In this episode, John is joined by Blur frontman Damon Albarn and producer James Ford, to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘The Ballad of Darren’.

With Damon’s initial demos to hand, the pair give us a guided tour of the record, right through the early versions and studio sessions, from the moments that reignited the feelings they had when writing in the 90s, to piecing together the musical jigsaw that forms the Blur sound.

Along with stories of Damon’s inspirational chickens and the dangers of making pesto while writing an album, we’re treated to an in depth production and songwriting masterclass, with details on manufacturing the sound of a room, and the importance of energy and intention behind a song.

Listen to find out what makes the first performance of something so special, why a 4-track recorder can sometimes be a great replacement pillow, and what benefits come with giving yourself distance from a record.

Tracks discussed: St. Charles Square, The Everglades (For Leonard), The Narcissist

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  
linktr.ee/tapenotes 
Listen to ‘The Ballad of Darren’ here 
 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company

Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective

GEAR MENTIONS
Eventide H3000
U47 Mic
Neve 1073 Preamp
Neve Desk
TON-1501 Analog Strings Synthesizer
Powertran Transcendent 2000
Coles 4038 Mics
Mellotron
Whurli
Clavinet
Fender Amps
Semler Amps
Garageband

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
Or 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
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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
Will Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & Editor
Tim Adam-Smith - Executive Producer
Will Lyons - Editor
Videographer - Andy Tindall/Herbie Elton-Rowley
Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant
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TN:119 Blur & James Ford

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

John catches up with Bob Vylan and producer Jonny Breakwell to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the ‘Humble As The Sun’.

Bob Vylan, a grime and punk rock duo who emerged in 2017. Despite facing resistance for their provocative themes on racism and inequality, they gained a loyal following. Their albums, 2020’s ‘We Live Here’ and 2022’s ‘Bob Vylan Presents the Price of Life’ earned critical acclaim, and saw the duo win Best Alternative Act at the MOBO Awards. Their latest, ‘Humble as the Sun,’ sees the duo flex their musical muscles, drawing on soul, drill, and punk, brought together with their trademark intensity.

Chatting in Miloco’s The Pool Studio, where some of the album was recorded, the conversation includes insights into navigating the independent artist landscape and the pivotal moments balancing personal and musical life. The pair also reflect on the process of refining Bobby's initial demos into polished tracks, exploring the production techniques that enhance the depth and character of the band’s sound.

Tracks discussed: Humble As The Sun, Reign, Makes Me Violent

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 50% off.

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  
linktr.ee/tapenotes 
Listen to ‘Humble As The Sun’ here.
Ghost Theatre

Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective

GEAR MENTIONS
FabFilter Saturn 2
FabFilter Pro Q3
Soundtoys Radiator
Boz Labs Big Clipper
Native Instruments Battery
Native Instrument Kontakt
Native Instruments Massive
Native Instruments Guitar Rig
Valhalla Delay
Seventh Heaven Reverb
Plugin Alliance Black Box
Waves CLA Compressor
Ableton Overdrive Plugin
UAD Apollo
Leslie Rotating Speaker
SE Electronics SE2200 Condenser Microphone
AKG414 Microphone
BeesNeez Arabella Microphone
Lomo 19A19 Microphone
Shure KSM353 Ribbon Mic
Shadow Hills Mono GAMA Mic Pre
Culture Vulture Distortion
Neve one of a kind Distortion Unit (Marshall Studios)
Neve 80’s series desk (Marshall Studios)
Marshall Jaguar Amp

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
Or 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
Will Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & Editor
Tim Adam-Smith - Executive Producer, Videographer
Will Lyons - Editor
Nico Varanese - Videographer, Editor
Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant
Jessica Clucas - Production Assistant
Katie-Louise Buxton - Production Assistant
Seb Brunner-Stolovitzky - Production Assistant
Jonathon Coughlin - Production Assistant
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TN:135 Bob Vylan & Jonny Breakwell

John catches up with English rock band The Libertines to discuss how they wrote and recorded their latest album ‘All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade’.

The Libertines formed in 1997 and shot to fame with their debut album, 'Up the Bracket,' becoming pillars of the British indie/alternative resurgence of the early 2000s.
Thirty years after their careers started, they have unveiled their fourth studio album, 'All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade,' primarily recorded at their studio, The Albion Rooms, in Margate, with producer Dimitri Tikovoï.

Sitting down with frontmen Carl Barat and Peter Doherty, the pair discuss their song writing process from idea to finished album. As well as sharing exclusive insights into the evolution of the Libertines’ recording process, we hear demos and ideas from their early days writing together up to recent studio time in Jamaica. 

Tracks discussed: Run Run Run, Merry Old England, & Shiver

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 50% off.

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  
linktr.ee/tapenotes 
Listen to ‘All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade’ here  

Libertines Recording Limited, Universal Music Operations, EMI
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective

GEAR MENTIONS
1957 NY Epiphone Casino Guitar
Gibson J45 Guitar
Marshall Amps
Whurli
The Albion Rooms Gear

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
Or 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
Will Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & Editor
Tim Adam-Smith - Executive Producer, Videographer
Will Lyons - Editor
Nico Varanese - Videographer, Editor
Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant
Jessica Clucas - Production Assistant
Katie-Louise Buxton - Production Assistant
Seb Brunner-Stolovitzky - Production Assistant
Jonathon Coughlin - Production Assistant
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TN:134 The Libertines

John catches up with producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Jack Antonoff of Bleachers to discuss how he wrote, recorded, and produced the band’s latest album ‘Bleachers’.

