Podcast

Baltimore, Maryland, native Josh "Deakin" Dibb is probably best known as a member of the indie rock legends Animal Collective, but he is also a producer, engineer, and mixer, helming projects for Avey Tare, Tickley Feather, Herald,

For over four decades, David Lowery has been an innovator and thought leader in the music business. As musician, he’s the founder and leader of both indie rock legends Camper Van Beethoven and the successful band Cracker. He’s also a writer, producer, studio owner, educator, and as a champion of artists rights in the digital age he even led a successful $112 million dollar lawsuit against Spotify. His new album, Fathers, Sons and Brothers, is a sprawling 28 song release that he offers as an alternative to writing an autobiography. It is a beautiful col...

We interviewed producer, engineer, and mixer, Chris Coady, back in 2016 for Tape Op issue 113. He has worked with TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Future Islands, Beach House, DIIV, The Drums, Porches, Amen Dunes, Sasami, Hand Habits, and countless other artists. Geoff Stanfield caught up with Chris from his studio in Glendale, CA, to discuss a wide range of topics ranging from his formative years in Baltimore, his days at New York City's Quad Studios, and his approach to recording and mixing. Enjoy!

We interviewed Esperanza Spalding back in 2022 for Tape Op issue 147, around the time she had just finished her 8th album, Songwrights Apothecary Lab. Her latest release, Milton+Esperanza, is a Grammy-nominated collaboration with Brazilian music legend Milton Nascimento. The album is a compelling body of work that includes re-imaginations of Nascimento originals, covers, and new collaborative songs. Geoff Stanfield caught up with Esperanza from her home in Portland, Oregon, to discuss the new album and some of her favorite Milton tracks. Enjoy!

To celebrate the 100th episode of the Tape Op Podcast, I thought it appropriate to interview the two people responsible for Tape Op's existence; Founder and Editor Larry Crane, and Publisher John Baccigaluppi. We dive into the early days of the magazine, the evolution of the recording and publishing industries, things learned along this nearly thirty year journey, and more. Enjoy!

We interviewed Black Pumas producer and guitarist Adrian Quesada for episode 77, so when the opportunity arose to chat with frontman singer and songwriter Eric Burton, we jumped! Geoff Stanfield caught up with Eric in this wide ranging conversation to discuss the recording of the band’s latest release Chronicles of a Diamond, staying connected to community, learning to record, his partnership with Adrian and more. Enjoy!

Bristol, England, based band, IDLES, recently released their fifth album, Tangk. Produced by the band's guitarist, Mark Bowen, along with Nigel Godrich and Kenny Beats, Tangk explores new sonic territory for the band – including the use of tape loops – making for a rich and nuanced landscape for singer Joe Talbot's deeply personal lyrics and raw delivery. Geoff Stanfield caught up with Joe and Mark while the band was on tour, to discuss the making of Tangk, working with Nigel and more! Enjoy!

I first met Alan Parsons in 2004, when I interviewed him for Tape Op issue #42. We’ve been lucky enough to work together on Recording Academy presentations and meet up socially a few times after that, and I always thought we’d have fun doing a podcast, and as it was now 20 years later, it felt like a good time. Alan had also built his ParSonics Studio on his ranch in California, and a deluxe box set reissue of the Alan Parsons Project’s Pyramid album was coming out soon, so we had quite a lot to talk about. Enjoy!

There is a long list of accolades for indie legend, producer, engineer, songwriter and musician John Vanderslice. In addition to being the owner of Oakland recording studio Tiny Telephone, he has released sixteen full length albums, five remix albums and EPs and worked with artists such as Spoon, St. Vincent, Deerhoof, the Mountain Goats, and Grandaddy. His new project, Google Earth, is a collaboration with James Riotto and their debut album, Street View, leans heavily into the electronic realm. Geoff Stanfield caught up with John to discuss his career...

Athens, Georgia, born singer Madeleine Peyroux has just released her ninth album, Let's Walk, and it finds her in peak shape as a singer and songwriter. The album's songs and lyrics address a broad range of socially-conscious topics and events in the American landscape. The album is beautifully recorded, and was produced by the legendary Elliot Scheiner, along with Madeleine and band member, Jon Herington. Geoff Stanfield caught up with Madeleine on a Zoom call to discuss Let's Walk and more. Enjoy!

Compton native Lenise Bent has worked with a staggering list of artists, and played a part in some of popular music's biggest albums. Steely Dan, Blondie, Fleetwood Mac, Supertramp, Ringo Starr, Tanya Tucker, George Harrison, Frank Zappa, Suzi Quatro, Neil Diamond, Leonard Cohen, and Cher, not to mention the long list of film and television projects such as Shrek, The Golden Girls, The Larry Sanders Show, and Barbie. Geoff Stanfield ran into Lenise at this year's NAMM Show and they agreed, a chat for the podcast would be a blast. You can also check out...

