Tape Notes

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...

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...

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 f...

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 m...

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 f...

In this episode John is joined by Maverick Sabre and producer Charlie Perry to talk about how they recorded and produced Maverick's 3rd album 'When I Wake Up'.  The boys break apart some of the tracks from the album recounting the journey these songs undertook from tracking in Maverick's living room to fleshing things out in the studio, divulging their approach to production and some writing along...

In this episode John journeys to Mr Dan's Studio in Streatham to talk with Nick Mulvey and producer Dan Carey about how they recorded and produced Nick's Mercury nominated debut album 'First Mind'.  The boys dive deep into the working processes and shared memories of the time they spent together in the musical playground that is Dan's home studio.  Listen to find out how a collection of dirty cups...

In this episode John is joined by Erik and Yukimi from Little Dragon to talk about how they recorded and produced the album 'Ritual Union'.  Chatting from the studio in Gothenburg where the album was recorded, the pair reflect on the techniques and approaches they used in the recording of their 3rd studio release.  We hear how Little Man was transformed by The Smurfs playing drums, how the acciden...

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 trac...

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...

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 ha...

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...

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 cla...

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 previou...

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 s...

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...

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 cancellatio...

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...

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 r...

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 th...

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...

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. ...

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 Wil...

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 docu...

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 env...