Tape Op Podcast

Welcome to Tape Op's DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. For this episode we chat with Producer/Engineer Thom Monahan about the 1993 Polyphemus album, Scrapbook of Madness. Enjoy! Sponsered by AKG-JBL https://www.akg.co

If there is an authority on the production, editing, mixing, and mastering of film scores, it is Mike Matessino. He has had a hand in hundreds of films including classics such as the Star Wars Trilogy, Poltergeist, The Goonies, Superman, Back to the Future, Home Alone, the Star Trek films and Empire of the Sun.  For his latest project, he meticulously remixed and remastered the Super Deluxe version of The Sound of Music from the original multi-track tapes and also wrote the in-depth liner notes. It is a definitive collection that includes every musical element from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s timeless masterpiece for the very first time, along with 11 never-before-heard alternate takes, including rare performances from the cast. Geoff Stanfield caught up with Mike from his home in Los Angeles to discuss. Enjoy. Sponsored by: Distrokid https://distrokid.com

"In the early days of 2020, following a cancelled tour and a near total mental collapse, Beirut's Zach Condon arrived on Hadsel, an island in the far northwest reaches of Norway. Armed with several suitcases stuffed with recording equipment, a modular synth rig, an Austrian tape machine, his trumpet, and some winter clothes, he embarked on the creation of what would become his latest release, Hadsel. (pronounced hahdsul).  He also had ongoing access to a 19th century church pump organ, a centerpiece of the album's sound and spirit. Geoff Stanfield caught up with Zach from his home in Berlin to discuss the making of Hadsel and the journey that led there. Enjoy!" Sponsored by: Adam Audio https://www.adam-audio.com

September 2023 marked the 30th anniversary of the now classic Morphine album Cure for Pain. It was the band's sophomore release and recorded during the transition from original drummer Jerome Deupree to Billy Conway, with Jerome playing on the bulk of the album's songs and Billy playing on the title track, "Cure for Pain" and "Let's Take a Trip Together". To mark the occasion of the album's anniversary, Geoff Stanfield caught up with the band's surviving members; saxophonist Dana Colley and Jerome Deupree along with mastering engineer and archivist Pete Weiss. Enjoy! Sponsored by: Radial Engineering https://www.radialeng.com

Over the years it has been suggested that we do a segment on haunted studios. Our friend Heba Kadry got her first job in the U.S. as an intern at the famed Sugar Hill Studios in Houston, Texas. Legend has it that the place is haunted, and Heba told me that she was freaked out to be there alone at night and would blast loud music to keep the spirits at bay. Apparently that worked and she never encountered anything out of the ordinary. Former Sugar Hill owner Dan Workman did however have an out of this world experience there, so we chatted with him to get the scoop!

Welcome to Tape Op's DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. For this episode we chat with producer/engineer Ryan Hewitt about Neil Young's 1970 release After the Gold Rush. Enjoy!

Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. has been owning the downstroke for well over a decade now, and in addition to his work with the band he has managed to find time to release several solo records. His latest, Melodies on Hiatus, is a sprawling 19 song offering recorded with longtime collaborator Gus Oberg. Geoff Stanfield chatted with Albert about his latest recording, working with Rick Rubin and the power of imperfection. Enjoy! Sponsored by: Vintage King https://vintageking.com

I interviewed Portland Oregon's M Ward for our DISCussion podcast about a year ago and with his new release, supernatural thing, it was another opportunity for us to check in. In this episode, Geoff Stanfield catches up with Matt to discuss his love of collaborations, analog approach to recording and more. Enjoy! Sponsored by: Rupert Neve Designs https://rupertneve.com

Welcome to *Tape Op's* DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. For this episode we welcome drummer Victor Indrizzo (Willie Nelson, Scott Weiland, Chris Cornell, Queens of the Stone Age, Beck, Daniel Lanois and countless others) sat down with Geoff Stanfield to chat about Marvin Gaye’s posthumous release, Vulnerable. Sponsered by AKG-JBL https://www.akg.co

Welcome to Tape Op's DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. For this episode we welcome back mastering engineer Heba Kadry to chat about Abdou El Omari’s 1976 release Nuits D'Été. Enjoy!

We recently spoke with Turkish psych-rock band Altin Gün's bassist and producer Jasper Verhulst and their recording engineer Jasper Geluk for a segment of our DISCussion podcast. For this episode of the Tape Op Podcast we dig into the history of the band and pull back the curtain on their recording process. Enjoy! Sponsored by: ATO records https://atorecords.com

Welcome to Tape Op's DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. For this episode we chat with guitarist/composer Rafiq Bhatia about Bill Frisell’s 2001 release with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones. Enjoy!

For this episode we chat with Andrew Fearn from the legendary UK duo, Sleaford Mods. Their latest release UK GRIM picks up where their 2021 release Spare Ribs left off, with gritty minimalist production and Jason Williamson's blunt societal diagnostic lyrics. Enjoy! Sponsored by: Focusrite Pro https://pro.focusrite.com

On April 14, 2018, at Jackpot! Recording Studio, I interviewed Robert Schneider in front of a live audience. Afterwards, he did a short solo set, and then The Minders played – a band both of us had recorded albums for and are friends with. Robert and I first met in 1996, when I interviewed him and The Apples In Stereo for Tape Op #2. Alongside some classic Apples and The Minders albums and other projects he's in, he recorded and produced records for Neutral Milk Hotel [#11] and The Olivia Tremor Control [#17] and co-founded The Elephant 6 Recording Co. (See the wonderful The Elephant 6 Recording Co. documentary that we are both in). Now, with his recently attained Doctorate in mathematics, we sat down in front of a live audience to chat again! Check out the podcast of this conversation as well!

Welcome to *Tape Op's* DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. For this episode we chat with Toronto based artist and producer Harrison about Nujabes 2005 release *Modal Soul*. Enjoy! Sponsered by AKG-JBL https://www.akg.com

For this episode we are joined by Molly Rankin and Alec O'Hanley from Toronto's Alvvays and producer/mixer Shawn Everett to chat about crafting their latest release "Blue Rev" a project that spanned months of home recordings in Canada, sessions with Shawn in Los Angeles, file sharing snafus and more. Enjoy! Sponsored by McDSP https://mcdsp.com

Welcome to *Tape Op's* DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. For this episode we chat with Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley from Tennis about Braodcast’s 2005 release Tender Buttons. Enjoy! Sponsered by AKG-JBL https://www.akg.com

Philadelphia native Steve Gunn kept popping up in playlists and each time he did I stopped to hit save to favorites and liked songs. Who is this guy? One deep dive into an album led to another and then another. Each album had its own personality and many of them were interesting collaborations. I was hooked! It was a pleasure to get to talk to Steve and dig into his early days in hardcore bands, to making recordings with his own band, solo, his collaborations and producing other artists. We also had some fun gear chat for good measure. Enjoy! Sponsored by: Soundtoys http://soundtoys.com

Welcome to *Tape Op's* DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. For this episode we chat with Jasper Verhulst and recording engineer Jasper Geluk of "Altin Gün" about Selda Bagcan’s 1976 release, *Selda*. Enjoy! Sponsered by AKG-JBL https://www.akg.com

Ibrahim Maalouf and Angélique Kidjo are both accomplished and storied artists in their own right, but their collaborations bring a new light to their artistry. It is no more apparent than on their 2022 release Queen of Sheba, a potent, grooving and emotional musical telling of the fabled tale of an Ethiopian queen who travels to Jerusalem to speak with King Solomon. It seamlessly fuses African and Middle Eastern rhythms and melodic themes with a story told through seven riddles in one of Angelique many languages, Yoruba.  Geoff Stanfield chatted with Angélique and Ibrahim for this fun and insightful interview. Enjoy. Sponsered by Sonnox https://www.sonnox.com

