Tape Notes
In The Woods
The Art of Making an Album
- 1 hour 52 minutesTN:170 Haim & Rostam Batmanglij
John is joined by Haim and producer Rostam Batmanglij to discuss how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘I Quit’.
Haim are an American pop-rock band from Los Angeles, made up of multi-instrumentalist sisters Danielle, Este and Alana Haim. Playing together in their family band growing up, they formed Haim in 2007 and released their debut EP, ‘Forever’, in 2012.
Their debut album, ‘Days Are Gone’, arrived in 2013 and earned them a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. Their follow-up records, 2017’s ‘Something to Tell You’ and 2020’s ‘Women in Music Pt. III’, both received widespread critical acclaim, with ‘Women in Music Pt. III’ also securing a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. Haim released their fourth album, ‘I Quit’, in June this year, once again collaborating with longtime producer Rostam.
In this episode, John is joined by Danielle and Rostam, from Rostam’s LA studio where much of the album was recorded. The trio discuss everything from garageband demos to recording and reamping drums, as well as techniques for producing Haim’s distinctive vocals and being influenced by multiple genres and sounds.
Tracks discussed: Relationships, Down to be wrong, Now it’s time, Everybody’s trying to figure me out
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LISTEN to ‘I Quit’ here: I quit by HAIM,
Polydor Records
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective
GEAR MENTIONS
E-Mu Emulator ii Vintage Synth
Korg A5 Multi-Effects Pedalboard
OUR GEAR
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10 December 2025, 12:00 am - 1 hour 29 minutesTN:169 Parcels
John is joined by Parcels to discuss how they wrote, recorded and produced the album “LOVED”.
Parcels are an Australian electropop band consisting of Jules Crommelin, Louie Swain, Noah Hill, Patrick Hetherington and Anatole Serret. After moving from Australia to Berlin, Parcels signed a deal with French label Kitsuné. However, it was their collaboration with seminal dance duo Daft Punk, who produced their 2017 single “Overnight”, that led to their breakthrough. Since then the band have released three studio albums, their self-titled debut in 2018, and the ambitious double LP ‘Day/Night’, in 2021. Parcels’ third album “LOVED”, released in September 2025, draws on the five-piece’s eclectic music taste, taking their signature disco sound in new directions.
In this episode, John is joined by Jules and Patrick in LA. The trio discuss the band’s early years busking in Australia, being inspired by 2000s pop songs in their youth, Parcels’ techniques for creating their signature multi-track vocal harmonies and how their vocals and instrumentation are designed to make songs sound like memories.
Tracks discussed: Tobeloved, Ifyoucall, Iwanttobeyourlightagain
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LISTEN to ‘LOVED’ HERE: LOVED by Parcels
‘ Because Music SAS’
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective
GEAR MENTIONS
OUR GEAR
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28 November 2025, 1:59 pm - 1 hour 35 minutesTN:168 Sam Gellaitry
John is joined by Scottish musician and producer Sam Gellaitry.
Described as “your favourite producer’s favourite producer”, Sam’s innovative, genre-blending electronic music and superb production skills have earned him a loyal fan following and industry respect over the past decade.
Sam signed his first deal, with XL Recordings, at just 18. While early EPs were purely instrumental, Sam started to incorporate his own vocals on fifth EP, IV (2021). The track ‘Assumptions’ from the EP became his biggest hit to date, reaching No. 5 on the US Dance Chart. In 2022, Sam’s collaboration with Pink Pantheress, ‘Picture in my Mind’, brought him to mainstream attention. The same year, he released his mixtape VF VOL II and was named by EDM as one of the 10 best producers of the year. Sam has toured extensively with artists including Kaytranada and Justice whilst continuing to release singles and selling out a multiple-night residency at cult London club Phonox. Sam’s debut album, ‘ANYWHERE HERE IS PERFECT’ was released on 7th November 2025.
Sitting down at Baltic Studios in London, Sam talks John through how the gear he uses has evolved over the years and the bespoke approaches he takes to create his unique, 80s-influenced sound. Sam talks about how having synaesthesia (experiencing music as colours) since childhood has been central to his creative process, his techniques for producing vocals and string sounds on the album, and much more!
Tracks discussed: ON&ON, DON’T TRY, YOU MIGHT FIND THE ONE
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LISTEN to ‘ANYWHERE HERE IS PERFECT’ here
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective
GEAR MENTIONS
OUR GEAR
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12 November 2025, 12:00 am - 1 hour 54 minutesTN:167 Kae Tempest & Fraser T. Smith
John is joined by Kae Tempest and Fraser T. Smith to discuss how they wrote and recorded the album “Self-Titled”.
Kae Tempest is an English recording artist and author. He began his career performing at open mic nights around London, quickly gaining a reputation for his powerful lyrical performances blending rap and spoken word poetry. Between 2008 and 2012 he toured internationally with his band Sound of Rum, launching a solo career with debut album ‘Everybody Down’ in 2014. It and second album ‘Let Them Eat Chaos’, released in 2015, were both nominated for the Mercury Prize. Kae has since released three further solo albums, including BRIT Award-nominated ‘The Line Is A Curve’. Kae is widely recognised as one of the UK alternative scene’s most essential voices, acclaimed for his exceptional lyricism and acute social commentary. Both are particularly evident on his fifth studio album, ‘Self Titled’, released earlier this year. ‘Self-Titled’ is Kae’s first collaboration with multi-award winning UK producer, songwriter and musician Fraser T. Smith.
The trio sit down at Fraser’s studio, Utopia, where the album was written and recorded, to discuss developing creative harmony working together for the first time, the process of building a song using ProTools, the influence of drum textures and bass sounds on the record, how one creative choice can completely change the direction of a track and much more.
Tracks discussed: Statue In The Square, Forever, Till Morning
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LISTEN to ‘Self Titled’ here - Self Titled by Kae Tempest
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI
GEAR MENTIONS
OUR GEAR
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29 October 2025, 12:00 am - 1 hour 47 minutesTN:166 Hayley Williams & Daniel James
John is joined by Hayley Williams and producer Daniel James to discuss how they wrote and recorded the album ‘Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party’.
Hayley Williams is an American pop-punk and rock musician. She began writing songs in her early teens, signing a deal with Atlantic Records at just 15 years old. The label wanted her to be a solo artist, but Hayley had other ideas, instead forming the band Paramore with three school friends. Paramore released their first album ‘All We Know Is Falling’ when Hayley was still only 16. They quickly built a loyal fanbase as audiences resonated with the energy and passion in their music. The band went on to release five more albums and win numerous awards including three Grammys. In 2020 Hayley released her first, highly acclaimed solo album ‘Petals for Armor’. Sophomore album ‘FLOWERS for VASES/descansos’ followed in 2021 to further critical praise. ‘Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party’, released in August this year on Hayley’s own label Post Atlantic, is her third collaboration with musician, producer and longtime friend Daniel James.
In this episode, Hayley and Daniel sit down with John at Platoon Studios to discuss how it felt setting out to record songs without an album in mind, how writing solo music differs from writing for Paramore for Hayley, the record’s diverse influences, the vocal recording techniques they used and much more.
Tracks discussed: Kill Me, Love Me Different, Parachute
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LISTEN to ‘Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party’ here: Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party by Hayley Williams
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective
GEAR MENTIONS
Portal - granular synthesis engine
Apple Logic Pro Retrosynth (stock plugin)
Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar
Fender Rhodes electric piano plugin
OUR GEAR
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Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk14 October 2025, 11:00 pm - 1 hour 37 minutesTN:165 The Favors (FINNEAS & Ashe)
John is joined by The Favors, a duo composed of producer/singer-songwriter FINNEAS and singer-songwriter Ashe, to discuss how they wrote and recorded the album ‘The Dream’.
