Listen "Reissue | TN:40 DJ Shadow"
Episode Synopsis
We’ve been having a look back through the Tape Notes archive to bring back some of our favourite early episodes that you may have missed. This selection is our conversation from Summer 2020, with Josh Davis, better know as DJ Shadow.
EPISODE NOTES
In this episode, John ventures over to Wendy House Studios to catch up with hip-hip royalty Josh Davis AKA DJ Shadow, to talk through how he recorded and produced his latest album ‘Our Pathetic Age’ and his chart-topping album ‘The Mountain Will Fall’.
Josh gives us a full insight in to his largest most diverse project yet, breaking down his writing process from the moment he randomly dips in to his vast record collection for inspiration, to discovering unlikely source material such as an abandoned record collection rescued from a friend of his father's. We get to hear the original samples that form the basis of some of his biggest hits as well as the raw vocal stems of Nas and Pharoahe Monch rapping at each other from different studios.
Listen to find out about Josh’s meticulous sample editing process, what mixing mistake meant he had to sneakily rerelease a track, and why he had to gate-crash a Run the Jewels gig.
Tracks discussed: Nobody Speak, Rocket Fuel, Drone Warfare
TAPE IT
Thanks to our partners at TapeIt! Click here for 20% off TapeIt Pro.
TRINITY LABAN
Find out more about Trinity Laban's Songwriting MA here.
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES
https://linktr.ee/tapenotes
Listen to 'Our Pathetic Age' here.
Listen to 'The Mountain Will Fall' here.
'Our Pathetic Age' and 'The Mountain Will Fall' - Mass Appeal/Reconstruction Productions, Inc.
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective
GEAR MENTIONS
Akai MPC Sampler
Pioneer PLX 1000
Sonos Speaker
Technics SL-1200
Technics SL-1210
ProTools
Ableton
OUR GEAR
https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear
HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW
If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns.
KEEP UP TO DATE
For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:
Instagram: @tapenotes
Twitter: @tapenotes
Facebook: @tapenotespodcast
YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast
Discord: Tape Notes
Patreon: Tape Notes
To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!
Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk
TAPE NOTES TEAM
John Kennedy
Will Brown
Tim Adam-Smith
Will Lyons
Nico Varanese
Guy Nicholls
Jessica Clucas
Ali Lewis
EPISODE NOTES
In this episode, John ventures over to Wendy House Studios to catch up with hip-hip royalty Josh Davis AKA DJ Shadow, to talk through how he recorded and produced his latest album ‘Our Pathetic Age’ and his chart-topping album ‘The Mountain Will Fall’.
Josh gives us a full insight in to his largest most diverse project yet, breaking down his writing process from the moment he randomly dips in to his vast record collection for inspiration, to discovering unlikely source material such as an abandoned record collection rescued from a friend of his father's. We get to hear the original samples that form the basis of some of his biggest hits as well as the raw vocal stems of Nas and Pharoahe Monch rapping at each other from different studios.
Listen to find out about Josh’s meticulous sample editing process, what mixing mistake meant he had to sneakily rerelease a track, and why he had to gate-crash a Run the Jewels gig.
Tracks discussed: Nobody Speak, Rocket Fuel, Drone Warfare
TAPE IT
Thanks to our partners at TapeIt! Click here for 20% off TapeIt Pro.
TRINITY LABAN
Find out more about Trinity Laban's Songwriting MA here.
LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES
https://linktr.ee/tapenotes
Listen to 'Our Pathetic Age' here.
Listen to 'The Mountain Will Fall' here.
'Our Pathetic Age' and 'The Mountain Will Fall' - Mass Appeal/Reconstruction Productions, Inc.
Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective
GEAR MENTIONS
Akai MPC Sampler
Pioneer PLX 1000
Sonos Speaker
Technics SL-1200
Technics SL-1210
ProTools
Ableton
OUR GEAR
https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear
HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW
If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns.
KEEP UP TO DATE
For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:
Instagram: @tapenotes
Twitter: @tapenotes
Facebook: @tapenotespodcast
YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast
Discord: Tape Notes
Patreon: Tape Notes
To let us know the artists you’d like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We’d love to hear!
Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk
TAPE NOTES TEAM
John Kennedy
Will Brown
Tim Adam-Smith
Will Lyons
Nico Varanese
Guy Nicholls
Jessica Clucas
Ali Lewis
More episodes of the podcast Tape Notes
TN:171 Adam Buxton & Joe Mount
24/12/2025
TN:170 Haim & Rostam Batmanglij
10/12/2025
TN:169 Parcels
28/11/2025
TN:168 Sam Gellaitry
12/11/2025
TN:167 Kae Tempest & Fraser T. Smith
29/10/2025
TN:166 Hayley Williams & Daniel James
14/10/2025
TN:165 The Favors (FINNEAS & Ashe)
30/09/2025
TN:164 Pomplamoose
16/09/2025
TN:163 CMAT & Oli Deakin
02/09/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.