Welcome to Tape Op's DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. For this episode we chat with Mastering engineer Josh Bonati about Saâda Bonaire’s 1984 self-titled release. Enjoy! Sponsered by AKG-JBL https://www.akg.com

Ontario Canada's electronic pop duo Junior Boys formed in 1999 and have been making fantastic albums since 2004. Their new release Waiting Game is what principle songwriter, synth wizard and singer Jeremy Greenspan describes as a "quiet record." It is the perfect companion for a drive, walk or simply sitting on the couch with headphones and immersing yourself in the band's electronic landscapes. Geoff Stanfield caught up with Jeremy to discuss. Enjoy! Sponsered by Retro Intruments https://www.retroinstruments.com

Welcome to Tape Op's DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. For this episode we chat with drummer/composer Ian Chang about Dawn of Midi’s 2015 release Dysnomia. Enjoy! **Sponsored by JBL Professional** https://jblpro.com/en-US

We first interviewed Adrian Quesada back in 2013 in issue #92 about his band Grupo Fantasma and have since chatted with him about his Grammy winning project Black Pumas on the Tape Op Podcast. During quarantine Adrian created two solo records, Boleros Psicodélicos and the most recently released, Jaguar Sound. Geoff Stanfield caught up with Adrian to discuss. Enjoy. Sponsored by Distrokid https://distrokid.com

Welcome to Tape Op's DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. For this episode we chat with Julien Baker about The Japanese House’s 2019 release *Good at Falling*. Enjoy! **Sponsored by JBL Professional** jblpro.com/en-us

Texas Trio Khruangbin have paired with Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Touré, son of the legendary Ali Farka Touré, for new release Ali. The result is an otherworldly, reverb soaked trance offering, perfect for a drive through the African desert or a stretch of Texas highway. Geoff Stanfield caught up with guitarist Mark Speer and engineer Steve Christensen to discuss the partnership and recording of the album. Enjoy! Sponsored by Adam Audio https://www.adam-audio.com/en/

Welcome to Tape Op's DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. For this episode we chat with Producer, Mixer, Engineer Geoff Swan about Jamie Lidell’s 2005 release, Multiply. Enjoy! Sponsored by JBL Professional jblpro.com/en-us

The pairing of Amanda Shires and producer Lawrence Rothman is an unlikely one. On paper, Amanda's Americana leaning solo records, including her work with the Highwomen and Lawrence's highly art rock leaning production style make almost no sense, and that's the beauty of it. The two partnered during Covid on remote writing collaborations and finally full band sessions at Nashville's famed RCA Studio B and Amanda's barn turned home studio. Geoff Stanfield caught up with Amanda and Lawrence to talk about their partnership and the process of making her new album, *Take it Like a Man*. Enjoy! Sponsered by Overstayer http://www.overstayeraudio.com

Welcome to Tape Op's DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. For this episode we chat with Deep Sea Diver’s Jessica Dobson about David Bowie’s 1980 release, Scary Monsters. Enjoy! Sponsored by JBL Professional jblpro.com/en-us

New York City duo Beacon has been releasing haunting downtempo electronic pop since their beautiful 2013 release, Ways We Separate. Geoff Stanfield caught up with Thomas Mullarney and Jacob Gossett to chat about their beginnings, record making process and their new album Along the Lethe. Enjoy!

Welcome to Tape Op's DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. For this episode we chat with NYC's Cults about Ween's 1991 release, The Pod! Enjoy! Sponsored by JBL Professional jblpro.com/en-us

Mixer Jesse Ray Ernster who mixes without a console (or even a desk!) recently sat down with legendary mix engineer Bob Clearmountain, whose work has been omnipresent on hit radio for decades, for an informal chat about their workflows, Dolby Atmos and more! Check out our feature in Tape Op and look for video of this chat as well on our website and YouTube channel. Enjoy! Sponsored by Rupert Neve Designs https://rupertneve.com

In keeping with their long standing partnership, Panda Bear and Sonic Boom (aka Noah Lennox and Pete Kemper) have teamed up again to create Reset, a collection of songs that started with Sonic Boom sending song length two track samples pulled from his vinyl collection to Panda Bear to write to. The result is an album that sounds like Summer with lyrical themes of hope and the need for common ground. Noah and Pete caught up with Geoff Stanfield from their homes in Portugal to discuss. Enjoy! Sponsored by McDSP https://www.mcdsp.com

Welcome to Tape Op's DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. For this episode we chat with Emily Wells about Lewis Baloue’s 1985 release, Romantic Times! Enjoy! Sponsored by JBL Professional jblpro.com/en-us

Composer, musician, and producer James George Thirlwell has been known as JG Thirlwell, Clint Ruin, Frank Want, and most famously, Foetus and its many incarnations. Lately he has been doing quite a bit of scoring for television, with Archer and The Venture Bros. among his credits. I dropped in at his Brooklyn loft a while back to learn more. Enjoy! Sponsored by Focusrite Pro https://pro.focusrite.com

Welcome to Tape Op's DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. For this episode we chat with Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes about R.E.M.'s 1986 album Lifes Rich Pageant. Enjoy! Sponsored by JBL Professional jblpro.com/en-us

In issue 133 of Tape Op I interviewed Andrew Scheps about mixing, and his work with artists like Adele, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Hozier. It’s been about 4 years, and we wanted to catch up, so I dropped him a line for this podcast. Andrew has recently developed a Pro Tools “bolt on” application, called Bounce Factory, that automates bouncing and mixing, plus he’s now working in Dolby ATMOS, and I had a special question to ask him as well. Plenty to discuss! Enjoy! Sponsored by Antelope https://www.soundtoys.com

Welcome to Tape Op's DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. This week we chat w/ Dave Matthews about Tom Waits' 1978 release Blue Valentine. Enjoy! Sponsored by JBL Professional jblpro.com/en-us

We first interviewed Ann Mincieli back in 2012 for Tape Op issue #89, but ten years is an eternity these days so Geoff Stanfield caught up with Ann to chat about her early studio days, mentors, immersive audio, her work with Alicia Keys, and ever expanding studio ventures. Enjoy! Sponsored by Antelope en.antelopeaudio.com

Grammy award-winning songwriter and musician Aoife O'Donovan has released three critically-acclaimed solo albums, is co-founder of the bands I’m With Her and Crooked Still, and has spent a decade contributing to the radio variety shows "Live From Here” and “A Prairie Home Companion”. Her new album, "Age of Apathy," was produced from a distance by Joe Henry during the pandemic lockdown, but you'd never know it from the incredibly cohesive sound and "in the room" energy of the recordings. Geoff Stanfield caught up with Aoife to chat on the eve of the record's release. Enjoy! Sponsored by Sonnox https://sonnox.com

Melbourne Australia's Amyl and the Sniffers are a punk rock, metal, hip-hop, post punk mashup served with a heaping spoonful of Eff You and a cheeky smile. The band's singer Amy Taylor described the band like this: "In Australia we call poppers Amyl. So you sniff it, it lasts for 30 seconds and then you have a headache – and that's what we're like!" Their 2021 release *Comfort to Me* is a pedal to the metal collection of songs recorded during the pandemic by producer Dan Luscombe and mixed by Nick Launay. Geoff Stanfield caught up with the band's singer Amy and guitarist Dec Martens for a chat and to listen to some tracks off the new record. Enjoy! Sponsored by ATO Records https://atorecords.com

In 2002, for issue 27 of Tape Op Magazine, I visited Jim Eno and Britt Daniel of the band Spoon at Jim's converted 2-car garage studio in Austin, Texas, to talk about making records. It's now 20 years later, and Spoon's 10th album, Lucifer on the Sofa, is out. I talked to Jim about his Public Hi-Fi Studio – the multi-story building that replaced his garage – Spoon's new album, and gender inequality in the studio over Zoom. Enjoy! Sponsored by Audix https://audixusa.com

Chicago's Neal Francis recently released In Plain Sight, the follow up to his critically acclaimed debut Changes. It is an album filled with personal stories wrapped in a deep pocket of funky grooves, classic tones and masterful songwriting. Geoff Stanfield caught up with Neal to chat about recording In Plain Sight, discuss some of the record's tracks, and they even get a call from the album's mixer, Dave Fridmann! Enjoy! Sponsored by Cloud Microphones https://cloudmicrophones.com

Producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Greg Kurstin has worked with a staggering list of top artists including Adele, Pink, Paul McCartney, The Foo Fighters, Sia, Beck and many more. For this episode Geoff Stanfield chatted with Greg specifically about his recent work producing Greta Van Fleet's latest release, *The Battle at Garden's Gate*. Enjoy! Sponsored by Retro Instruments http://retroinstruments.com

For his most recent release *Uneasy*, pianist and composer Vijay Iyer is joined by Linda May Han Oh on bass and Tyshawn Sorey on drums. The album is masterfully recorded and captures the tension, somberness and dark before the dawn sentiment of compositions that address subject matter ranging from the Flint, Michigan water crisis to the Black Lives Matter movement. By setting the stage, animating tones into vivid thoughts, and creating dialog between instruments, the trio creates a canvas for conversations around these topics and invites the listener to both engage and reflect. Geoff Stanfield chatted with Vijay about the recording of *Uneasy* and it's socially relevant subject matter. Enjoy! Sponsored by Distrokid http://distrokid.com

2008 was an event filled year. Barack Obama was elected president, Satoshi Nakamoto introduced the concept of Bitcoin, Spotify was launched in Sweden and an extra “leap second” was added to the end of the year. It was also the year that Portland, Oregon band Blitzen Trapper released their album Furr and the single of the same name. 21 years, 42 million streams, and heaps of critical praise later, the band’s singer, guitarist and writer Eric Earley discusses “Furr” and the song’s humble beginnings. Enjoy! Sponsored by Overstayer http://overstayeraudio.com

Laraaji (born as Edward Larry Gordon) may be most well-known for his 1980 album Ambient 3: Day of Radiance, a collaboration with Brian Eno for his legendary ambient series of recordings, but Laraaji's career has actually spanned more than 40 years and includes over 50 releases. However, music is only one element of this laughter artist, meditation practitioner, and mystic traveler. As Eno says, "Laraaji is one of the calmest and most serious people I have ever met, and also one of the most lighthearted. It's an unusual combination, but somehow both qualities show in his work – it's deep and bright at the same time." Geoff Stanfield had a conversation with Laraaji from which excerpts were pulled for an article in Tape Op issue #141, but actually hearing the words and wisdom is an experience all its own. Enjoy! Sponsored by Focusrite https://focusrite.com

Xenia Rubinos could just as easily be on a bill with Flying Lotus and The Boredoms as she could with Eryka Badu and Esperanza Spalding. Her unique genre mixing of soul, punk, jazz, pop and latin music grooves planted her firmly in a musical space all her own. Following Xenia's first two albums, 2013's *Magic Trix* and the wide success of 2016's *Black Terry Cat* and the extensive touring and hustle to promote it, she visited a "curandero" who diagnosed her with "a loss of spirit". Though uninspired and unmotivated to make music, she was encouraged by her longtime collaborator and co-producer Marco Buccelli to continue working. Rubinos' new release *Una Rosa*, is her own novella. It is a rediscovery of her musical self that explores new sonic territory, leaning heavily on the use of synths and drum machines to frame her stories, reflections and expressions. Geoff Stanfield chatted with Xenia from her home in Brooklyn. Enjoy! Sponsored by Radial Engineering https://radialeng.com

In this episode we chat with Producer/Engineer Mitch Easter about working on the song that launched R.E.M.'s career, "Radio Free Europe"! The version of R.E.M.'s Radio Free Europe that we have all come to know and love was released in 1980 on the band's 2nd album, Murmur, but there was an earlier version of the song recorded at Mitch's humble Drive-In Studios. Geoff Stanfield caught up with Mitch to talk this seminal track and working with the band in their early days. Enjoy! Sponsored by Rupert Neve Designs rupertneve.com

Jim Keller first made his mark co-penning the 80's hit "867-5309 (Jenny, Jenny)" as a member of the band Tommy TuTone. In a long and storied career he has managed Philip Glass, become a staple of the New York music scene and released several acclaimed albums. His most recent release, By No Means, was produced and recorded by Mitchell Froom and David Boucher and features David Hidalgo, Michael Urbano and Bob Glaub. Geoff Stanfield caught up on a 3 way Zoom call with Jim in New York and Mitchell in New Zealand to discuss. Enjoy! Sponsored by McDSP https://mcdsp.com

Italian engineer and mixer Riccardo Damian has had a hand in the music of a staggering list of artists. Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Sampha, Lily Allen, Yebba, Ezra Collective, Alicia Keys, Drake and the list goes on. From interning in a small town in Italy to cutting his teeth in London's more prestigious studios and being Mark Ronson's main engineer, he has learned from mentors and carved a path and created a sound that is decidedly his own. Geoff Stanfield caught up with Ricky earlier this year to discuss his early days, the importance of being prepared and making sure technology never gets in the way. Enjoy! Sponsored by Antelope Audio https://antelopeaudio.com

What is the common thread between Spike Lee, The Grateful Dead, Don Henley, Bonnie Raitt, Pat Metheny, Justin Vernon, James Mercer, Branford Marsalis, Snoop Dog, Polo G and countless other music luminaries? That'd be Bruce Hornsby. His collaborations, songwriting, performances and oft sampled hit "The Way It Is" have kept Bruce Hornsby a vital force in the music community for almost four decades. Online publisher Geoff Stanfield caught up with Bruce recently to chat about his early days, scoring films for Spike Lee and the joys of a stolen Rhodes piano. Enjoy! Sponsored by Soundtoys https://soundtoys.com

Hey Tape Op Podcast Listeners! We know that there are some "standard of quality" issues with Linda's audio for this podcast segment. It was delivered over-compressed and even after some restorative work it remains a bit crunchy at times. Our judgment was that the content's quality outweighed the audio quality. It is worth bearing with it just to hear Linda's Dolly Parton impersonation, bluntness and infectious enthusiasm! Linda Perry had her first hit with “What’s Up?” in 1993, as lead singer and songwriter for 4 Non Blondes. Since then, she’s worked as a producer and songwriter for numerous artists, helping shape the sounds of P!nk, Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, Adele, and Dolly Parton, to name a few. In 2015, Perry was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, and in 2019 she received a historic Grammy nomination for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, one of only nine women to ever be nominated, and the first female producer unattached to a production team. It’s hard to summarize her career, but she did it well with this, “There are so many friggin’ hats that I wear. There’s the producer, songwriter, the entrepreneur, the manager, the composer, and I’m the mom. I’m also just a human being trying to figure out how to best be of service in this world.” Here’s my conversation with Linda Perry. It was a big honor. Enjoy! -Dawn Landes Sponsored by Eventide https://eventideaudio.com

Daniel Lanois: If you have been a fan of music during the past 30 years, you have heard his production work with U2, Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, and countless others. In addition to helming these albums, he has had a long and storied solo career, releasing 21 albums since 1989 (release of Acadie). We've interviewed Daniel several times over the years, and it's always a great conversation, full of insights and pearls of wisdom. Geoff Stanfield caught up with him recently to discuss his latest release, Heavy Sun. Enjoy! Sponsored by oeksound https://oeksound.com

We first interviewed producer and engineer Joel Hamilton back in 2011 in Tape Op issue #85. Joel has worked on records with Elvis Costello, Norah Jones, Highly Suspect, Pretty Lights, Iggy Pop, The Black Keys, Matisyahu, Dub Trio, Bonobo and the list goes on. Online publisher Geoff Stanfield has worked on several projects with Joel going back a decade, so he decided to give him a call and have him go on the record about teaching in India, thoughts on asymmetry and a recent project with Rick Rubin and Paul McCartney. Enjoy! Sponsored by Burl Audio https://burlaudio.com

Welcome to Tape Op’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. This week we chat w/ singer and songwriter Jolie Holland about Buck Meek’s 2021 release Two Saviors. Enjoy!

Welcome to Tape Op’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. This week we chat w/ producer and engineer Mark Rubel about The Band’s 1969 Release The Band. Enjoy!

Welcome to Tape Op’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. This week we chat w/ singer Rahill Jamalifard about The Electric Prunes 1968 album, Release of an Oath. Enjoy!

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard have released a staggering amount of music over the last decade. Two of those releases, 2017's Flying Microtonal Banana and 2020's KG are both heavily influenced by Turkish Psych-Rock. Geoff Stanfield caught up with the band's main producer, writer, multi-instrumentalist and singer Stu Mackenzie to chat about this direction and take a deeper look at some of their favorite tracks on the most recent of the two albums, KG. Enjoy! Sponsored by ATO Records https://atorecords.com

Welcome to *Tape Op*’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about *their* favorite records. This week we chat w/ singer, songwriter and Vetiver frontman Andy Cabic about The Flying Lizards 1980 release *Fourth Wall*. Enjoy!

Welcome to Tape Op’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. This week we chat w/ mastering engineer Jessica Thompson about Scott Walker’s 1969 release Scott 3.

Welcome to Tape Op’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. This week we chat w/ producer/engineer Beau Sorenson about Talk Talk’s 1991 release Laughing Stock. Enjoy!

Fleet Foxes recently released their 4th album Shore, a sprawling and at times cinematic work that began as a solo record for the band's singer and principal songwriter Robin Pecknold.  Written and recorded in several locations around the globe, Robin and engineer Beatriz Artola working with outside musicians and band members have created the band's most mature and engaging work to date. Geoff Stanfield caught up with Robin from their respective homes in Seattle and Los Angeles to talk about the process of recording the album and chat about some of their favorite tracks. Enjoy! Sponsored by Audix https://audixusa.com

Welcome to Tape Op’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. This week we chat w/ producer Emch from Subatomic Sound System about Lee “Scratch” Perry and the Upsetters 1976 release Super Ape. Enjoy!

Welcome to Tape Op’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. This week we chat w/ drummer Erik Eldenius about Miles Davis’ 1968 release Nefertiti. Enjoy!

Welcome to Tape Op’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. This week we chat w/ engineer/producer Joe Barresi about Boston’s 1976 album "Boston". Enjoy!

Engineer and mixer Geoff Swan has gone from university student to studio owner, to producer Spike Stent’s assistant, back to studio owner and is now a go to engineer and mixer for some of today’s most exciting artists and producers. He has had a hand in the music of Ed Sheeran, Cardi B, Mahalia, Jonsí, 5 Seconds of Summer, Paul McCartney, The Weeknd, One Direction, Vance Joy, Liam Gallagher, Duran Duran, Charli XCX, and more. Geoff’s name kept showing up on record after record and in many conversations, so it seemed like a good time to catch up and get a sense of his career trajectory and his approach to mixing. Sponsored by Yamaha/Steinberg https://www.steinberg.net

Welcome to Tape Op’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. This week we chat w/ song-writer Sadie Dupuis about Aimiee Mann’s 2002 release "Lost in Space". Enjoy!

Welcome to Tape Op’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. This week we chat w/ drummer Mark Guiliana about LCD Soundsystem’s 2017 release American Dream. Enjoy!

Welcome to Tape Op’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. This week we chat w/ Sarah Jarosz about James McMurtry’s 1989 release Too Long in the Wasteland. Enjoy!

We first interviewed producer/engineer Robbie Lackritz back in 2013 and since then he has continued his work with Feist, Bahamas and Jack Johnson as well as made a move to California. Online Publisher Geoff Stanfield caught up with Robbie to get up to speed on Robbie's latest work, talk drum sounds and how parenting makes you a better producer. Enjoy! Sponsored by Cloud Microphones http://cloudmicrophones.com

Welcome to Tape Op’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. This week we chat w/ producer Thom Monahan about Charli XCX’s 2020 release How I’m Feeling Now. Enjoy!

Welcome to Tape Op’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. This week we chat w/ producer Maryam Qudus about Stereolab’s 2001 release Sound-Dust. Enjoy!

Welcome to Tape Op’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. This week we chat w/ M.Ward about Lee Hazelwood’s 1970 release Cowboy in Sweden. Enjoy!

Welcome to Tape Op’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. This week we chat w/ Danny Barnes about Joseph Spence's album Happy All The Time. Enjoy!

Michael Kiwanuka’s music has made it around the world, showcasing his passionate voice and guitar playing. His debut album, Home Again, was produced by Paul Butler of The Bees, and his second album, Love & Hate – produced with Danger Mouse, Inflo, and Paul – featured the track "Cold Little Heart," which gave his career a major boost when it was picked as the theme song for HBO’s Big Little Lies. The follow-up, last-year’s Kiwanuka, carried on with some powerful themes and arrangements. It was a treat to chat with Michael and examine his studio path and thoughts. Enjoy! Sponsored by Retro Instruments www.retroinstruments.com

Welcome to Tape Op’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. Synth pioneer Suzanne Ciani discusses Glenn Gould's The Goldberg Variations. Enjoy!

Welcome to Tape Op’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. Electronic music master King Britt discusses Speaker Music's Black Nationalist Sonic Weaponry. Enjoy! www.kingbritt.com https://speakermusic.bandcamp.com

Welcome to Tape Op’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. This week we chat w/ mastering engineer Heba Kadry about Manuel Göttsching's 1984 release, E2-E4. Enjoy!

Welcome to Tape Op’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. This week we chat w/ Joey Burns about Gaby Moreno's 2014 release, Posada and Calexico’s new collection of holiday songs, Seasonal Shift. Enjoy!

Welcome to Tape Op’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. This week we chat w/ Bill Frisell about Wes Montgomery's 1966 release, Tequila. Enjoy!

Signed to her first record deal at age 16, Sarah Jarosz has been continuously putting out critically acclaimed records and touring ever since, nevermind she did a large part of that while attending college at the New England Conservatory. Over a decade since her first release and numerous Grammy and Americana awards nominations and wins Sarah's latest record World on the Ground is yet another document of her prodigious songwriting, playing and singing. Online publisher Geoff Stanfield caught up with Sarah from her home in Nashville, Tennessee. Enjoy! Sponsored by Rupert Neve Designs http://rupertneve.com

After working on My Morning Jacket's Circuital and Jim James' Regions of Light and Sound of God, Tucker Martine once again joined the band to helm sessions that would become 2005's The Waterfall and 2020's The Waterfall II. Geoff Stanfield caught up with Jim and Tucker on a pandemic appropriate three-way call from Seattle, Louisville and Portland to talk about their history, the influence of a location and the recording of this epic collection of songs. Enjoy! Sponsored by Overstayer http://overstayeraudio.com

What started as a solo endeavor from band founder and frontman Ryan Lott, Son Lux has blossomed into a collaborative effort with the addition of band members Ian Chang and Rafiq Bhatia. Their new release Tomorrows seeks to defy the confines of the traditional album release, instead choosing to put out the music in three collections over a span of time. Ryan caught up with online publisher Geoff Stanfield to discuss his process, collaboration, film scoring and making music during a global pandemic. Enjoy! Sponsored by Distrokid http://distrokid.com

Hailing from Edmonton, Canadian Electronic Pop Duo Purity Ring made a splash with their debut album Shrines. The release was a document of Corin Roddick and singer Megan James’ long distance collaboration and Corin’s electronic music experimentation and exploration. Made entirely at home, the band’s latest and third release, Womb, debuted at number one on the electronic music charts. We sat down with Corin to discuss the making of both Shrines and Womb, distance recording and happy accidents. Sponsored by Reverb reverb.com

For this episode, we have something different for you. This is a round table discussion with Tony Visconti, Chris Kimsey, Martin Terefe, George Murphy, and Andy Cook recorded in England at Kingston University's Visconti Studios. They discuss the recording and production practices that shaped the iconic records of the past, the abuse of tape, and the slow process of recording and editing analog media. Talking us through some of their experiences in the studio with David Bowie and The Rolling Stones, Tony and Chris reveal some of their own creative approaches to tape-based production. This interview was conducted by Isabella van Elferen and Leah Kardos for Kingston University and Visconti Studios. Enjoy! https://www.visconti-studio.co.uk/research/ Sponsored by Burl Audio https://burlaudio.com

What began as the solo project of frontman Will Toledo, Car Seat Headrest initially released a series of lo-fi and experimental albums on Bandcamp. The band's name is a reference to Toledo's necessity of recording vocals in his car while still living at his parents’ home at the time. In 2015 Car Seat Headrest signed to Matador Records, and recently released Making a Door Less Open, a stylistically divergent record containing elements of Hip Hop, EDM and even Doo Wop. I caught up with Will to chat about self-producing and a tour-less summer. Enjoy! Sponsored by Adam Audio https://www.adam-audio.com

What do Björk, Beach House, Slowdive, Liturgy, !!!, The Mars Volta, Deerhunter, Explosions in the Sky, serpentwithfeet, and Ryuichi Sakamoto all have in common? Mastering Engineer Heba Kadry. Born and raised in Egypt and now residing in Brooklyn, New York, Heba has become a cornerstone of the mastering community. Online publisher Geoff Stanfield caught up with Heba from her home to get her thoughts on mastering, working with Björk and building a new mastering studio. Enjoy! Interview by Geoff Stanfield Sponsored by Fabfilter www.fabfilter.com

The husband and wife team of Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley formed their band Tennis after a sailing trip down the eastern seaboard, an experience that made for the subject matter on their first album, Cape Dory. After several albums and a home studio build, the band has released Swimmer, a collection that documents personal loss and growth. Online Publisher Geoff Stanfield recently chatted with Tennis from their home in Denver, Colorado. Enjoy! Sponsored by Retro Instruments [https://www.retroinstruments.com]

I first interviewed producer, musician, and engineer Steve Fisk for Tape Op issue #3 in 1996. Steve has made a name for himself, recording iconic tracks for groups like Beat Happening, Nirvana, The Screaming Trees, Low, and Car Seat Headrest. He's also been a prolific solo musician and member of the fine groups, Pell Mell and Pigeonhed. I met up with Steve as he prepared to move from Seattle to Tacoma. Enjoy! Sponsored by Steinberg http://steinberg.net

Tony Visconti needs no introduction. His name is synonymous with the long career of David Bowie and his work with other important artists like T-Rex, Gentle Giant, The Moody Blues, Thin Lizzy, Adam Ant, Morrissey, The Alarm, Angelique Kido, Iggy Pop, The Damned and countless others. We interviewed Tony in 2002 for Tape Op issue #29, but it seemed like a great time to reconnect and that's exactly what Online Publisher Geoff Stanfield did at Tony's New York City studio in October of 2019. Enjoy! Sponsored by Eventide [eventideaudio.com]

From the early days of touring with indie luminaries The Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens, to releasing six albums as St. Vincent and recently wrapping up production on a record for Sleater-Kinney, Annie Clark is much more than a modern-day guitar hero. Her left-of-center approach to songcraft joined with a unique sonic aesthetic, has made her a reckoning figure in contemporary music. Cian Riordan met Annie last year while engineering Sleater-Kinney’s album The Center Won’t Hold, while Clark produced. The two of them ended up forging a great producer/engineer rapport and have been working on numerous recording projects since then – mostly at Annie's home studio in Los Angeles. They joked about the creative mind-meld they had developed from spending so much time working together, so it seemed like a natural fit for Cian to interview Annie for Tape Op. Enjoy! Disclaimer: This audio recording was not originally tracked with the intent of using for a podcast. It was recorded solely for transcription for our print interview. Please forgive any balance issues, background sounds, and lack of clarity. Interview by Cian Riordan http://www.cianriordan.com Sponsored by Radial Engineering https://www.radialeng.com

Adrian Quesada first made a name for himself as a founding member and producer of the Grammy winning latin-rock bigband, Grupo Fantasma. Since then, he's been writing and working on several projects. Most recently, he partnered with songwriter Eric Burton and formed Black Pumas, an Austin Texas based band that has just released their debut album on ATO Records. It's a collection of classic soul-flavored tracks in great songwriting, but is not simply a retro retread. Taking queues from hip-hop and psychedelic genres and parring them with a mix of classic and modern recording techniques, and a live off-the-floor approach, The Black Pumas have created a future classic of their own. Larry interviewed Adrian back for Tape Op Issue #94, so having Geoff Stanfield, Tape Op online publisher catch up with him was long overdue. Enjoy! Sponsored by Yousician yousician.com

We interviewed producer/engineer Jonathan Schenke in November of 2017 for Tape Op issue #122, but since that time he has moved studios, formed new recording and performance projects and been part of a bunch of new records. Online publisher Geoff Stanfield caught up with Jonathan recently at his new Brooklyn based Studio Windows. Enjoy! Sponsored by Cloud Microphones www.cloudmicrophones.com

We interviewed Tycho's Scott Hansen after the release of his Epoch album for Tape Op #123. With the addition of vocalist Hannah Cottrell, aka Saint Sinner, his new release Weather introduces a new chapter in Tycho's music and gave online publisher Geoff Stanfield an opportunity to sit down with Scott in Seattle and have a song by song chat about the making of this fantastic record. Enjoy! Disclaimer: This audio recording was not originally tracked with the intent of using for a podcast. It was recorded solely for transcription for our print interview. Please forgive any balance issues, background sounds, and lack of clarity. Sponsored by Soundtoys www.soundtoys.com

