• 1 hour 16 minutes
    TN:180 Foo Fighters

    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, and in 2021 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their twelfth studio album, ‘Your Favorite Toy’, arrived in April 2026.

    Sitting down at Metropolis Studios in London, Dave and bassist Nate Mendel break down tracks, all the way from Dave’s demos and early drum patterns through to the final masters. The pair also discuss how they created the distinctive Foo Fighters guitar sounds on ‘Spit Shine’, share stories from recording screaming and Ilan’s perfect flams, and answer questions from our Patrons! 

    Tracks discussed: Asking For A Friend, Spit Shine, If You Only Knew

    LISTEN to Your Favourite Toy: Your Favorite Toy by Foo Fighters, RCA Records.

    TAPE IT

    Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast.

    Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off.

    Try the new Tape It Denoiser  currently 50% off!

    TRINITY LABAN

    Find out more about Trinity Laban’s new MA in Songwriting.  

    QUBE 

    Find out more about Qube membership here.

    MAKE NOISE PRO AUDIO

    Use the code TAPENOTES10 for 10% off all Franklin Audio products at makenoiseproaudio.com

    MUSIVERSAL

    Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE

    Recorded at Metropolis Studios

    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  

    linktr.ee/tapenotes 

    Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI 

    GEAR MENTIONS

    API 1608 Console

    Neve BCM10

    Wizard Amps

    Fender Tone master

    Hiwatt Amps

    Freedman Amps

    Trini Lopez Guitar

    Moog Theremini

    Shure SM58 Microphone

    Gibson ES-335

    Ludwig Drums


    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 

    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

    5 May 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 1 hour 31 minutes
    TN:179 TOMORA (Tom Rowlands of Chemical Brothers & AURORA)

    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 began collaborating when Aurora featured on The Chemical Brothers’ Grammy Award-winning 2019 album No Geography. In turn, Tom produced parts of AURORA’s What Happened To The Heart? (2024). That led to TOMORA and their debut album COME CLOSER.

    Sitting down at Baltic Studios, they discuss creating the album’s distinctive soundscapes and recording AURORA’s striking vocals. They also introduce John to the vintage synthesiser crucial to the album’s sound, plus answer Patreons’ questions!


    Tracks discussed: Somewhere Else, I Drink the Light, Come Closer

    LISTEN to COME CLOSER by TOMORA, AURORA, The Chemical Brothers


    TAPE IT

    Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast.

    Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off.

    QUBE 

    Find out more about Qube membership here.

    MAKE NOISE PRO AUDIO

    Use the code TAPENOTES10 for 10% off all Franklin Audio products at makenoiseproaudio.com

    MUSIVERSAL

    Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE

    Recorded at Baltic Studios.

    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  

    linktr.ee/tapenotes 

    Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI 


    GEAR MENTIONS

    DMX 15-80S

    Eventide H3000 Harmoniser

    Neumann U87 Microphone

    Takstar SM-9

    Octave-Plateau Voyetra 8

    MPC60

    Moog System 55

    Makenoise DPO

    Logic Pro X 

    E-MU S-1200 Sampler

    EMS Synthi AKS

    Elektron Monomachine

    Cong Burn Strokes

    Ableton Live

    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 

    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

    21 April 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 1 hour 39 minutes
    TN:178 Holly Humberstone & Rob Milton

    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 album 'Paint My Bedroom Black’, arrived in 2023, and reached the UK top 5, while tours with Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo boosted her global profile. Her second album, Cruel World, was released in April 2026, working with long-time collaborator, producer Rob Milton.

    Sitting down at Baltic Studios, the trio discuss the record’s influences, from The 1975 to Fleetwood Mac. They break down ‘To Love Somebody’ from early voice notes to final master, explore harmony techniques on ‘Cruel World’, and Holly reflects on how industry pressures shaped ‘Beauty Pageant’, alongside sharing their essential plug-ins and gear.


    Tracks discussed: To Love Somebody, Cruel World, Beauty Pageant


    LISTEN to Cruel World here - Cruel World by Holly Humberstone, Polydor Records

    TAPE IT

    Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast.

    Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off.

    QUBE 

    Find out more about Qube membership here.

    MAKE NOISE PRO AUDIO

    Use the code TAPENOTES10 for 10% off all Franklin Audio products at makenoiseproaudio.com

    MUSIVERSAL

    Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE

    Recorded at Baltic Studios.


