Tape Notes

John is joined by Myles Smith and producer Peter Fenn to discuss how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘My Mess, My Heart, My Life’.

Myles Smith is a singer-songwriter from Luton in the UK. Performing at local open mic nights since his teens, he built a loyal fan base and landed a record deal with Sony thanks to cover versions he posted on Tiktok. In 2024, Myles’ single ‘Stargazing’ was a viral hit and has since been streamed over one billion times globally. The momentum of ‘Stargazing’ and other early singles helped establish Myles as one of the UK's most promising new artists. He won 2024’s BBC Introducing Artist of the Year and the BRIT Rising Star Award and is only the second artist, after Lewis Capaldi, to sell out London’s 02 Arena before releasing a debut album. ‘My Mess, My Heart, My Life’, his debut, produced by longtime collaborator Peter Fenn, arrived in June 2026.

Sitting down at Salvation Studios in London, the trio discuss “getting out of the way of the song” as their approach to production on the album and how billion-streaming hit ‘Stargazing’ evolved into something really special in the studio. They explain why they prefer to be “in the box” when it comes to mixing, and reveal how they translated Myles’ original acoustic tracks into anthemic live performances, including “Myles Sauce” vocal techniques! Plus they answer questions from our Patrons!

Tracks discussed: Stargazing, My Mess, Dying Days

LISTEN to ‘My Mess, My Heart, My Life’ - It’s Okay To Feel, Sony Music: My Mess, My Heart, My Life. by Myles Smith 

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.

Try the new Tape It Denoiser  currently 50% off!

TRINITY LABAN

Find out more about Trinity Laban’s new MA in Songwriting.  

MUSIVERSAL

Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE

Recorded at Salvation Studios

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  

linktr.ee/tapenotes 

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

GEAR MENTIONS

Soundtoys Decapitator 

Neural Archetype: Cory Wong X

Audiomovers Listento

Hofner Bass

iZotope Vocal Synth 2

Shure SM7B

Neumann U87

Oek Sound Soothe2

Leapwing DynOne

Valhalla Reverb

The God Particle

Waves NS1

UAD Hitsville EQ

UAD 1176

UAD Lexicon Reverb

UAD Capitol Chambers

UAD Spark

UA Apollo

Xfer Serum

Ebow

Soyuz Pencil Mic 

Taylor Acoustic Guitars

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 by Arlo Parks and Baird to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Ambiguous Desire’.

Arlo Parks is an indie-pop singer-songwriter from West London. After uploading demos to BBC Introducing as a teenager, she quickly attracted industry attention. Her debut album, ‘Collapsed in Sunbeams’, arrived in 2021, establishing Arlo as one of the defining artists of her generation and earning her the Mercury Prize and two Grammy nominations. Arlo’s third record, the more electronic-focused ‘Ambiguous Desire', was released in April 2026, co-written and produced by Baird, along with additional collaborators Paul Epworth and Sampha.

Sitting down at Strongroom Studios in London, with Baird joining online, Arlo and Baird discuss the “runaway train” of their symbiotic creative process and how they recreated the feel of the club and dancefloor through the record’s distinctive grooves. They share never previously heard freestyles, demos and vocal tracking secrets from the studio, and they answer questions from our Patreon community!

Tracks discussed: Senses, Jetta, Heaven

LISTEN to Ambiguous Desire: Ambiguous Desire by Arlo Parks, Transgressive 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.

Try the new Tape It Denoiser  currently 50% off!

TRINITY LABAN

Find out more about Trinity Laban’s new MA in Songwriting.  

MUSIVERSAL

Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE

Recorded at Platoon Studios

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  

linktr.ee/tapenotes 

Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective

GEAR MENTIONS

Soundtoys Microshift

Electro Harmonix Pitch Fork Polyphonic Pitch Shifter Pedal

Shure SM7B

Melda MAuto Pitch

Boss DS-1 Pedal

Bassment Plugin

Squier Jazz Bass

Spitfire Audio Labs

Roland Juno 106

Ibanez Electro Acoustic Nylon Guitar

Krumar Keyboard

Logic Distortion

Ableton Live

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

Take our audience survey and enter the draw to win! https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/t/AudienceSurvey2026/

John is joined by Jack Antonoff of Bleachers to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Everyone for Ten Minutes’.
Jack Antonoff is an American producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. As a producer, he’s widely recognised for helping shape the sound of modern pop through his work with artists including Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Kendrick Lamar and many more. Alongside his production work, Jack has built a hugely successful career as a musician and songwriter, first rising to prominence with Fun in the early 2010s before founding Bleachers in 2013. Since then, Bleachers have released five studio albums and toured globally, with their latest record, Everyone for Ten Minutes, released in May 2026.

