuse, hear a phone demo of S

In this episode we are joined by Justin and Elliot from Editors and producer Leo Abrahams to talk about how they recorded and produced the album 'Violence'. The guys shine a light on some of the working methods they used in the making of the album, treating us to the early home demos that band writer Tom created ahead of tracking in the studio. Listen to find out what an Ed 'weasel' is and why many were brutally culled by Leo, why Tom is the easiest vocalist in the world to record, and why Justin's guitar

In this episode John is joined by Jack & Suren from Bombay Bicycle Club and producer legend Jim Abbiss to talk about how they recorded and produced 'I Had The Blues But Shook Them Loose'. Celebrating 10 years since its release, Jim and the boys reminisce over their experiences working together on this iconic debut and how their relationship and approach to recording and music production evolved from the early days as wide-eyed teens to the later, more experienced sessions. We get to hear the impressive be