    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  

    linktr.ee/tapenotes 

    Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective


    GEAR MENTIONS

    Roland Juno-60 Synthesizer

    The God Particle (Plugin) by Cradle

    Soundtoys Decapitator

    Sequential Prophet 5 Synthesizer

    Arturia DX-7

    Soundtoys PanMan

    Pocket Piano

    Critter & Guitari Organelle

    Splice

    AMS RMX16 Reverb

    Rotor Solo Cello plugin

    Korg ARP 2600 M


    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 

    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

    14 April 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 1 hour 40 minutes
    Reissue | TN:49 Enter Shikari

    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 how the band wrote, recorded and produced their new album ‘Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible’.  

    As the band’s most genre-bending album to date, Rou talks us through the challenges of combining techy metal, rave, reggae and ska influences with an oom-pah band and full symphony orchestra. Digging through his fifteen hard drives of demos and jams, we’re shown how every aspect of a track has a purpose and meaning – with detailed rhythms and distinctive sounds reflecting the state of the world in their own way.   

    Listen to hear the original gibberish lyrics that ended up making the final version of a song, how the band ended up forming and recording their toy drum kit and what plugins Rou uses to create his own audio cuddle.  

    Tracks discussed: THE GREAT UNKNOWN, Waltzing Off the Face of the Earth (1. Crescendo), satellites* *

     

    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES 

    ⁠https://linktr.ee/tapenotes⁠ 

     

    ⁠ Listen to 'Nothing is True & Everything is Possible' here.⁠

    'Nothing is True & Everything is Possible' - SO Recordings/Silva Screen Records Limited

    Intro Music - ⁠Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective ⁠

     

    GEAR MENTIONS

    ⁠Ableton⁠

    ⁠Akai MPC Sampler⁠

    ⁠ Arp 2600⁠

    ⁠Arturia Synth Emulators⁠

    ⁠Chandler REDD Microphone⁠

    ⁠Farfisa⁠

    ⁠Kemper Profiler Rack⁠

    ⁠ LOMO Channel Strip⁠

    ⁠Native Instruments Massive⁠

    ⁠Roland Jupiter 6⁠

    ⁠Sound Guru Mangle Plugin⁠

     

    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

      

    Follow us on Social Media to keep up to date with the latest episodes and submit questions:

    ⁠Instagram⁠

    ⁠Facebook⁠

    ⁠Twitter⁠

     

    Visit our website to join our mailing list: ⁠www.tapenotes.co.uk⁠ 

    31 March 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 1 hour 49 minutes
    TN:177 Imogen Heap

    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 including Taylor Swift and Jon Hopkins. She consistently integrates technology into her practice, developing innovations like the Mi.Mu gloves and Mogen, an AI voice model that plays a central role in her 2025 EP ‘I AM__’.

    Joining Imogen at her Hideaway Studio, the conversation covers everything from her visceral experiences with noise music artists, to her pioneering use of AI and the latest developments with Mogen, exploring how technology continues to shape her creative process and collaborations.

    Tracks discussed: What Have You Done To Me?, Noise, Aftercare

    LISTEN to IAM _ _ _ here: I AM __ by Imogen Heap, Megaphonic Records

    TAPE IT

    Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast.

    Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off.

    QUBE 

    Find out more about Qube membership here.

    MAKE NOISE PRO AUDIO

    Use the code TAPENOTES10 for 10% off all Franklin Audio products at makenoiseproaudio.com

    MUSIVERSAL

    Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE

    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  

    linktr.ee/tapenotes 

    Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI 

    GEAR MENTIONS

    Soma Lyra

    Wave Arts Panorama 7

    Native Instruments Massive

    Euroracks

    Ableton Live

    Antares Autotune

    Avid Pro Tools

    Splice

    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 

    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

    25 March 2026, 12:00 am
  • 1 hour 42 minutes
    TN:176 Fred again..

    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 his studio output, from his acclaimed ‘Actual Life’ trilogy to the record ‘ten days’ Fred’s live shows have become global events, from Glastonbury to arena-scale collaborations, notably alongside FourTet and Skrillex, while his evolving USB project culminated in sold-out international performances and four homecoming shows at London’s Alexandra Palace in 2026.

    Sitting down once again at Fred’s house, Fred and John discuss the unlikely inspirations behind the songs on USB, sharing his advice for aspiring musicians and producers, the gear essential to his process and much more! Plus Fred answers questions from our Patreon subscribers!

    Tracks discussed: solo, ..FEISTY, HARDSTYLE 2


    LISTEN to USB here - USB by Fred again..,

    Atlantic Records


    TAPE IT

    Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast.

    Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off.


    QUBE 

    Find out more about Qube membership here.


