Tape Notes

Tape Notes is a podcast about the art and craft of music production. Hosted by John Kennedy, each episode reunites an artist and producer to talk about the highlights of their collaboration in the studio. Their conversations lift the lid on every stage of the creative process, from kindling the first spark of a song idea, through decisions on style and instrumentation, to finessing the final product. Full of fascinating anecdotes, the conversations also feature early demo versions and stems from the original session recordings. The result is a unique insight into the working methods of some of the most innovative and exciting talents in music.

Music
Music Interviews
101
TN:63 IDLES, Nick Launay & Adam Greenspan
In this episode John is joined by Idles guitarist Mark Bowen along with co-producers Nick Launay and Adam “Atom” Greenspan to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the band’s latest album ‘Ultra Mono’. Unearthing backstage phone...
131 min
102
TN:62 Bicep
In quite possibly one of the most synth-heavy episodes ever, John catches up with Matt and Andy of Bicep to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced their latest album ‘Isles’. Unravelling the mystery of how they do what they do, Matt and...
109 min
103
Best of Season 6
A selection of our highlights from Season 6
65 min
104
TN:61 Lianne La Havas, Sam Crowe & Beni Giles
In this biscuit fuelled episode, John is joined by Lianne La Havas along with producers Sam Crowe and Beni Giles to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Lianne’s latest album ‘Lianne La Havas’. Delving into Lianne's most personal...
102 min
105
TN:60 Haim, Ariel Rechtshaid & Rostam Batmanglij
In this episode, John catches up with Danielle from Haim along with co-producers Ariel Rechtshaid and Rostam Batmanglij to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Haim’s latest album ‘Women in Music Pt. III’. With recordings of jams,...
113 min
106
TN:59 Glass Animals
Returning for his second outing on Tape Notes, John links up with Glass Animals frontman and producer Dave Bayley, to talk about how the band wrote, recorded and produced their latest album ‘Dreamland’. Born out of an emotional time of uncertainty...
108 min
107
TN:58 Nothing But Thieves
In this episode, John catches up with Conor, Joe and Dom from Nothing But Thieves, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced their latest album ‘Moral Panic’.Loaded up with original demo sessions and ideas recorded while on tour, the boys si
108 min
108
TN:57 Nova Twins & Jim Abbiss
In this episode, John catches up with Nova Twins’ Amy and Georgia along with producer Jim Abbiss to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced their debut album ‘Who Are The Girls?’ Reflecting on venturing into the studio for the first time w
88 min
109
TN:56 Jacob Collier
In this episode, John catches up with Jacob Collier to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced his albums Djesse Volumes 1, 2 & 3.With original Logic sessions, demos and heaps of stems in hand, Jacob unravels the wealth of ideas charting the deve..
101 min
110
TN:55 Biffy Clyro & Rich Costey
In this episode, John catches up with Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil and producer Rich Costey to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘A Celebration of Endings’.Armed with the very first demos and ‘work-in-progress’ recordin
110 min
111
TN:54 Disclosure
In this episode, John catches up with brothers Guy and Howard of Disclosure, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘ENERGY’.Chosen from over 200 songs, the pair break apart the individual parts and distinct sounds from the hand
110 min
112
TN:53 Paul Epworth
Launching into a brand new season, John rockets over to The Church Studios to catch up with super-producer Paul Epworth, Harry Edwards and Riley MacIntyre to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Paul’s debut album ‘Voyager’. ...
84 min
113
Best of Season 5
In this episode we pick out a selection of highlights from Season 5. If you haven't heard every episode from the last season, this is a good way to introduce yourself to some of the other artists and producers we've had on and hear their tips, tricks and.
57 min
114
TN:52 Sports Team & Burke Reid (Mercury Prize N...
In this episode, John heads over to Sports Team HQ to catch up with Oli, Rob and producer Burke Reid, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced their Mercury nominated debut album ‘Deep Down Happy’. With DIY demos and a bag of stems,...
96 min
115
TN:51 Georgia & Mark Ralph (Mercury Prize Nomin...
Back at the start of lockdown, John caught up with Georgia and producer Mark Ralph to bring together a special episode for Aim House on how they wrote, recorded and produced Georgia’s Mercury nominated album ‘Seeking Thrills’. Delving right into th
79 min
116
TN:50 EOB & Flood
In this episode, John heads up to Assault & Battery Studios to chat with EOB – the solo project from Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien - and legendary producer Flood, to talk through how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Earth’.  Armed wit
124 min
117
TN:49 Enter Shikari
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 d
95 min
118
TN:48 Grouplove & Dave Sitek
In this episode, John catches up with Grouplove’s Hannah Hooper and Christian Zucconi along with legendary producer Dave Sitek to breakdown how they wrote, recorded and produced the band’s latest album Healer. As their first record with an outsi
88 min
119
TN:47 Badly Drawn Boy & Gethin Pearson
In this episode, John catches up with Badly Drawn Boy A.K.A Damon Gough and producer Gethin Pearson to talk through how they wrote, recorded and produced ‘Banana Skin Shoes’. After numerous false starts producing the album – his first after an 8 y
117 min
120
TN:46 Rina Sawayama & Clarence Clarity
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 ho
109 min
121
TN:45 Ghostpoet
In this episode, John catches up with Obaro Ejimiwe, A.K.A Ghostpoet, along with engineer and mixer Shuta Shinoda to talk through how they wrote, recorded and produced his latest album, ‘I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep’.  Recorded at the start
90 min
122
TN:44 Tom Misch & Adam Jaffrey
In this episode, John catches up with Tom Misch and engineer Adam Jaffrey to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Tom’s collaboration album with drummer Yussef Dayes -  ‘What Kinda Music’. Tom and Adam dig deep into the session materia
73 min
123
TN:43 Jack Garratt
In this episode, John catches up with Jack Garratt to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced his latest album Love, Death & Dancing. Jack digs up the original demo sessions recorded in his garden shed, unravelling the multitude of ideas he packe.
99 min
124
TN:42 Caribou
In this episode John links up with Caribou a.k.a. Dan Snaith, to breakdown how Suddenly -  his first release in five years - was written, recorded and produced. Diving deep into his hard drive Dan treats us to a plethora of demo versions, track breakd
115 min
125
TN:41 Foals
Kicking off a brand new season, John is joined by Foals frontman Yannis Philippakis to talk about how the band’s mammoth two-part project Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost was written, recorded and produced. As their first self-produced albums, Yan
84 min