FINNEAS is a Grammy Award-winning producer best known for his longtime collaboration with his younger sister, Billie Eilish. As her primary producer, songwriter and touring partner, FINNEAS has played a key role in shaping her sound, earning 10 Grammy Awards along the way. Beyond his work with Eilish, Finneas has established himself as a rising alt-pop artist. Ashe began her career singing demos in Nashville before gaining widespread recognition with her viral single ‘Moral of the Story’. Since then, she has released several acclaimed EPs and three studio albums. Having previously collaborated on a number of projects, FINNEAS and Ashe decided to form The Favors. They released the album ‘The Dream’ on 19th September 2025.
In this episode, FINNEAS and Ashe sit down with John to discuss their techniques for producing vocals, the essential plug-ins they used to create the album’s sound, how ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ influenced their lyric-writing, why devoting time to drum production really matters and some simple yet very effective production tips!
Tracks discussed: The Little Mess You Made, David’s Brother, Moonshine
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LISTEN to ‘The Dream’ here - The Dream by The Favors, FINNEAS, Ashe
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI
GEAR MENTIONS
Spectrasonics Keyscape Rhodes Piano Bass
OUR GEAR
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30 September 2025, 11:00 pm - 1 hour 25 minutesTN:164 Pomplamoose
John is joined by Pomplamoose - American indie-jazz duo Jack Conte and Nataly Dawn - to discuss how they wrote and recorded the album ‘Photogénique’, released in July this year.
The two met while studying at Stanford University and began making music together in early 2008. They first gained widespread attention in late 2009 through their inventive covers of popular songs on YouTube and MySpace, achieving their first viral hit in 2010 with their rendition of Beyoncé’s ‘Single Ladies’. Since then, Pomplamoose have released seven albums, including ‘Tribute to Famous People’ (2010) and ‘Hey, It’s Pomplamoose’ (2016), blending elements of indie pop, rock, and jazz.
In this episode, Jack and Nataly join remotely from their US studio to discuss the three-year process of writing and recording ‘Photogénique’, the ‘extreme self-honesty’ that led them to scrap and re-record much of the original album and their intricate vocal production processes. They also get into the influence of AI on their art, their top gear recommendations and advice they would give to newer artists.
Tracks discussed: Tu Peux Pas Savoir, Julie
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LISTEN to ‘Photogénique’ here, Pomplamoose Inc.
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI
GEAR MENTIONS
OUR GEAR
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16 September 2025, 11:00 pm - 2 hours 2 minutesTN:163 CMAT & Oli Deakin
John is joined by Irish singer-songwriter CMAT and producer Oli Deakin, to discuss how they wrote and recorded the album ‘EURO-COUNTRY’.
CMAT, aka Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, is best known for her unique blend of country-infused pop music, which often incorporates humour and pop culture references. She released her debut album, ‘If My Wife New I'd Be Dead’, in 2022, produced by longtime friend Oli Deakin. Both it and second album ‘Crazymad, For Me’ were praised for their detailed lyricism. The latter was also nominated for the Mercury Prize and the Ivor Novello Award for Best Album. CMAT’s third album ‘EURO-COUNTRY’ was released on 29th August 2025, with Oli Deakin again on production. It has already garnered rave reviews and given CMAT her first viral Tiktok hit with ‘Take a Sexy Picture of Me’.
Sitting down at Platoon Studios in London, the trio discuss how the album was inspired by growing up in Ireland in the Noughties, why CMAT’s phone is her most important instrument, how online trolling inspired her viral hit ‘Take a Sexy Picture of Me’ and why a three-minute ‘perfect’ pop melody can be the most effective way to deliver a hard-hitting political message.
Tracks discussed: Billy Byrne From Ballybrack, The Leader of the Pigeon Convoy; EURO-COUNTRY; Take a Sexy Picture of Me; Iceberg
TAPE IT
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Recorded at Platoon Studios
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LISTEN to ‘EURO-COUNTRY’ here: EURO-COUNTRY by CMAT, AWAL Recordings
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI
GEAR MENTIONS
OUR GEAR
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2 September 2025, 11:00 pm - 1 hour 35 minutesTN:162 Laufey & Spencer Stewart
John is joined by singer-songwriter and musician Laufey and producer Spencer Stewart to discuss how they wrote and recorded the album ‘A Matter Of Time’.