    MAKE NOISE PRO AUDIO

    Use the code TAPENOTES10 for 10% off all Franklin Audio products at makenoiseproaudio.com


    MUSIVERSAL

    Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE


    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  

    linktr.ee/tapenotes 


    Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI 


    GEAR MENTIONS

    Waves SoundShifter

    Native Instruments Reaktor 6

    Celemony Melodyne

    Xfer Records Serum 2

    Fruityloops (FL Studio)

    LHI Audio ST4b

    Soundtoys FilterFreak

    Apple Logic Pro

    Apple Logic Pro Retro Synth

    Apple Logic Pro Chromaverb

    Apple Logic Pro Overdrive saturator

    Apple Logic Pro Spring Box delay pedal

    Apple Logic Pro Tremolo effect

    Apple Logic Pro ES2


    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 

    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

    11 March 2026, 12:01 am
  • 1 hour 49 minutes
    TN:175 Mumford & Sons and Aaron Dessner

    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 album, ‘Prizefighter', was co-written and co-produced with Aaron Dessner, and features collaborations with Hozier, Gracie Abrams, Gigi Perez and Chris Stapleton, with the band embracing a new creative freedom in the process.


    Sitting down with Marcus at his Scarlet Pimpernel studio, John and the band discuss how the album unexpectedly grew out of collaboration, and how the process left them feeling more creatively free than ever. They also dig into why the right mic isn’t always the most expensive one, Aaron’s techniques for recording guitars, how they created the album’s distinctive synth sounds and much more!


    Tracks discussed: Here, Prizefighter, Conversation With My Son (Gangsters & Angels)


    TAPE IT

    Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast.

    Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off.


    LISTEN to ‘Prizefighter’ here - Prizefighter by Mumford & Sons

    ‘Island/Gentlemen of the Road'


    TAPE IT

    Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast.

    Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off.


    QUBE 

    Find out more about Qube membership here.


    MAKE NOISE PRO AUDIO

    Use the code TAPENOTES10 for 10% off all Franklin Audio products at makenoiseproaudio.com


    MUSIVERSAL

    Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE


    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  

    linktr.ee/tapenotes 


    Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective


    GEAR MENTIONS

    Tech 21 CompTortion

    Waterfall B3 Organ

    Mellotron

    Siemens WSW Console

    Neve Console

    Erica Synths Black Spring Reverb 

    Gibson Firebird

    Gibson J45

    Shure SM7B

    Sequential Prophet

    French Connection

    Neumann U47

    Neve 1064 Preamp

    Neve 1073 Preamp

    Neve 1066 Preamp

    Lisson Grove R-124 Compressor

    Roland Juno-60

    Optigan

    Neumann M49

    Cubase

    Logic Pro

    Avid Pro Tools


    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 

    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

    25 February 2026, 6:27 pm
  • 1 hour 25 minutes
    TN:174 Danny L Harle

    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 label PC Music, with his debut album Harlecore arriving in 2021. Cerulean, Danny’s second album, was released in February 2026. Featuring collaborations with Caroline Polachek, PinkPatheress, Clairo, Oklou and others, the album distils his signature mix of rave energy, classical harmony and hyper-detailed production.

    Sitting down at Premises Studios, the two discuss how Danny programs synths to convey human elements and emotions, his favourite plug-ins of all time, collaborating with Clairo and PinkPantheress on Cerulean, plus much more!


    Tracks discussed: Laa, Facing Away (Ft. Clairo), Starlight (Ft. PinkPantheress)


    TAPE IT

    Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast.

    Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off.


    QUBE 

    Find out more about Qube membership here.


    MAKE NOISE PRO AUDIO

    Use the code TAPENOTES10 for 10% off all Franklin Audio products at makenoiseproaudio.com


    MUSIVERSAL

    Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE


    LISTEN to Cerulean’ here.


    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  

    linktr.ee/tapenotes 

    Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective


    GEAR MENTIONS

    Native Instruments Reaktor 6

    Reaktor Steam Pipe 2

    Fabfilter Pro-R 2

    Native Instruments Razor

    Rhizomatic Software Synthesis Plasmonic

    LennarDigital Sylenth

    Sonic Kick 3

    Native Instruments Massive

    Rob Pappen Predator

    Fabfilter Pro-Q 4

    Oeksound Soothe 2


    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 

    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

    13 February 2026, 6:00 am
  • 1 hour 37 minutes
    TN:173 Emma-Jean Thackray

    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 Chart and won Jazz FM Album of the Year. Her second album, 'Weirdo', followed in 2025 and was nominated for that year’s Mercury Prize. Entirely written, recorded, performed and produced by Emma-Jean, the record ultimately became a deeply personal grief diary following the sudden death of her partner.

