A Journal of a Song Being Created

Mark Lajoie takes you through the process of how he made his latest creation, “You Need Love (Don’t Throw Your Life Away)”. In this blog post, you will read all about the journey of creating this song from scratch, including the inspiration, collaboration, and the challenges faced along the way.

Finding the Inspiration

“You Need Love” was something I had written while the band was up at the Mellos in Vermont. It was a riff that came to me spontaneously, and I remember showing it to a group of my bandmates. Chuck T. commented, “Ah, you get to all the cool riffs first!” It was a simple yet effective riff that I had no idea how I stumbled upon.

Starting from Scratch

For the last few songs I produced, I had taken partially produced tracks from the past or used pre-existing midi tracks. However, this time, I was determined to create something entirely from scratch. I wanted to challenge myself and explore new avenues of creativity.

The Creation Process

I began by laying down the foundational elements of the song. I experimented with different guitar riffs, basslines, and drum beats until I found the right combination. As the song started to take shape, I added additional layers and textures to enhance the overall sound. It was a meticulous process of trial and error, but I was determined to bring my vision to life.

Collaboration and Feedback

Throughout the creation process, I shared demos of the song with my friends at AVA. They were intrigued by the track and expressed a strong interest in featuring it on their platform. This motivated me to further refine the song and make it the best it could be. Mike and Greg, two talented musicians, also expressed their desire to contribute to the project. After a few months of coordination and fine-tuning, they added their piano and synth tracks, elevating the song to a new level.

The Mixing Challenge

Mixing the song was one of the most challenging aspects of the process. I had to learn about limiting, amplifying, noise reduction, normalizing, and compression to ensure that each element of the song was balanced and cohesive. It was a steep learning curve, but with perseverance and dedication, I was able to achieve the desired sound.

The Visual Component

Inspired by the song, I decided to create a matching video. With the help of my wife, we designed a captivating cover that captured the essence of the song. The visual component added another layer of depth to the overall experience, making it a multimedia creation that resonated with the audience.

After months of hard work, collaboration, and continuous learning, “You Need Love (Don’t Throw Your Life Away)” is complete. It started as a simple riff and transformed into a fully realized composition, reflecting my journey as a musician. Through this process, I have gained valuable insights and honed my skills in various aspects of music production. I hope you enjoy listening to the song as much as I enjoyed creating it. Stay tuned for more musical adventures!