A young intern fresh out of Full Sail University gets a big break (and a nickname) from Missy Elliott, works alongside producers and engineers like Timbaland, Jimmy Douglass [Tape Op #130], Demacio Castellon, and Polow da Don, and ends up mixing hits for Keri Hilson, Britney Spears, Keyshia Cole, Meek Mill, M.I.A., Usher, Wiz Khalifa, and Madonna. There must be a story behind this path! In 2014, she and producer Nate "Danja" Hills opened Dream Asylum Studios and N.A.R.S. Records in the Miami area, with studios for each of them to create and mix in. That's where I met up with Marcella Araica on a typically warm Florida day to talk about her incredible career and life. Enjoy! Sponsored by DistroKid distrokid.com

Heavy music wouldn't sound like it does today without the help of producer and engineer Nick Raskulinecz. We interviewed Nick back in 2005 for Tape Op #50 and so it seemed like a good time to check back in with him to chat about his move to Nashville, his new studio and his work with bands like Rush, Alice in Chains, Mastadon, Foo Fighters and more. Enjoy! Disclaimer: This audio recording was not originally tracked with the intent of using for a podcast. It was recorded solely for transcription for our print interview. Please forgive any balance issues, background sounds, and lack of clarity. Sponsored by Steinberg www.steinberg.net

I’ve been in studios and rooms all over the world. I’ve seen where The Beatles spent hours creating masterpieces. I’ve been in the room where Buddy Holly’s hits were made. I’ve stood at the mics that Al Green used on so many songs. Many of these places have something special going on – maybe those creative vibes soaked into the walls – but almost all of them require the musicians to cart their instruments and gear in, as well as to spend some time sorting out and setting it up. And, by virtue of the typical layout, many professional studios leave the musicians and engineers in isolation from each other, especially during overdub sessions. In contrast Wilco’s studio, The Loft, is a third-floor warehouse practice space turned studio, where Jeff Tweedy and his band have created a musician’s dream. Racks of drums and other instruments fill the space, with the control room area taking up the front part of the building. There’s even a kitchen/dining spot, a tech bench for repairs, and various little hideaways scattered all around the 5000 square foot space. I recently had the chance to sit down and chat with Jeff about his new memoir, Let's Go (So We Can Get Back): A Memoir of Recording and Discording with Wilco, Etc., and his new solo album, Warm. Enjoy! Sponsored by Rupert Neve Designs www.rupertneve.com

Dan Auerbach, along with drummer Patrick Carney, started The Black Keys in 2001 as a writing and recording project, releasing their first album in 2002. Dan also began recording and producing other artists along the way, initially with musicians like Jessica Lea Mayfield, Patrick Sweany, and others. Big changes arrived for The Black Keys in 2010, when the album Brothers and the single "Tighten Up" sold millions of copies and garnered three Grammy Awards. Dan moved to Nashville around then and opened up his Easy Eye Sound studio, a place filled with the best vintage and new recording equipment and is also home to many fun instruments. Sessions for The Pretenders, Dr. John, Shannon & The Clams, Lana Del Rey, and many more have gone on here, so I dropped in to hang with Dan, and his engineer Allen Parker, in June of 2018 to learn more about his career and thoughts on producing records. Check out the new Black Keys album, Let's Rock, and look for a Tape Op interview with Patrick Carney of the band soon. Enjoy! Sponsored by Soundtoys www.soundtoys.com

We first met esteemed mix engineer Michael Brauer in Tape Op #37 in 2003, when Mike Caffrey interviewed him about his multi-bus mixing technique. Some 16 years later Michael and Larry Crane sat down at his new space, BrauerSound Studios, to discuss his career path and unique mixing techniques. He's crossed genres frequently, working as a mixer on projects by artists as varied as Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones, Tony Bennett, Coldplay, John Mayer, Calle 13, Angelique Kidjo, Phoenix, Bon Jovi, M. Ward, Grandaddy [Tape Op #7], Caveman, James Bay, and Grizzly Bear. Enjoy! Sponsored by Eventide Audio www.eventide.com

Neko Case released her first album The Virginian in 1997 and since has released six records, documents of her growth as a singer, songwriter and producer. Her latest release, Hell On, still has whispers of her Americana past, but leans more towards an art rock record, with theatrical arrangements that highlight her vivid and evocative lyrics. Neko's recent interview in Tape Op was fantastic but there is just so much to talk about, so Online Publisher Geoff Stanfield caught up with her at a recent tour stop in Seattle. Enjoy! Sponsored by Audio-Technica www.audio-technica.com

New Mexico and a childhood spent moving from oilfield to oilfield for his father's jobs, Ryan Bingham rode bulls and eventually learned to play a guitar given to him by his mother for his 16th birthday. From a first gig at a biker party, to every roadhouse in the nowhere South, he honed his songwriting and playing eventually landing a deal with Lost Highway records. His big break came appearing in the film Crazy Heart alongside Jeff Bridges and his song from the film, "The Weary Kind" earned Bingham an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Critics' Choice Award for "Best Song" in 2010, as well as a Grammy in 2011. The Americana Music Association Also named Bingham 2010's Artist of the Year. Almost a decade on, Ryan is still writing, acting (most recently in the Netflix series Yellowstone) and making great records. Online Publisher Geoff Stanfield caught up with Ryan in Seattle to chat about recording his latest release American Love Song. Enjoy! Sponsored by Burl Audio www.burlaudio.com

Perfume Genius, Laura Marling, Alabama Shakes, John Legend, Vulfpeck, Randy Newman, Jesca Hoop, Norah Jones, Andrew Bird, Jim James, and a long list of others all have a common thread, Blake Mills. Originally the leader of the band Simon Dawes, Blake caught the studio bug and never looked back. His songwriting, inventive guitar playing and production are all unmistakeable. His third solo release "Look" was born out of his exploring of vintage Roland guitar synthesizers. Online Publisher Geoff Stanfield caught up with Blake to discuss. Enjoy! Sponsored byAdam Audio www.adam-audio.com/en/

We interviewed Ryan Hewitt back in 2007 for Tape Op Issue 61. A lot can happen in ten plus years, so we thought it'd be a good idea to check in. Online Publisher Geoff Stanfield caught up with Ryan to talk about his mobile recording pioneer dad David Hewitt, Rick Rubin, Phil Ramone, his recent move to Nashville and to just generally chew the fat. Enjoy! Sponsored by DPA Microphones www.dpamicrophones.com

Julie Kathryn, AKA I Am Snow Angel is a producer, artist, sound designer, and advocate for female empowerment in the music industry. Her latest release Mothership was recorded in a cabin in New York's Adirondacks. I sat down with Julie in her studio in New York City for this chat. Enjoy! Sponsored by Antelope http://en.antelopeaudio.com

Michael Beinhorn's name has graced some of popular music's seminal recordings including Herbie Hancock's Future Shock and Soundgarden's Superunknown. He is a musician and producer, author of Unlocking Creativity: A Producer's Guide to Making Music & Art, and most recently has launched a service for artists and bands that focuses solely on pre-production. Online publisher Geoff Stanfield caught up with Michael from his home in Los Angeles to learn more. Enjoy! Sponsored by Yamaha/Steinberg www.steinberg.net

First interviewed in Tape Op some 20 years ago, Jack Endino has been a staple of the Northwest music and recording scene for over 30 years. He describes himself as "the guy in the engine room" during the early voyages of the battleship "Grunge" in the late 80s - and many of the early releases that put Seattle label Sub Pop on the map have his name on them. Artists like Mudhoney, Nirvana, TAD, Soundgarden, L7, Mark Lanegan, and Hot Hot Heat, are just a few of the many bands that Jack has guided through their recordings. I caught up with Jack at Seattle's Soundhouse Studio, and we carried on as only two old friends can. Enjoy! Sponsored by Audeze www.audeze.com

