Tape Notes

Imogen Heap, British composer and tech innovator behind the Mi.Mu gloves and Mogen AI voice, chats about her I AM__ project. She traces noisy, visceral recordings and modular synth explorations. She explains building a private AI vocal, spatializing intense sounds, and why improvisation and aftercare shape her creative process.

Fred again.., British songwriter and producer behind the Actual Life trilogy, discusses making the album USB. He talks about sourcing and chopping samples, turning long jams into songs, framing aggressive vocals and building drum textures. He also shares his essential gear, real-time processing tricks, collaboration choices and how USB blends diverse genres.

Ben Lovett, Mumford & Sons multi-instrumentalist and arranger; Aaron Dessner, producer and composer known for The National; Marcus Mumford, frontman and songwriter. They talk about how Prizefighter grew from quick collaborations across studios. Conversations cover capturing elusive guitar tones, building synth-driven arrangements, recording across locations, and playful production techniques.

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

Emma-Jean Thackray, an English musician, producer and multi-instrumentalist, discusses making her Mercury-nominated album Weirdo. She explains layering herself into a full band, vocal recording and processing tricks, and using a distortion pedal as a central sound. They also cover arranging huge solo choirs, drum and bass signal chains, and turning minimal ideas into orchestral crescendos.

In a lively conversation, British songwriter and producer Toby Daintree joins Artemas, a rising star known for his dark pop hits. They delve into the making of their album 'LOVERCORE', revealing intimate details about tracks like 'i like the way you kiss me'. The duo discusses vocal processing techniques and favorite plugins that shape Artemas's unique sound. They share how TikTok influenced their success and provide insights on crafting catchy moments. Their creative journey showcases the fun of experimentation and the importance of authenticity in music.

Rina Sawayama, a Japanese–British singer-songwriter known for her eclectic pop sound, teams up with Clarence Clarity, an innovative producer and longtime collaborator. They dive into the creative process behind Rina’s debut album, discussing how they crafted over 100 tracks. Rina reveals her unique approach of embedding at least ten hooks in each song. Clarence shares tales of fusing genres, including metal and pop, while recounting a surprise appearance from a member of The 1975. Their insights into collaboration and production make for an engaging listen!

In this special Xmas episode, John is joined by Adam Buxton and producer Joe Mount to discuss how they wrote, recorded and produced the album Buckle Up. Adam Buxton is a podcaster, actor, comedian and musician, best known for his long-running, award-winning Adam Buxton Podcast. Since launching in 2015, he’s become one of the UK’s most popular podcasters, with guests ranging from Paul McCartney to Tom Hanks. He’s also appeared in films including Hot Fuzz and Stardust, and published two acclaimed memoirs. With his popular jingles at the heart of segments on his podcast and mid-2000s radio show, Adam began work on his debut record Buckle Up in 2022, enlisting Metronomy’s Joe Mount as producer. Sitting down at Strongroom Studios, Adam and Joe dig into the sounds and ideas behind Buckle Up, exploring how to balance comedy with more serious songwriting, and why stripping back production can help reveal something more authentic. Tracks discussed: Dancing in The Middle, My Feelings, Skip This Track, Tea Towel GEAR GIVEAWAY COMPETITION Join the Christmas Giveaway on the Tape Notes Patreon Page 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 Get 20% off at Qube Studio: https://www.theqube.com/ MAKENOISE PRO AUDIO Get 20% off all Franklin Audio products at https://makenoiseproaudio.com/ MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LISTEN to ‘Buckle Up’ here: https://lynkify.in/album/buckle-up/RmIMrCSB  Decca Records LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI  GEAR MENTIONS The God Particle Soniccouture Native Instruments Roland System 100 Yamaha NS-10 Speakers Yamaha QY-20 Yamaha QY-70 Yamaha QY-100 Fender Stratocaster Tupperware Logic Pro 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:  Patreon: Tape Notes YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Instagram: @tapenotes  Discord: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, 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

Danielle Haim, the talented multi-instrumentalist of pop-rock band Haim, and Rostam Batmanglij, former Vampire Weekend member and renowned producer, dive deep into the creation of their latest album, 'I Quit'. They explore songwriting beginnings with GarageBand and the evolution of hit tracks like 'Relationships' and 'Down To Be Wrong'. Rostam shares insights on production techniques like layering drums and creating vocal harmonies, while Danielle reflects on genre influences, including a surprising U2 connection. Tune in for a rich blend of music craftsmanship and personal anecdotes!

Join Jules Crommelin and Patrick Hetherington from the Australian electropop band Parcels as they dive into the creative journey behind their latest album, "LOVED". They share tales from their early busking days in Australia and the evolution of their sound after relocating to Berlin. Discover how their signature multi-track harmonies bring a nostalgic feel to their songs and learn about the intriguing production techniques they employed, including live tracking and extensive room mic use to capture an authentic atmosphere.