If you were tuned in to the radio in the 90's, singer, songwriter, and producer, Paula Cole, has been woven into the fabric of your musical life with mega-hits such as "I Don't Want To Wait" and "Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?" Almost three decades on, Paula is still making great records and has recently released Lo, a collection of highly personal songs performed entirely live with her longtime collaborators, Jay Bellarose, Chris Bruce, Ross Gallagher, and Rich Hinman. Geoff Stanfield caught up with Paula to chat about her new album, playing with Pe...

My friend Jolie Holland and I first met when I edited, overdubbed, and mixed her album Wine Dark Sea in 2014, ten years ago. Around then we even played a short 2 song set live at an Elliott Smith tribute show. A few years after that we worked again on Wildflower Blues, an album she did with Samantha Parton, her former bandmate from The Be Good Tanyas, and recently I prepped a re-master of her debut album, Catalpa. We thought it’d be fun to talk about her recent album, Haunted Mountain, and how the record came to be, and working on it with Justin Veloso...

Indiana may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of a blossoming psych-rock scene, but you'd be mistaken. Formed in Bloomington and now based in Los Angeles, Frankie and the Witch Fingers have been cranking out an interesting sounding and diversely-influenced series of albums that document their growth as songwriters and a band as well as their development as recordists. Geoff Stanfield caught up with Josh Menashe, the band's guitarist and primary engineer, to discuss their process and new album Data Doom Enjoy!

February 2024 will see the release of MGMT's fifth album, Loss of Life. Tape Op's online publisher Geoff Stanfield sat down for a chat with the band's founding members Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser to discuss the recording of the album, their long time working relationship with producer/mixer Dave Fridmann, and finding their new favorite microphone! Enjoy!

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 ...

In the early days of 2020, following a canceled 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. 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 ...

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 Pet...

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 ge...

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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 An...

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!

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.

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!

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...

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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 ...

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 ...

In 2002, for [Tape Op Issue #27], 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!

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!

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!

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 ...

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!

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 qua...

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 l...

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!

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!

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 bei...

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...

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...

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!

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!

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!

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...

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...

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!

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...

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!

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!

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!

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.

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 analogue 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 appro...

Welcome to Tape Op's DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. For this episode, Geoff Stanfield chats with bassist and producer Tim Lefebvre (David Bowie, Whose Hat is This?, Tedeschi Trucks Band) about Fink's 2014 release, Hard Believer. Enjoy!

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!

Welcome to Tape Op's DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. For this episode, Geoff Stanfield chats with Taylor Deupree (Tape Op #126) about Brian Eno’s 1985 ambient masterpiece, Thursday Afternoon. Enjoy!

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!

Welcome to Tape Op's DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. For this episode, Geoff Stanfield chats with producer/engineer Mario J. McNulty (Tape Op #142) about Massive Attack’s 1998 release, Mezzanine. Enjoy!

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!

Welcome to Tape Op's DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. For this episode, Geoff Stanfiled chats with producer/engineer Mikey Coltun about Toumani Diabeté's Symmetric Orchestra's 2006 release, Boulevard De I'Independance. 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 Larry Crane chats with Steve Von Till from Neurosis about Brian Eno’s album Ambient 4: On Land. Enjoy!

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!

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!

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!

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 produc...

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!

Welcome to Tape Op's DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. 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. Enjoy!

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 classi...

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 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!

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!

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!

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. Tha...

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!

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!

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 Broadcast’s 2005 release Tender Buttons. Enjoy

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 m...

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 Altın Gün about Selda Bagcan’s 1976 release, Selda. Enjoy

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...

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!

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...

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!

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!

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!

From humble beginnings in Hobbs, 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, Go...

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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'...

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!

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 d...

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!

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 buil...

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!

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!

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 collaboratio...

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!

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 ...

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. Enjoy!

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 ...

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!

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!

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!

Ken Scott is an undisputed legend. We interviewed him way back in Tape Op issue Tape Op #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!

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!

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!

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!

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 leg...

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!

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 schedul...

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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 iPa...

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!

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!

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!

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...

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!

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 f...

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!

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 2015, Larry Crane visited Glyn at his beautiful home in the country south of London for this insightful and at times hilarious interview. 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

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! Thanks for listening! Illustration by Miles Hermann

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/ Heba Kadry about Manuel Göttsching's 1984 release, E2-E4. Enjoy!

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!

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!

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!