Having performed on numerous national TV singing shows in her youth, Icelandic-Chinese artist Laufey released her first full-length album, ‘Everything I Know About Love’ in 2022. It was praised for seamlessly blending jazz influences with contemporary production. Her second album, ‘Bewitched’, continued this trend with its captivating jazz-pop ballads and earned her the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. Laufey met producer Spencer Stewart when they were students at music college in the US and they have been collaborating ever since. Laufey’s much anticipated third album ‘A Matter of Time’ was released on 24th August 2025.
Sitting down at Strongroom Studios in London, the trio discuss how creativity often involves breaking formal rules, why the voice is an underrated instrument, the importance of not being a snob when it comes to technology and their belief that when it sounds wrong in the studio, it might just be because you’ve hit on something really original!
Tracks discussed: Lover Girl; Tough Luck; Too Little, Too Late
TAPE IT
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Recorded at Strongroom Studios
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LISTEN to ‘A Matter of Time’ here , Vingolf Recordings
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective
GEAR MENTIONS
OUR GEAR
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27 August 2025, 11:00 pm - 1 hour 26 minutesTN:161 Rudimental
John is joined by Piers and Kesi of seminal British dance act Rudimental, at Strongroom Studios in London to discuss how they wrote and recorded new album ‘RUDIM3NTAL’.
Rudimental’s three members - Piers Aggett, Kesi Dryden and Leon Rolle - started as childhood friends. After releasing their debut album ‘Home’ in 2013, the trio quickly became one of the most influential dance acts of the 21st century. They have amassed billions of streams worldwide, toured extensively and released multiple chart-topping singles including ‘Feel the Love’, ‘Waiting All Night’ and ‘These Days’.
In this episode, the band discuss the evolution of Rudimental from their earliest days and how they keep things fresh and exciting five albums in. They talk about honing in on the drum and bass genre on this record and other changes they made to their process such as working with samples and collaborating with different producers. They also discuss their legendary talent for getting the best from featured vocalists and the influence their live shows have always had on their studio recordings.
Tracks discussed: Chop Dem Down, Thank You, Green & Gold
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LISTEN to ‘RUDIM3NTAL’ here
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective
Gear mentions:
Izotope Music Rebalance (part of RX suite)
UAD Dyntronics cyclosonic panner
OUR GEAR
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12 August 2025, 11:00 pm - 1 hour 41 minutesTN:160 Djo & Adam Thein
John is joined by Djo and producer Adam Thein to discuss how they wrote and recorded the album ‘The Crux’.
Djo, aka Joe Keery, is an American musician and actor. His music career began back in 2014 as a guitarist and drummer in the Chicago psych-rock/garage band ‘Post Animal’. He left to launch a solo career as Djo, balancing music with a starring role in the Netflix global hit ‘Stranger Things’. His first album as Djo, ‘Twenty Twenty’, was released in 2019 and praised by critics for its blend of psychedelic rock and power pop influences. His second album ‘Decide’, followed in 2022. The single ‘End of Beginning’ from the album was a viral hit and was nominated for Brit and Billboard awards. ‘The Crux’, arrived in April this year to further critical acclaim, once again working with producer Adam Thein
In this episode, the pair discuss Joe’s collaborative approach to creating and what Adam sees as Joe’s particular gift for knowing what feedback to take on board and what to discard. Joe talks about the long process of making ‘The Crux’, juggling writing and recording with a demanding acting career, and how space and time actually aided his creative process.
Tracks discussed: Delete Ya, Charlie’s Garden, Egg
TAPE IT
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Recorded at Platoon Tileyard Studios
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LISTEN to ‘The Crux’ here
AWAL Recordings
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective
GEAR MENTIONS
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.
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29 July 2025, 11:00 pm - More Episodes? Get the App