Sitting down at Platoon Studios in London, Jack looks back on the process of bringing the album to life, digging into the recording techniques behind the record and demonstrating different directions the songs could have taken along the way. He also talks about how leading with simplicity became central to the album, answers questions from Patreons, and much more. 

Tracks discussed: i’m not joking, we should talk, dancing

LISTEN to Everyone for Ten Minutes - everyone for ten minutes by Bleachers  Dirty Hit Recordings

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.

Try the new Tape It Denoiser  currently 50% off!

TRINITY LABAN

Find out more about Trinity Laban’s new MA in Songwriting.  

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

Recorded at Platoon Studios - Link

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  

linktr.ee/tapenotes 

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

GEAR MENTIONS

Sountoys Echoboy

Gooshertz Lossy

Shure SM58

TC Helicon

Korg VC10 Vocoder

Roland Space Echo

Ovation Guitars

Moog Model D

Korg M1 Drums

Roland TR-808

Roland Juno-106

WEM Watkins Copicat

Hammond B3

E-mu Systems Sampler

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

Take our audience survey and enter the draw to win! https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/t/AudienceSurvey2026/

John is joined by Tom Misch to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Full Circle’. 

Tom Misch is an English singer-songwriter and producer known for his innovative sound, blending hip-hop beats and soulful vocals along with his distinctive guitar style. His self-recorded debut album ‘Geography’ was a UK top ten hit in 2018, followed by ‘What Kinda Music’, released in 2020, with Yussef Dayes. Tom’s second solo album, ‘Full Circle’, arrived in March 2026. 

Sitting down at Strongroom Studios, the two take a deep dive into Tom’s process. They discuss his essential gear for creating guitar sounds and his go-to vocal chain techniques, Tom breaks down three tracks from his album from demos to master and also answers questions from our Patreons, plus much more!

Tracks discussed: Red Moon, Slow Tonight, Days of Us

LISTEN to Full Circle - Full Circle by Tom Misch, AWAL recordings

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.

Try the new Tape It Denoiser  currently 50% off!

TRINITY LABAN

Find out more about Trinity Laban’s new MA in Songwriting.  

MUSIVERSAL

Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE

Recorded at Strongroom Studios

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  

linktr.ee/tapenotes 

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

GEAR MENTIONS

Soundtoys Echoboy

Soundtoys Plate Reverb

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah Pedal

Apogee Duet Interface

Waves Torque

Acustica Audio El Rey Tube Compressor Plugin

Acustica Audio Purple Two

UAD Neve Preamp

Electrovoice RE-20

Moogerfooger Pedal

John Mayer Signature Strat

Gibson Acoustic

Reel to Reel Tape Machine

UAD Plate Reverb

Logic Pro 9 Acoustic Guitar Amo

Logic Liverpool Bass

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 by Foo Fighters  to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Your Favorite Toy’.

Foo Fighters are an American rock band formed by Dave Grohl. Known for their alt-rock anthems driven by melody and personality, they have evolved into one of rock’s biggest and most influential bands. Over the past 20 years, they have released twelve studio albums, won fifteen Grammys, and in 2021 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their twelfth studio album, ‘Your Favorite Toy’, arrived in April 2026.

Sitting down at Metropolis Studios in London, Dave and bassist Nate Mendel break down tracks, all the way from Dave’s demos and early drum patterns through to the final masters. The pair also discuss how they created the distinctive Foo Fighters guitar sounds on ‘Spit Shine’, share stories from recording screaming and Ilan’s perfect flams, and answer questions from our Patrons! 

Tracks discussed: Asking For A Friend, Spit Shine, If You Only Knew

LISTEN to Your Favourite Toy: Your Favorite Toy by Foo Fighters, RCA 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.

Try the new Tape It Denoiser  currently 50% off!

TRINITY LABAN

Find out more about Trinity Laban’s new MA in Songwriting.  

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

Recorded at Metropolis Studios

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  

linktr.ee/tapenotes 

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

GEAR MENTIONS

API 1608 Console

Neve BCM10

Wizard Amps

Fender Tone master

Hiwatt Amps

Freedman Amps

Trini Lopez Guitar

Moog Theremini

Shure SM58 Microphone

Gibson ES-335

Ludwig Drums

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