Tape Notes

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 Enter Shikari's Rou Reynolds, digging into their 2020 record, 'Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible'.

EPISODE NOTES

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 date, Rou talks us through the challenges of combining techy metal, rave, reggae and ska influences with an oom-pah band and full symphony orchestra. Digging through his fifteen hard drives of demos and jams, we’re shown how every aspect of a track has a purpose and meaning – with detailed rhythms and distinctive sounds reflecting the state of the world in their own way.   

Listen to hear the original gibberish lyrics that ended up making the final version of a song, how the band ended up forming and recording their toy drum kit and what plugins Rou uses to create his own audio cuddle.  

Tracks discussed: THE GREAT UNKNOWN, Waltzing Off the Face of the Earth (1. Crescendo), satellites* *

 

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES 

⁠https://linktr.ee/tapenotes⁠ 

 

⁠ Listen to 'Nothing is True & Everything is Possible' here.⁠

'Nothing is True & Everything is Possible' - SO Recordings/Silva Screen Records Limited

Intro Music - ⁠Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective ⁠

 

GEAR MENTIONS

⁠Ableton⁠

⁠Akai MPC Sampler⁠

⁠ Arp 2600⁠

⁠Arturia Synth Emulators⁠

⁠Chandler REDD Microphone⁠

⁠Farfisa⁠

⁠Kemper Profiler Rack⁠

⁠ LOMO Channel Strip⁠

⁠Native Instruments Massive⁠

⁠Roland Jupiter 6⁠

⁠Sound Guru Mangle Plugin⁠

 

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

  

Follow us on Social Media to keep up to date with the latest episodes and submit questions:

⁠Instagram⁠

⁠Facebook⁠

⁠Twitter⁠

 

Visit our website to join our mailing list: ⁠www.tapenotes.co.uk⁠

John sits down with Imogen Heap to talk about how she wrote, recorded and produced the EP IAM _ _ _.

Imogen Heap is a British composer, artist, and producer, widely regarded as a pioneer in electronic pop and music technology. Over the years, her music has evolved from alternative to electronica, producing acclaimed albums such as Speak for Yourself and Ellipse, and collaborating with artists including Taylor Swift and Jon Hopkins. She consistently integrates technology into her practice, developing innovations like the Mi.Mu gloves and Mogen, an AI voice model that plays a central role in her 2025 EP ‘I AM__’.

Joining Imogen at her Hideaway Studio, the conversation covers everything from her visceral experiences with noise music artists, to her pioneering use of AI and the latest developments with Mogen, exploring how technology continues to shape her creative process and collaborations.

Tracks discussed: What Have You Done To Me?, Noise, Aftercare

LISTEN to IAM _ _ _ here: I AM __ by Imogen Heap, Megaphonic Records

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

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  

linktr.ee/tapenotes 

Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI 

GEAR MENTIONS

Soma Lyra

Wave Arts Panorama 7

Native Instruments Massive

Euroracks

Ableton Live

Antares Autotune

Avid Pro Tools

Splice

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

John is joined once again by Fred Gibson, better known as Fred again.., to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album USB.

Fred Gibson is an award-winning British songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer whose musical journey began collaborating with legendary producer Brian Eno at just 16. Since then Fred has established himself as a  globally successful solo artist.

Alongside his studio output, from his acclaimed ‘Actual Life’ trilogy to the record ‘ten days’ Fred’s live shows have become global events, from Glastonbury to arena-scale collaborations, notably alongside FourTet and Skrillex, while his evolving USB project culminated in sold-out international performances and four homecoming shows at London’s Alexandra Palace in 2026.

Sitting down once again at Fred’s house, Fred and John discuss the unlikely inspirations behind the songs on USB, sharing his advice for aspiring musicians and producers, the gear essential to his process and much more! Plus Fred answers questions from our Patreon subscribers!

Tracks discussed: solo, ..FEISTY, HARDSTYLE 2

LISTEN to USB here - USB by Fred again..,

Atlantic Records

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

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  

linktr.ee/tapenotes 

Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective - https://lynkify.in/song/sunshine-buddy/YT47TLFI 

GEAR MENTIONS

Waves SoundShifter

Native Instruments Reaktor 6

Celemony Melodyne

Xfer Records Serum 2

Fruityloops (FL Studio)

LHI Audio ST4b

Soundtoys FilterFreak

Apple Logic Pro

Apple Logic Pro Retro Synth

Apple Logic Pro Chromaverb

Apple Logic Pro Overdrive saturator

Apple Logic Pro Spring Box delay pedal

Apple Logic Pro Tremolo effect

Apple Logic Pro ES2

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

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)

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.

LISTEN to ‘Prizefighter’ here - Prizefighter by Mumford & Sons

‘Island/Gentlemen of the Road'

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

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  

linktr.ee/tapenotes 

Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective

GEAR MENTIONS

Tech 21 CompTortion

Waterfall B3 Organ

Mellotron

Siemens WSW Console

Neve Console

Erica Synths Black Spring Reverb 

Gibson Firebird

Gibson J45

Shure SM7B

Sequential Prophet

French Connection

Neumann U47

Neve 1064 Preamp

Neve 1073 Preamp

Neve 1066 Preamp

Lisson Grove R-124 Compressor

Roland Juno-60

Optigan

Neumann M49

Cubase

Logic Pro

Avid Pro Tools

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

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