TN:175 Mumford & Sons and Aaron Dessner
Tape Notes
Vocal Approaches and Microphone Choices
Marcus discusses preferring SM7B for loud, free takes and using M49/U47 for intimate moments, plus signal chains.
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)
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LISTEN to ‘Prizefighter’ here - Prizefighter by Mumford & Sons
‘Island/Gentlemen of the Road'
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LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective
GEAR MENTIONS
Erica Synths Black Spring Reverb
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