    Sitting down at Strongroom Studios in London, Emma-Jean and John delve into how to make yourself like a whole band when you’re just one artist in a room, including layering and techniques for vocal recording and processing. Emma-Jean talks about exploring death and grief musically on ‘Maybe Nowhere’, being a perfectionist, and why a distortion pedal is the most highly insured piece she owns!


    Tracks discussed: Wanna Die, Save Me, Maybe Nowhere


    TAPE IT

    Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast.

    Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off.


    Recorded at Strongroom Studios


    QUBE

    Find out more about Qube membership here.


    MAKE NOISE PRO AUDIO

    Use the code TAPENOTES10 for 10% off all Franklin Audio products at makenoiseproaudio.com


    LISTEN to ‘Weirdo’ here - https://lynkify.in/album/weirdo/XTgkV1p8 

    Warner Music UK Limited and Brownswood Music Limited


    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  

    linktr.ee/tapenotes 


    Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective


    GEAR MENTIONS

    Valhalla Super Massive

    Valhalla Plugins

    Prophet 5 V Soft Synth

    dbx 160 Compressor

    Telefunken ELA M Mic

    Moog

    Ampeg Bass Amp

    Fender P-Bass

    Bidirectional Ribbon Mics (Coles 4038)

    Boss RE202 Space Echo

    Fender Semi Hollow Telecaster

    Fender Blues Junior

    Roland SH-101

    Fender Rhodes

    Neve 1073 Clone


    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 

    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

    28 January 2026, 12:00 am
  • 1 hour 47 minutes
    TN:172 Artemas & Toby Daintree

    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 he released mixtapes ‘pretty’ and ‘yustyna’ the same year. 2024 also saw Artemas’s second viral success with ‘i like the way you kiss me’, which was number one in eight countries. Artemas’s fourth release, ‘LOVERCORE’, with longtime collaborator and producer Toby Daintree, arrived in October 2025.


    In this episode, John is joined by Artemas and Toby Daintree at Baltic Studios. The trio discuss techniques for processing vocals and samples. They reveal their top plugins and other software they use to create Artemas’s distinctive sound. They also break down the track ‘i like the way you kiss me’ from its earliest beginnings to Tiktok viral hit.


    Tracks discussed:  if u think i'm pretty, I like the way you kiss me, take it easy on me


    TAPE IT

    Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast.

    Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off.


    Recorded at Baltic Studios.


    MUSIVERSAL

    Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE


    LISTEN to Lovercore’ here.

    ‘Artemas’


    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  

    linktr.ee/tapenotes 


    Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI 


    GEAR MENTIONS

    SoundToys Decapitator

    SoundToys Echoboy

    Waves Vocal Doubler

    Slate Digital Fresh Air

    Zynaptiq Pitchmap

    Oeksound Soothe 2

    Xfer Serum

    Arturia Mello-Fi

    UAD SSL Bus Compressor

    UAD Moog Minimoog

    UAD PolyMAX

    UAD Brigade Chorus

    UA Apollo

    XLN Audio RC-20

    Sonic Academy ANA 2.5 Software Synthesizer

    Omnisphere

    PORTAL by Output

    Telefunken ELA M251E

    Fender Rhodes

    Sequential Prophet

    Korg Opsix

    Neumann TLM 103

    Genelec 8010

    CapCut

    Ableton Live


    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 

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    Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk

    14 January 2026, 12:00 am
  • 1 hour 53 minutes
    Reissue | TN:46 Rina Sawayama & Clarence Clarity

    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’.  

     

    Diving deep into the almost 100 track sessions, Rina and Clarence reflect on how the album took shape, from writing demos in Rina’s bedroom to spending months in an LA studio. We hear the pair’s philosophies on creativity and the hustle of making it in the world of music, along with the secrets in crafting their fusion of R&B, noughties pop and nu-metal.  

     

    Listen to find out why Rina tries includes at least 10 hooks in each song, how Clarence tried to match a trap beat to Rina’s mum’s Beethoven performance and which member of The 1975 made a secret appearance on the record. 

     

    Tracks discussed: Dynasty, Love Me 4 Me, Snakeskin

     

    LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES 

    https://linktr.ee/tapenotes 

     

    Listen to 'Sawayama' here.

    'Sawayama' - Dirty Hit

    Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective 

     

    GEAR MENTIONS

    Ableton

    Sontronics Saturn

    Soundelux U99


    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

    John Kennedy

    Will Brown 

    Tim Adam-Smith 

    Will Lyons 

    Nico Varanese 

    Guy Nicholls 

    Jessica Clucas

    Ali Lewis

    2 January 2026, 12:00 am
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