Tape Notes

John is joined by English musician, songwriter, producer and DJ Emma-Jean Thackray to talk about how she wrote, recorded and produced the album Weirdo.

Emma-Jean Thackray is a musical polymath whose creative approach was shaped by playing in brass bands as a child in West Yorkshire and studying jazz composition and performance at university. Her 2021 debut album 'Yellow' topped the UK Jazz Albums Chart and won Jazz FM Album of the Year. Her second album, 'Weirdo', followed in 2025 and was nominated for that year’s Mercury Prize. Entirely written, recorded, performed and produced by Emma-Jean, the record ultimately became a deeply personal grief diary following the sudden death of her partner.

Sitting down at Strongroom Studios in London, Emma-Jean and John delve into how to make yourself like a whole band when you’re just one artist in a room, including layering and techniques for vocal recording and processing. Emma-Jean talks about exploring death and grief musically on ‘Maybe Nowhere’, being a perfectionist, and why a distortion pedal is the most highly insured piece she owns!

Tracks discussed: Wanna Die, Save Me, Maybe Nowhere

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.

Recorded at Strongroom Studios

QUBE

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MAKE NOISE PRO AUDIO

Use the code TAPENOTES10 for 10% off all Franklin Audio products at makenoiseproaudio.com

LISTEN to ‘Weirdo’ here - https://lynkify.in/album/weirdo/XTgkV1p8 

Warner Music UK Limited and Brownswood Music Limited

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  

linktr.ee/tapenotes 

Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective

GEAR MENTIONS

Valhalla Super Massive

Valhalla Plugins

Prophet 5 V Soft Synth

dbx 160 Compressor

Telefunken ELA M Mic

Moog

Ampeg Bass Amp

Fender P-Bass

Bidirectional Ribbon Mics (Coles 4038)

Boss RE202 Space Echo

Fender Semi Hollow Telecaster

Fender Blues Junior

Roland SH-101

Fender Rhodes

Neve 1073 Clone

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 

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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! 

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John sits down with Artemas and producer Toby Daintree to discuss how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘LOVERCORE’.

Artemas is an English artist and producer. As a teenager he taught himself music production and soon began releasing his dark, alternative pop music, inspired by grunge and new wave sounds. The viral hit ‘if u think i’m pretty’, released in 2024, made him a global star and he released mixtapes ‘pretty’ and ‘yustyna’ the same year. 2024 also saw Artemas’s second viral success with ‘i like the way you kiss me’, which was number one in eight countries. Artemas’s fourth release, ‘LOVERCORE’, with longtime collaborator and producer Toby Daintree, arrived in October 2025.

In this episode, John is joined by Artemas and Toby Daintree at Baltic Studios. The trio discuss techniques for processing vocals and samples. They reveal their top plugins and other software they use to create Artemas’s distinctive sound. They also break down the track ‘i like the way you kiss me’ from its earliest beginnings to Tiktok viral hit.

Tracks discussed:  if u think i'm pretty, I like the way you kiss me, take it easy on me

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.

Recorded at Baltic Studios.

MUSIVERSAL

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LISTEN to ‘Lovercore’ here.

‘Artemas’

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

SoundToys Echoboy

Waves Vocal Doubler

Slate Digital Fresh Air

Zynaptiq Pitchmap

Oeksound Soothe 2

Xfer Serum

Arturia Mello-Fi

UAD SSL Bus Compressor

UAD Moog Minimoog

UAD PolyMAX

UAD Brigade Chorus

UA Apollo

XLN Audio RC-20

Sonic Academy ANA 2.5 Software Synthesizer

Omnisphere

PORTAL by Output

Telefunken ELA M251E

Fender Rhodes

Sequential Prophet

Korg Opsix

Neumann TLM 103

Genelec 8010

CapCut

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 

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

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 Rina Sawayama and producer Clarence Clarity.

EPISODE NOTES
In this episode, John catches up with Rina Sawayama and producer Clarence Clarity to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced Rina’s debut album ‘Sawayama’.  
 
Diving deep into the almost 100 track sessions, Rina and Clarence reflect on how the album took shape, from writing demos in Rina’s bedroom to spending months in an LA studio. We hear the pair’s philosophies on creativity and the hustle of making it in the world of music, along with the secrets in crafting their fusion of R&B, noughties pop and nu-metal.  
 
Listen to find out why Rina tries includes at least 10 hooks in each song, how Clarence tried to match a trap beat to Rina’s mum’s Beethoven performance and which member of The 1975 made a secret appearance on the record. 
 
Tracks discussed: Dynasty, Love Me 4 Me, Snakeskin
 
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES 
https://linktr.ee/tapenotes 
 
Listen to 'Sawayama' here.
'Sawayama' - Dirty Hit
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective 
 
GEAR MENTIONS
Ableton
Sontronics Saturn
Soundelux U99

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 
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
John Kennedy
Will Brown 
Tim Adam-Smith 
Will Lyons 
Nico Varanese 
Guy Nicholls 
Jessica Clucas
Ali Lewis

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

John is joined by Haim and producer Rostam Batmanglij to discuss how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘I Quit’.

Haim are an American pop-rock band from Los Angeles, made up of multi-instrumentalist sisters Danielle, Este and Alana Haim. Playing together in their family band growing up, they formed Haim in 2007 and released their debut EP, ‘Forever’, in 2012. 

Their debut album, ‘Days Are Gone’, arrived in 2013 and earned them a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. Their follow-up records, 2017’s ‘Something to Tell You’ and 2020’s ‘Women in Music Pt. III’, both received widespread critical acclaim, with ‘Women in Music Pt. III’ also securing a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. Haim released their fourth album, ‘I Quit’, in June this year, once again collaborating with longtime producer Rostam.

In this episode, John is joined by Danielle and Rostam, from Rostam’s LA studio where much of the album was recorded. The trio discuss everything from garageband demos to recording and reamping drums, as well as techniques for producing Haim’s distinctive vocals and being influenced by multiple genres and sounds.

Tracks discussed: Relationships, Down to be wrong, Now it’s time, Everybody’s trying to figure me out

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 ‘I Quit’ here: I quit by HAIM, 

Polydor Records

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES  

linktr.ee/tapenotes 

Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective

GEAR MENTIONS

D16 Repeater Delay

Waves Soundshifter Plugin

E-Mu Emulator ii Vintage Synth

Solaris Synth

Universal Audio AMS-DMX

Roland Juno

Gretsch Round Badge Drums

Ludwig Steel Snare

SPL Transient Designer

Korg Trident

Eventide Harmonizer

UnderToneAudio Unfairchild

Korg A5 Multi-Effects Pedalboard

E-Bow

Oberheim OB-8 Synthesiser

Electro-Voice RE20

RCA KU-3A Vintage

Arturia Mellotron

GarageBand

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