Tape Notes

WATCH THE FULL VIDEO EPISODE @ ⁠Patreon.com/tapenotes⁠  John is joined by Troye Sivan and producer Tyde Levi to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘She’s the Best’. Troye Sivan is an Australian singer-songwriter and producer. He signed with EMI aged just 18 after building a global following as a teen YouTuber. Troye has since released three acclaimed albums blending el...

John is joined by Lizzy McAlpine, along with producers Mason Stoops and Taylor Mackall and engineer Omar Akrouche to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Angel’. Lizzy McAlpine is a singer-songwriter and producer from Pennsylvania.  Having written and recorded music through her teens, in 2020 she released her debut album ‘Give Me a Minute’. She has since released two mo...

John is joined by Giles Martin to talk about how he recorded and produced the album ‘Rubber Soul: New Special Edition’. Giles Martin is a British composer, producer and arranger. Assisting his father, Beatles producer Sir George Martin, in the studio from an early age, Giles has been closely involved with the Beatles’ catalogue, producing the 50th anniversary remix and deluxe editions of ‘Revolver...

BONOBO SPECIAL! - 50% of Tape It Pro at tape.it/bonobo (available until 30th September 2026) John is joined by Simon Green, aka Bonobo, to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Distance in Static’. Simon Green, aka Bonobo, is a British musician, producer, and DJ, considered one of electronic music’s defining voices. Across eight albums, including the seminal ‘Black Sands’, ‘Mig...

John is joined by Kevin Parker, aka Tame Impala, to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Deadbeat’.  Kevin launched the electronic and psychedelic rock-influenced Tame Impala in 2007 as a home recording project. Throughout the 2010s, Tame Impala became a huge critical and commercial success, winning two Grammys and selling out shows worldwide. Kevin has collaborated with...

John is joined by Ed and Tom of Overmono to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Pure Devotion’. Overmono are Welsh electronic duo Tom and Ed Russell. After solo careers as Truss and Tessela, they began producing together as Overmono in 2015. Known for their energetic, acclaimed live shows, they broke through with Good Lies in 2023. Their second album, Pure Devotion, arrived...

John is joined by Hen and Louis a.k.a. Joy Anonymous, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced a selection of tracks across their back catalog.  Joy Anonymous formed in 2018 with the aim of spreading joy through music and live performance. Their South Bank pop-up shows during the pandemic brought widespread attention, with recordings from these performances featuring on their debut...

John is joined by Charli xcx and producers A. G. Cook and Finn Keane to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Music, Fashion, Film’. Charli XCX is a British singer, songwriter, producer and actor. Since her debut album ‘True Romance' in 2013, Charli has released a further six records, building a fiercely loyal fanbase while continually pushing the boundaries of pop. In 2024,...

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 Guy and Howard of Disclosure, digging into their 2020 record, 'ENERGY'. EPISODE NOTES Chosen from over 200 songs, the Guy and Howard break apart the individual parts and distinct sounds from the handful of tracks that made...

John is joined by Myles Smith and producer Peter Fenn to discuss how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘My Mess, My Heart, My Life’. Myles Smith is a singer-songwriter from Luton in the UK. Performing at local open mic nights since his teens, he built a loyal fan base and landed a record deal with Sony thanks to cover versions he posted on Tiktok. In 2024, Myles’ single ‘Stargazing’ was...

John is joined by Arlo Parks and Baird to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Ambiguous Desire’. Arlo Parks is an indie-pop singer-songwriter from West London. After uploading demos to BBC Introducing as a teenager, she quickly attracted industry attention. Her debut album, ‘Collapsed in Sunbeams’, arrived in 2021, establishing Arlo as one of the defining artists of her gen...

Take our audience survey and enter the draw to win! https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/t/AudienceSurvey2026/ John is joined by Jack Antonoff of Bleachers to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Everyone for Ten Minutes’. Jack Antonoff is an American producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. As a producer, he’s widely recognised for helping shape the sound of modern pop thro...