When we prep for Tape Op interviews it is typical to print out discographies, but in the case of our next guest, it was 48 pages long! Bob Clearmountain needs no introduction. He has worked with a who's who of music's biggest artists including Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Morrissey, Sheryl Crow, Tina Turner, Bryan Adams, Crowded House, Bon Jovi, Hall & Oats, Travis Tritt, Elton John, David Bowie and 47 more pages of music's makers and shakers. He is still considered the mixer's mixer and works closely with Apogee Electronics on the development of recording studio essentials. Tape Op publisher John Baccigaluppi sat down recently to chat with Bob at his Los Angeles studio. Enjoy! Sponsored by Apogee https://www.apogeedigital.com

In 2002 we interviewed Tucker Martine, then a resident of Seattle and making some cool records with people like Bill Frisell and Danny Barnes. A few years later he moved down to Portland, Oregon, working initially out of my Jackpot! Recording Studio, but soon moving his home studio Flora Recording And Playback into commercial digs. He's worked with The Decemberists, REM, My Morning Jacket, Neko Case, Mudhoney, Grandaddy, Mavis Staples, K.D. Lang, She and Him, and also his songwriting wife Laura Veirs. Tucker was preparing to move into a new studio building so I thought we should check in and see what was up with him. Enjoy! Sponsored by Neumann Berlin https://en-de.neumann.com

Born in the UK, and now currently residing in Nashville, Jamie Lidell sings, beatboxes, records, produces, engineers, writes songs, writes code, and actually functions as a husband and father. He has collaborated with Beck, Feist, Gonzales, Mocky and Simian Mobile Disco just to name a few. His songs have been used in Grey's Anatomy and Target commercials and he has won global accolades for his work. I sat down with Jamie at his studio in Nashville to catch up. Enjoy! Sponsored by Universal Audio www.uaudio.com

Daniel Lanois' career reads like an enviable work of fantasy. From his early work with Brian Eno and Harold Budd on their genre defining "ambient" works, pivotable roles in U2 classics The Unforgettable Fire, Joshua Tree and Actung Baby!, to his work with Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Aaron Neville, and of course his body of work as a band leader and solo artist, Daniel Lanois has continued to look forward and stay inspired by being at once a master and student of his craft. His latest release Venetian Snares X Daniel Lanois(a collaboration with Aaron Funk) keeps the tradition of not just pushing, but ignoring boundaries. Online editor Geoff Stanfield caught up with Daniel to discuss this latest release and what's happened since we last interviewed Daniel back in Tape Op issue #37. Enjoy! Disclaimer: This audio recording was not originally tracked with the intent of using for a podcast. It was recorded solely for transcription for our print interview. Please forgive any balance issues, background sounds, and lack of clarity. Sponsored by AMS-Neve www.ams-neve.com

In 2011 an artist by the name of Gotye rose to international prominence on the back of his song, "Somebody That I Used to Know," from his third album, Making Mirrors. Wouter "Wally" De Backer is Gotye, and it turns out he's far more than a global pop star. Belgian-born, and Australia-raised, he now resides in the New York City area, where he can work on his many passions. An interest in the French proto-synthesizer, the Ondioline - and it's most famous player, Jean-Jacques Perrey, led to meeting Jean-Jacques, archiving his music, releasing a record of rare works and restoring several vintage Ondiolines as well as performing live with the Ondioline Orchestra. Wally also continues to record and perform with The Basics, a rock trio he's had with friends since 2002, and is currently working on a new Gotye album. He's a busy man; one whose energy is positive and infectious. Enjoy! Disclaimer: This audio recording was not originally tracked with the intent of using for a podcast. It was recorded solely for transcription for our print interview. Please forgive any balance issues, background sounds, and lack of clarity. Sponsored by Eventide www.eventide.com

Not only is Susan Rogers a record producer, engineer, mixer, and audio electronics technician, she has a doctorate in psychology (having studied music cognition and psychoacoustics) from McGill University. As an engineer Susan really got her start working with Prince from 1983 to 1988, including albums like Purple Rain, Around the World in a Day, Parade, Sign o' the Times, and The Black Album. Her other studio sessions have included artists like Barenaked Ladies, David Byrne, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Rusted Root, Tricky, Geggy Tah, and Michael Penn. She is currently the director of the Berklee College of Music's Perception and Cognition Laboratory, and is an associate professor at Berklee. Portions of this interview were conducted after a listen to a vinyl LP of Purple Rain in front of a live audience during the "Saturday Night Listening Party" at the Welcome to 1979 Recording Summit (held every November in Nashville), and the rest of the interview took place between Susan and me the following day. Enjoy Sponsored by Soundtoys soundtoys.com

What's the common thread between John Lennon, Cheap Trick, Slash, Aerosmith, Miles Davis, Patti Smith, Blue Oyster Cult, The Yardbirds, New York Dolls, Clutch and Local H? It's Jack Douglas. We interviewed Jack along with Jay Messina back in Tape Op #90, but my pal Luther Russell and I were able to catch up with Jack in Los Angeles in early 2018 to talk shop and dig into his history. Enjoy! Sponsored by Audio-Technica www.audio-technica.com

Ken Scott is an undisputed legend. We interviewed him way back in Tape Op issue #52. His work with The Beatles, Elton John, David Bowie, George Harrison, Supertramp and countless others has him firmly planted in the middle of some of music's greatest albums. We caught up with Ken at this year's NAMM show in Los Angeles and chatted about his amazing career. Enjoy! Disclaimer: This audio recording was not originally tracked with the intent of using for a podcast. Please forgive any balance issues, background sounds, and lack of clarity. Sponsored by Artnovion https://www.artnovion.com

Producer John Congleton was first interviewed back in 2011 in Tape Op #81. He has made records with St. Vincent, Explosions in the Sky, The Walkmen, Blondie, and Alvvays. Tape Op Editor Larry Crane caught up with John when he was recently in Portland, Oregon working on the new Decemberists record. Enjoy! Disclaimer: This audio recording was not originally tracked with the intent of using for a podcast. Please forgive any balance issues, background sounds, and lack of clarity. Sponsored by Joe Lambert Mastering http://www.JoeLambertMastering.com

Famed producer, musician, and arranger Willie Mitchell became involved with Royal Studios (and the associated Hi Records) in Memphis, Tennessee, in the early ‘60s. He took more control of the studio operations as time went on and, in the early ‘70s, his collaboration with singer Al Green led to millions of albums sold, all of which cemented Willie’s reputation as a producer of note. These days his son, Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell, a musician, songwriter, engineer, and producer in his own right, runs Royal Studios and co-owns Royal Records. He keeps the legacy alive, while also looking to the future. Boo’s produced and/or engineered a wide range of acts including Melissa Etheridge, Solomon Burke, Al Green, Cody Chesnutt, Rod Stewart, John Mayer, Snoop Dogg, Bobby Rush, William Bell, Keb Mo, Terrence Howard, and Boz Scaggs. I met up with Boo one evening at Royal Studios (currently celebrating their 60th year) in the back control room to discuss his life in the studio. Enjoy! Disclaimer: This audio recording was not originally tracked with the intent of using for a podcast. It was recorded solely for transcription for our print interview (see issue #120). Please forgive any balance issues, background sounds, and lack of clarity. Sponsored by Burl Audio https://burlaudio.com

