Thanks to SoundBetter for supporting this episode of Tape Notes.SoundBetter is the world's leading music production talent marketplace, giving you access to the best mixing & mastering engineers, singers, songwriters, producers, and studio musicians in the industry. You can work with Billie Eilish's drummer, U2's mix engineer, or hire the topliners that wrote on the latest BTS record, these pros are keen to work with Indy artists.Head to SoundBetter.com to find out more.In this milestone 100th episode of Tape Notes, John is joined by the Finneas at Lightship95 Studio, to talk about how he wrote, recorded and produced his album ‘Optimist’ and his new single ‘Mona Lisa Mona Lisa’.Reflecting on the fluidity of his writing process, Finneas talks us through the varied methods and circumstances in which his tracks took shape, from the very first synth sounds that kick-started ideas, to the detailed sonic decisions that helped each element work towards a cohesive goal.Alongside the production masterclass, Finneas looks back on his career so far, discussing his family’s involvement with his music and the impact they’ve had on his creativity. We hear stories from the early days of making music videos with his mum, vocal mic shootouts with Billie, and the essential advice that he still lives by.Listen to find out why mediocrity isn’t a bad thing, how finishing a song isn’t too dissimilar to finishing a meal, and why the correct way to do something isn’t always the correct way.Tracks discussed: How It Ends, Medieval, Mona Lisa Mona Lisa LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES linktr.ee/tapenotes  Listen to ‘Optimist’ here.Listen to ‘Mona Lisa Mona Lisa’ here.OYOY Inc, Interscope Records Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective. GEAR MENTIONSArturia FarfisaOutput Analogue StringsFabFilter Twin 2Spectrasonics TrilianSpectrasonics OmnisphereSoundtoys DecapitatorSoundtoys Little AlterBoySoundtoys TremolatorAntares AutotuneNative Instruments BundleNative Instruments MassiveValhalla RoomNeumann TLM103Chandler REDDTelefunken ELA M 251Audio Technica AT2020Shure SM7BShure SM57M-Audio VenomSequential Prophet XNovation UltraNova SynthElektron SynthFender AcoustasonicTube-Tech CL1B CompressorCloud Microphones CloudlifterSweetwater Best Seller ListAbletonLogic ProLogic - Compressor Plugin OUR GEARhttps://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear  KEEP UP TO DATEFor behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on: Instagram: @tapenotes Twitter: @tapenotes Facebook: @tapenotespodcast  YouTube: Tape Notes PodcastDiscord: Tape NotesTo 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  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 TAPE NOTES TEAMWill Brown - Executive Producer, Engineer & EditorTim Adam-Smith - Executive ProducerWill Lyons - EditorHerbie Elton-Rowley - VideographerRob Leedell - Camera Assistant and PhotographerGeorge Durston - Production AssistantNathan Hetherington - PRRebecca Ibbotson - Digital Marketing