In this episode, John is back at Spitfire Audio to catch up with Ben Coyle-Larner, better known as Loyle Carner, along with producers Kwes and Nick Mills, about how they wrote, recorded and produced Loyle’s new album ‘Hugo’.

Reflecting back on their time writing over lockdown, Ben, Kwes and Nick talk us through their extensive process of whittling each track down to the finished article, from the early jam sessions and demos they fell in love with, right through the numerous directions they took each beat.

Along with sharing some of the best examples of collaboration and what it can bring, we’re treated to detailed track breakdowns and thoughts on the most effective approaches to take when balancing the emotions of a beat to the emotions within lyrics.

Listen to find out what dangers come with making things too musical, how AI came to the rescue multiple times, and what the ultimate studio snack is.

Tracks discussed: Hate, Nobody Knows, Plastic

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Listen to ‘Hugo’ here.

• EMI, Universal Music

Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective

GEAR MENTIONS

D16 Decimort Plugin

Oxford Inflator Plugin

Kazrog True Iron Plugin

Plugin Alliance Black Box

Serato Sample Plugin

Soundtoys Decapitator

Soundtoys Tremolator

Soundtoys Echoboy

Soundtoys Little AlterBoy

Valhalla Vintage Verb

Mellotron

Fabfilter Plugins 

Goodhertz Lossy Plugin

XLN Audio RC 20

Moises AI App

Shure SM57

DBX 118 Expander

Lewitt 640 Mics

Teenage Engineering OP1

Logic Stock Pedals

FL Studio

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TAPE NOTES TEAM

Will Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & Editor

Tim Adam-Smith - Executive Producer

Will Lyons - Editor

Herbie Elton-Rowley - Videographer

Matt Purbrick - Production Assistant

Guy Nicholls - Production Assistant

Nathan Hetherington - PR

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