Tape Notes

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John is joined by Troye Sivan and producer Tyde Levi to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘She’s the Best’.

Troye Sivan is an Australian singer-songwriter and producer. He signed with EMI aged just 18 after building a global following as a teen YouTuber. Troye has since released three acclaimed albums blending electropop and dance: ‘Blue Neighbourhood’ (2015), ‘Bloom’ (2018) and the Grammy-nominated ‘Something to Give Each Other’ (2023). His fourth album, ‘She’s the Best’, arrived in October 2026, produced by his brother Tyde Levi among others.

Sitting down at Platoon Studios, the trio discuss the different process Troye took on this record. He and Tyde talk about what collaborating together and more widely, including with Jack Antonoff, brought to the album’s sound. Troye discusses producing his own vocals across the record and the vocal chain he uses for home recording. They discuss how the Madonna sample on the album came to be, dig into numerous early demos and instrumentals, plus much more!

Tracks discussed: Party, Cowboy, Canada Dry

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.

IMAGINE PLUGINS BY SOUNDBETTER

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MUSIVERSAL

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Recorded at Platoon Studios.

LISTEN to ‘She’s the Best’ here - She’s the Best by Troye Sivan

Tokky’s Music, LLC, under exclusive licence to Interscope Records

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES

linktr.ee/tapenotes

Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective

GEAR MENTIONS

Soundtoys Echoboy

Soundtoys Little AlterBoy

Antares Autotune

Shure SM7B

Universal Audio Apollo Twin

Valhalla VintageVerb

Ensonique Fizmo Synth

Arturia Vocoder V

Analogue Obsession BritPre

Waves CLA Guitar

Roland Juno Plugin

Korg MS-20

XLN Audio RC-20 Retro Colour

Native Instruments Kontakt

Ableton Redux Bitcrusher

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
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John is joined by Lizzy McAlpine, along with producers Mason Stoops and Taylor Mackall and engineer Omar Akrouche to talk about how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Angel’.

Lizzy McAlpine is a singer-songwriter and producer from Pennsylvania. Having written and recorded music through her teens, in 2020 she released her debut album ‘Give Me a Minute’. She has since released two more critically acclaimed albums: ‘five seconds flat’, featuring the viral hit ‘ceilings’, and ‘Older’, her first collaboration with producers Mason Stoops and Taylor Mackall. Lizzy’s fourth album, ‘Angel’, arrived in September 2026 working once again alongside Mason and Taylor.

Sitting down at Platoon Studios, the four dig into the writing process and final Pro Tools sessions, exploring vocal production and layering guitars around Lizzy’s signature intimate vocal style. They also discuss finding the perfect harmonies and instrumentation for the album, including the “army of pianos”!

Tracks discussed: Peach, Two Elevens, Our Strange Ways

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.

IMAGINE PLUGINS BY SOUNDBETTER

Build and sell your own plugins. Get your FREE Vocal Effect plugin here

MUSIVERSAL

Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE

Recorded at Platoon Studios.

LISTEN to ‘Angel’ here - Angel by Lizzy McAlpine, RCA Records under exclusive licence from Indigo Blue, LLC

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES

linktr.ee/tapenotes

Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective

GEAR MENTIONS

Gulbransen Pianofor Minipiano

SoundToys Panman

Boss VB-2 Pedal

SoundToys Devi-Loc

Fieldtone Weaver

Source Audio Collider

Acetone

Thumb Jam App

Aria ADD-100 Delay Pedal

Neumann U67

AKG C12

Neumann KM84

Moog Minimoog

Chase Bliss Audio / Meris CXM 1978

Valhalla VintageVerb

Line 6 Echo Park

Danelectro Bellzouki

Tech 21 VB2 CompTortion

Neumann U47/U48

Neumann KM 56

Antares Auto-Tune

Celemony Melodyne

Goodhertz Lossy

EMT 250 Reverb

Optigan

Wurlitzer

Valhalla Super Massive

Gibson 1953 ES-140

P-90 Guitar

Boss VB-2

Fender Champ

LOMO Flashlight Mic

Oscar Schmidt / Stella 12-String Baritone

Universal Audio 1176

Danelectro Bass 6

Danelectro Sitar

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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Giles Martin to talk about how he recorded and produced the album ‘Rubber Soul: New Special Edition’.