Sylvia Massy made a good name for herself as a producer and engineer making records with artists like Tool, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Skunk Anansie, Love & Rockets, R.E.M., Johnny Cash, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, System of a Down, Smashing Pumpkins, Prince and my favorite, Big Elf.  She recently published "Recording Unhinged" a collection of left of center recording techniques and ideas accompanied by her artwork. Sylvia recently moved her studio operation from Weed, California to Ashland, Oregon which is where she took some time out from her schedule to chat with online publisher Geoff Stanfield. Enjoy! Sponsored by iZotope https://www.izotope.com

Tycho's Scott Hansen is a busy man. As the frontman, principle songwriter, producer, as well as the creator of the band's album art and live visuals, he has no shortage of things on his plate. It's the sound of the future that owes so much to the past. Geoff Stanfield (Tape Op Online Publisher) sat down with Scott on a morning before a show in Seattle to talk about his process, translating his brand of ambient/electronic music into a compelling live show, and the intersection of music and visual art. Enjoy! Sponsored by Focusrite https://us.focusrite.com

A major star in her native land, via her successful acting and music careers, Argentina’s Juana Molina should be a household name in the rest of the world. In April 2017 she released her seventh album, Halo, and will be touring the world in support. Online Publisher Geoff Stanfield caught up with Juana to discuss the making of her new album, her process, and the path that has led her to this point. Enjoy! Disclaimer: This audio recording was not originally tracked with the intent of using for a podcast. It was recorded solely for transcription for our print interview (see issue #119). Please forgive any balance issues, background sounds, and lack of clarity. Sponsored by Universal Audio http://www.uaudio.com

Ocean Way Recording began in a garage in Santa Monica, California, in 1968, as a place to showcase owner Allen Side's custom monitors. From these humble beginnings the empire expanded to include partnering with Bill Putnam and acquiring his United Recording Studio in Hollywood, and building state of the art recording facilities in Nashville, St. Barths, and nearby Sherman Oaks. The Ocean Way "brand" also includes Allen's high-end (and excellent sounding) monitors, a unique and affordable microphone, excellent UAD plug-ins, drum samples, and even an iPad/iPhone app. Allen is also well known for being a meticulous engineer/producer, having worked with such artists as Phil Collins, Green Day, Eric Clapton, Faith Hill, Beck, Mary J. Blige, Ry Cooder, Joni Mitchell, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, John William, Michael Jackson, and Frank Zappa. Not long ago Allen sold Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood, where we met for this interview, and it has now reverted back to the original United Recording name. Enjoy this chat with Allen Sides! Disclaimer: This audio recording was not originally tracked with the intent of using for a podcast. It was recorded solely for transcription for our print interview (see issue #106). Please forgive any balance issues, background sounds, and lack of clarity. Sponsored by AMS-Neve https://ams-neve.com

His group, Was(Not Was), rolled out some funky dance pop in the '80s. He's produced big records for the Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, John Mayer, and The B-52s. But today he is in his office, high atop the famous Capitol Records tower in Hollywood, as President of the venerable jazz label, Blue Note Records. How did Don Was get here? How does he approach production? What makes him tick? I knew someday we would have this discussion, and everything that drives him does stem from a true love of music — just as I had always imagined. Enjoy! Disclaimer: This audio recording was not originally tracked with the intent of using for a podcast. It was recorded solely for transcription for our print interview (see issue #113). Please forgive any balance issues, background sounds, and lack of clarity. Sponsored by JBL Professional http://www.jblpro.com

How does a Memphis-born teen become an intern, and eventually chief engineer, at Sun Studio? How does the same guy go on to record Jason Isbell, Margo Price, Chris Isaak, Drive By Truckers, the Rival Sons, and Kris Kristofferson, as well as win a Grammy? And how the heck did he follow in Sam Phillips' legendary footsteps to end up recording at Sam Phillips Recording Service and mixing Elvis records? How did he end up working on amazing upcoming releases, including albums by Emily Barker, Sean Rowe, Patrick Sweany, and Margo Price's follow up to Midwest Farmer's Daughter? We find out in this interview with the affable Matt Ross-Spang. Enjoy! Disclaimer: This audio recording was not originally tracked with the intent of using for a podcast. It was recorded solely for transcription for our print interview (see issue #117). Please forgive any balance issues, background sounds, and lack of clarity. Sponsored by Universal Audio http://www.uaudio.com

Too often people assume that those of us in the field of music recording had a distinct idea of what we wanted to do when we started. The truth is almost always that it's a wild and unpredictable path we end up on. Vance Powell is a perfect example. His work has earned him three Grammy awards (Jars of Clay, Buddy Guy, and The Raconteurs). Along the way he's recorded with a wide variety of artists, including Keb' Mo', Martina McBride, The Secret Machines, Karen Elson and of course Jack White. Larry Crane ran around Nashville on a crazy tour with Vance for 11 hours one day and, near the end, they sat down to chat. Disclaimer: This audio recording was not originally tracked with the intent of using for a podcast. It was recorded solely for transcription for our print interview (see issue #82). Please forgive any balance issues, background sounds, and lack of clarity. Sponsored by Bock http://bockaudio.com

If you don't know his name, you know his work. The Rolling Stones, The Who, Small Faces, The Beatles, The Kinks, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, Bob Dylan, The Clash, Ryan Adams, Band of Horses, Patty Griffin and countless others. Without question, Glyn Johns is the sound of a large portion of rock radio and most of our record collections. In In 2015, Larry Crane visited Glyn at his beautiful home in the country south of London for this insightful and at times hilarious interview. Enjoy! Disclaimer: This audio recording was not originally tracked with the intent of using for a podcast. It was recorded solely for transcription for our print interview (see issue #109). Please forgive any balance issues, background sounds, and lack of clarity. Sponsored by Focal https://www.focal.com/en/pro-audio

Yes, Steve Albini is known for being outspoken and opinionated and "controversial," but behind the mythical personality that's been created for him by the media, he's just a great engineer with a passion for making records. This interview was conducted at Albini's Electrical Audio in 2012. Enjoy! Disclaimer: This audio recording was not originally tracked with the intent of using for a podcast. It was recorded solely for transcription for our print interview (see issue #87). Please forgive any balance issues, background sounds, and lack of clarity. Sponsored by Audio-Technica http://www.audio-technica.com

For episode 2 of the Tape Op Podcast we dig into the archive once again. Forget what you think you know about Jack White and enjoy his infectious enthusiasm in this interview with one of the hardest working people in music. Thanks for listening! TapeOp.com Disclaimer: This audio recording was not originally tracked with the intent of using for a podcast. It was recorded solely for transcription for our print interview (see issue #82). Please forgive any balance issues, background sounds, and lack of clarity. Sponsored by Eventide http://www.eventideaudio.com

This interview with Brian Eno was not originally intended to be made available for listening. It has been cleaned up and lightly edited, but has some external and peripheral sounds including some cell phone interference, chairs banging around and jack hammering street repairs! In the spirit of Eno himself, these "ambient" additions were left in for interview continuity. Eno and Peter Chilver’s regenerative music app "Bloom" was used for the bed behind the interview. Thanks for listening! TapeOp.com Disclaimer: This audio recording was not originally tracked with the intent of using for a podcast. It was recorded solely for transcription for our print interview (see issue #85). Please forgive any balance issues, background sounds, and lack of clarity. Sponsored by Soundtoys http://soundtoys.com