Take our audience survey and enter the draw to win! https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/t/AudienceSurvey2026/ John is joined by Tom Misch to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Full Circle’.  Tom Misch is an English singer-songwriter and producer known for his innovative sound, blending hip-hop beats and soulful vocals along with his distinctive guitar style. His self-recorded debu...

John is joined by Foo Fighters  to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Your Favorite Toy’. Foo Fighters are an American rock band formed by Dave Grohl. Known for their alt-rock anthems driven by melody and personality, they have evolved into one of rock’s biggest and most influential bands. Over the past 20 years, they have released twelve studio albums, won fifteen Grammys...

John is joined by TOMORA to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album COME CLOSER. TOMORA are an electronic music duo made up of The Chemical Brothers’ Tom Rowlands and AURORA. Both have excelled in their fields: The Chemical Brothers’ ten albums helped define electronic music, while Norwegian artist AURORA’s ethereal songwriting has won her a devoted worldwide following. The duo...

John is joined by Holly Humberstone and Rob Milton to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album Cruel World. Holly Humberstone is a singer-songwriter from Grantham, England. After early support from BBC Introducing, her debut EP ‘Falling Asleep at the Wheel’ gained widespread attention during the pandemic, earning a BRIT Rising Star win and two Ivor Novello nominations. Her debut...

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 Enter Shikari's Rou Reynolds, digging into their 2020 record, 'Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible'. EPISODE NOTES In this episode, John catches up with Enter Shikari frontman and producer, Rou Reynolds to breakdown h...

John sits down with Imogen Heap to talk about how she wrote, recorded and produced the EP IAM _ _ _. Imogen Heap is a British composer, artist, and producer, widely regarded as a pioneer in electronic pop and music technology. Over the years, her music has evolved from alternative to electronica, producing acclaimed albums such as Speak for Yourself and Ellipse, and collaborating with artists incl...

John is joined once again by Fred Gibson, better known as Fred again.., to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album USB. Fred Gibson is an award-winning British songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer whose musical journey began collaborating with legendary producer Brian Eno at just 16. Since then Fred has established himself as a  globally successful solo artist. Alongside...

In this episode, John is joined by Mumford & Sons and producer Aaron Dessner to discuss how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Prizefighter’. Mumford & Sons are a British folk-rock band made up of Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane, who rose to global fame with their banjo-driven folk rock, earning BRIT and Grammy success with the records ‘Sigh No More’ and ‘Babel’. Their latest al...

John sits down with Danny L Harle to discuss how he wrote, recorded and produced the album Cerulean. Danny L Harle is a British producer, artist and composer. One of the most sought-after songwriters and producers in music today, he has worked with numerous artists including Caroline Polachek, Florence and the Machine and Dua Lipa. Danny began releasing solo electronic music in 2013 on A.G. Cook’s...

John is joined by English musician, songwriter, producer and DJ Emma-Jean Thackray to talk about how she wrote, recorded and produced the album Weirdo. Emma-Jean Thackray is a musical polymath whose creative approach was shaped by playing in brass bands as a child in West Yorkshire and studying jazz composition and performance at university. Her 2021 debut album 'Yellow' topped the UK Jazz Albums...

John sits down with Artemas and producer Toby Daintree to discuss how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘LOVERCORE’. Artemas is an English artist and producer. As a teenager he taught himself music production and soon began releasing his dark, alternative pop music, inspired by grunge and new wave sounds. The viral hit ‘if u think i’m pretty’, released in 2024, made him a global star and...

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 Rina Sawayama and producer Clarence Clarity. EPISODE NOTES In this episode, John catches up with Rina Sawayama and producer Clarence Clarity to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Rina’s debut album ‘Sawayama’...

In this special Xmas episode, John is joined by Adam Buxton and producer Joe Mount to discuss how they wrote, recorded and produced the album Buckle Up. Adam Buxton is a podcaster, actor, comedian and musician, best known for his long-running, award-winning Adam Buxton Podcast. Since launching in 2015, he’s become one of the UK’s most popular podcasters, with guests ranging from Paul McCartney to...