Giles Martin is a British composer, producer and arranger. Assisting his father, Beatles producer Sir George Martin, in the studio from an early age, Giles has been closely involved with the Beatles’ catalogue, producing the 50th anniversary remix and deluxe editions of ‘Revolver’, ‘Sgt. Pepper’ and ‘Let It Be’, among many others. ‘Rubber Soul: New Special Edition’, featuring new stereo and Dolby Atmos mixes, alongside previously unreleased session recordings and home demos, is released on 2nd October 2026.

Sitting down in Giles’ studio at Abbey Road and digging into the original four track recordings as well as his updated mixes, Giles gives a unique insight into the studio recording processes of the greatest band in the world and their working relationship with his father George. He reveals George’s production secrets and lifts the lid on the meticulous process, as well as the joys and pressures, of re-mixing this new edition of ‘Rubber Soul’.

Tracks discussed: Drive My Car, Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown), In My Life

LISTEN to ‘Rubber Soul: New Special Edition’

TAPE IT

Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes to get 20% off Tape It Pro.

Try the new Tape It Denoiser currently 50% off!

IMAGINE PLUGINS BY SOUNDBETTER

Build and sell your own plugins. Get your FREE Vocal Effect plugin here

MUSIVERSAL

Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES

linktr.ee/tapenotes

Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective

EPISODE GEAR MENTIONS

ATC Speakers

Pultec EQ

Nagra Tape Recorder

Fairchild Compressor

Neumann U47

Neumann U48

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, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BONOBO SPECIAL! - 50% of Tape It Pro at tape.it/bonobo (available until 30th September 2026)

John is joined by Simon Green, aka Bonobo, to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Distance in Static’.

Simon Green, aka Bonobo, is a British musician, producer, and DJ, considered one of electronic music’s defining voices. Across eight albums, including the seminal ‘Black Sands’, ‘Migration’ and ‘Fragments’, he has built a celebrated career blending electronic, jazz and organic instrumentation, and received seven Grammy nominations. His latest record, Distance in Static, arrived in September 2026.

Sitting down at Platoon Studios in London, Simon deep dives into what he reveals might be his last “broad, multi-genre Bonobo record”. He discusses the album’s collaborations and reveals his techniques and go-to gear for vocal processing, producing strings and “humanising” drum sounds.

Tracks discussed: Me and You, Fire on the Water, Talk to Me

LISTEN to ‘Distance in Static’ (Ninja Tune): Distance in Static by Bonobo

TAPE IT

Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast and inspiring Simon with great tools!

Visit tape.it/bonobo to get 50% off.

Try the new Tape It Denoiser currently 50% off!

IMAGINE PLUGINS BY SOUNDBETTER

Build and sell your own plugins. Get your FREE Vocal Effect plugin here

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

Audio Damage Quanta

Cable Box ShaperBox

FabFilter Simplon

Oeksound Soothe

MakeNoise Morphogene

Polyverse Wider

Valhalla Plugins

Valhalla Shimmer

TapeIt

Yamaha CP Rhodes

Moog Bass

Celemony Melodyne

Korg Monopoly

Fender Rhodes

Ableton

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, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John is joined by Kevin Parker, aka Tame Impala, to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Deadbeat’.

Kevin launched the electronic and psychedelic rock-influenced Tame Impala in 2007 as a home recording project. Throughout the 2010s, Tame Impala became a huge critical and commercial success, winning two Grammys and selling out shows worldwide. Kevin has collaborated with numerous other artists including Justice, Gorillaz and Dua Lipa, and is regularly cited as one of the industry’s most influential artists. The fifth Tame Impala album, 'Deadbeat', featuring worldwide hits ‘Dracula’ and ‘Loser’, arrived in October 2025.

Joining John from his LA studio, Kevin shares what he calls his ‘astoundingly boring’ approach to producing his famous vocals (spoiler: he’s being too modest!), how he created the ‘Deadbeat drum beat’, being inspired by The Strokes on this record, the essential plugins that shaped the album’s sound, plus he answers questions from our Patreons!

Tracks discussed: My Old Ways, Loser

LISTEN to ‘Deadbeat’ (Columbia Records): Deadbeat by Tame Impala

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!

IMAGINE PLUGINS BY SOUNDBETTER

Build and sell your own plugins.
Get your FREE Vocal Effect plugin here

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

Soundtoys Echoboy

Soundtoys Decapitator

Valhalla Room

Shure SM58

Shure SM7B

U47

Vermona DRM1

DBX 165

Roland SH-1

Roland TR-808

Sequential Prophet 5

Ableton Stock Plugins

Ableton Echo

Ableton

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, 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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices