In this episode, John heads over to Spitfire Audio to chat with Mahalia and producer JD. Reid about how they wrote, recorded and produced the EP ‘Letter To Ur Ex’.Looking back on their early writing sessions together, the pair reflect on their very first meeting and the approach they took to get the best out of one another. From scatting line after line over a beat and jamming ideas until something just sticks, to the promise of food as a reward for finishing each section of a song.Alongside sharing their thoughts on blending the worlds of hip-hop and R&B, we’re treated to a production deep dive, looking at the intricate relationships between the parts that make up a beat and the small yet essential ingredients that add so much to each track in such subtle ways.Listen to find out why Mahalia sometimes sings with a man’s voice, what moments just scream out for a Talk Box, and why it’s always important to look at a track as more than just an instrumental and vocal. Tracks discussed: Letter To Ur N(ex)t, Whatever Simon Says, In The Club Listen to ‘Letter To Ur Ex’ here.‘Letter To Ur Ex’ - Warner Music UK Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES https://linktr.ee/tapenotes  GEAR MENTIONSWavesfactory Cassette Tape SaturationGoodhertz LossySpectrasonics OmnisphereArturia CS80Arturia MellotronArturia Juno Chorus Antares AutotuneKeyscape RhodesUAD Empirical Labs DistressorUAD Empirical Labs PultecUniversal Audio Apollo Twin (JD’s Interface)Native Instruments Rickenbacker BassNative Instruments ReaktorNative Instruments KontaktValhalla ReverbsValhalla ShimmerSpitfire StringsSpitfire AudioTalk BoxMicroKorgShure SM7BSpliceLogic Pro OUR GEARhttps://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear  HELP SUPPORT THE SHOWIf you'd like to help support the show you can donate as little or as much as you'd like here, (we really appreciate your contributions :) Donate KEEP UP TO DATEFor behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on: Instagram: @tapenotes Twitter: @tapenotes YouTube: Tape Notes PodcastFacebook: @tapenotespodcast Discord: 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 TEAMWill Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & EditorTim Adam-Smith - Executive ProducerWill Lyons - EditorHerbie Elton-Rowley - VideographerGeorge Durston - AssistantNathan Hetherington - PRRebecca Ibbotson - Digital Marketing