Having grown up performing, song writing, and producing bands throughout his teenage years, Jack first saw mainstream success as part of the band Fun, and their global hit track ‘We Are Young’. Since then, he has gone on to co-write and produce records for some of the biggest artists of the past decade, including Lorde, Lana Del Rey, The 1975, and Taylor Swift. Among his numerous awards and accolades, he was named Producer of the Year at the Grammys for three consecutive years.

Throughout the conversation Jack discusses his song writing process, from stories of the studio magic that occurs when picking up random instruments, to the unusual mixing and panning techniques he uses to help make parts feel big (rather than actually being big).

Tracks discussed: Call Me After Midnight, Jesus Is Dead, We’re Going To Know Each Other Forever

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 50% off.

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  
linktr.ee/tapenotes 
Listen to ‘Bleachers’ here .
Dirty Hit

Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective

GEAR MENTIONS
Waves Morphoder - https://geni.us/XTO8Bx
Soundtoys Tremolator - https://geni.us/bAB3sa
Soundtoys FilterFreak - https://geni.us/X6uk
Soundtoys Little AlterBoy - https://geni.us/o8nbO
Izotope VocalSynth - https://geni.us/ZIbW
Roland Juno - https://geni.us/tEKxqpC
Moog Synths - https://geni.us/EzWqBu
Korg M1 - https://geni.us/GnnNmU8
Ebow - https://geni.us/FnQRXYG
Teenage Engineering OP1 - https://geni.us/dg6C9
Chandler TH2 Preamp/DI - https://geni.us/kwoYxl

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
Or 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
Will Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & Editor
Tim Adam-Smith - Executive Producer, Videographer
Will Lyons - Editor
Nico Varanese - Videographer, Editor
Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant
Jessica Clucas - Production Assistant
Katie-Louise Buxton - Production Assistant
Seb Brunner-Stolovitzky - Production Assistant
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TN:133 Jack Antonoff (Bleachers)

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 Alt-J’s Joe and Gus, along with producer Charlie Andrew, recorded back in February 2019.

EPISODE NOTES
In this episode John is joined by Gus Unger-Hamilton and Joe Newman from Alt-J, and producer Charlie Andrew to talk about how they recorded and produced the album 'RELAXER'. 
The trio give a fascinating account of the thought processes and production techniques used in the recording of RELAXER. 
Hear how a friend's pavlovian response to the smell of burning wood, the Gus whistle test, and swearing at an old school master all left their mark on the band's third album. 
Tracks discussed: 3WW, House of the Rising Sun, Pleader

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  
Listen to 'RELAXER' here.
'RELAXER' - alt-J, Infectious Music Ltd., a BMG Company

Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective 

GEAR MENTIONS
Akai MPC Sampler
Melodyne
Moog
Roland Juno 60
Soundtoys Echoboy
Soundtoys Decapitator
Teenage Engineering OP1
UAD Plugins
Waves Plugins
Ableton

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
Or 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
Will Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & Editor
Tim Adam-Smith - Executive Producer
Will Lyons - Editor
Nico Varanese - Videographer, Editor
Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant
Jessica Clucas - Production Assistant
Katie-Louise Buxton - Production Assistant
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reissue | TN:16 Alt-J & Charlie Andrew

In this episode, John sits down with singer and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier, delving into the creative process behind his album ‘Djesse Vol. 4,’ the concluding instalment in his four-part ‘Djesse’ album series.

Jacob first shot to fame in 2013 when videos of his complex vocal arrangements went viral on YouTube. Three years later, he released his debut album ‘In My Room’, written and recorded entirely from his family home. In 2018, Jacob set to work on Djesse, a four-volume, 50-song, album series featuring collaborations with artists around the world, which to date has earned him 6 Grammy nominations.

Throughout the conversation, Jacob shares his original demos and discusses his approach to fusing such a plethora of musical genres, from rap and gospel, to dance and Kpop. He also discusses the collaborations that shaped the album, with artists including Chris Martin, Lindsay Loomis, and Willow Smith, as well as his audiences from live shows around the world.

Tracks discussed: Over You, 100,000 Voices, Cinnamon Crush

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  
linktr.ee/tapenotes 
Listen to ‘Djesse Vol. 4’ here .
Hajanga Records, Interscope Records/Decca, Universal Music Operations Limited

Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective   

GEAR MENTIONS
Little Alterboy
Oek Sound Soothe
Xfer LFO Tool
Gladiator Synth
AKG C414
Neumann U87
Neumann U87 Customised by Klaus Heyne
Sony MX4000 Headphones
Native Instruments
Taylor 5 String Guitar (custom)
Strandberg Guitars Electric 5 String
Mandocello

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
Or 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
Will Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & Editor
Tim Adam-Smith - Executive Producer, Videographer
Will Lyons - Editor
Nico Varanese - Videographer, Editor
Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant
Jessica Clucas - Production Assistant
Katie-Louise Buxton - Production Assistant
Seb Brunner-Stolovitzky - Production Assistant
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TN:119 Blur & James Ford

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