“Honeymoon” Album Recording/Writing Timeline and Creative Process Discussion

[YourGirl666 13,254]

4 minutes ago, Embach said:

Hey @Unknown 

 

Was Beautiful People demo a Honeymoon outtake? Was it ever considered in HM's tracklist?

 

Also how much do you know about Honeymoon era Mark Ronson or Dan Heath outtakes/demos?

 

+ Do you know, how many songs she recorded for Honeymoon? And are there any specific HM era demos that are different from the ones that were released on the album?

 

Thank you for answering! :-)

Also @Unknown is there a final Beautiful People version made for HM or was it just the 3 rough demos amd then LFL? How far did it go in the sessions? Also, how would you place Come With Me in the final tracklist based on the vibe?

[summer bummer 1,936]

I need these songs to leak this is torture 

[LBcita 279]

On 6/18/2023 at 12:43 PM, mybluenectarofthegods389 said:

I’m currently making a writing/recording timeline for Honeymoon! if anyone comes across any information please let me know.

This is what I have so far
 

March 2014 - Sessions for Ultraviolence end

 

 

May-June, 2014: In an interview for Complex magazine, Lana notes: "I actually started conceptually thinking about having a supplement, an addition to this record ('Ultraviolence') that could come very easily. That hasn't happened in a very long time. Not since I wrote the "Paradise" to "Born to Die" that I really liked". Thus, it is likely that Lana's fourth project originally started as an accompanying ep to "Ultraviolence", which probably would have consisted of "Ultraviolence" outtakes and some new songs that were recorded in June-July 2014. But by September 2014, it was clear that the project would develop more, when the first sessions for "Honeymoon" started.

 

June 2014 - She records Music To Watch Boys To (Also titled Pink Flamingos)

• Interviewer: Are You Going To Record Something Tonight? Do You Know What It Is, Or?
• Lana: I do, yes I do, I have an idea for a record called 'Music to Watch Boys To', so, yeah, I'm just thinking about it and what it will mean

 

Lana began writing music for the soundtrack to "Big Eyes," which includes:

1. An “I Can Fly” rework

2. “Big Eyes."

3. “Beautiful People”

4. “The Good Life” Cover.

 

June 2014: She records Beautiful People (Demo 1)

 

July 30, 2014: She records her cover of “The Good Life”

August 2014 - A demo of Big Eyes is recorded

September 14, 2014 - Sessions for the album begin

 

Sep/November: She records Salvatore/Soft Ice Cream and Swan Song? (They were both recorded at Electric Lady Studios and she was seen on New York on those months)

 
Sep-Dec 2014: Dark City, Crazy For You, California, Honeymoon, 24/24 Hours, Dead To Me, Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood and a reworked version of I Can Fly are recorded

 

Latter half of 2014: A new version of Say Yes To Heaven produced by STINT is made, but was scrapped by being "too overwhelming"

 

Dec 2014: Freak/Freak Like Me Too and The Blackest Day are produced

 

Initially, "Honeymoon" developed more as a pop record, with a return to the "Born to Die" sound. This is indicated by several facts, namely the leaked demos of the tracks "The Blackest Day" and "Freak" (made by the same producer, STINT [Ajay Bhattacharyya]), further, in an October interview for "L'Uomo Vogue," Lana expressed her desire to work with producer Giorgio Moroder, who is considered the father of synth disco and electronic dance music, also one of the mixer/engineers said that the "Honeymoon" demos sounded like the 80s. At the same time, Lana was still searching for a sound: "I'm still looking for something different, with majestic choruses, beautiful orchestrations, '50s-inspired with a little touch of soft grunge." And at some point in the making of the album in 2014, Lana told Rick Nowels, one of the album's two producers, that she wanted to make a jazz album. That's how the tracks "Honeymoon" and "Terrence Loves You" came about, which Rick says are not pure jazz, but her "versions" of jazz tracks (the original title of "Terrence Loves You" was "Jazz and Blues ")

 

Early 2015: Demos of “Say Yes To Heaven” produced by Stephen Kozmeniuk and Tom Neville are made for the album because of a potential Hugo Boss campaign.

Ultimately the song was dropped from Honeymoon because of the campaign and neither version of the song was approved by Hugo Boss.

 

 

January 6 2015: She says she has written 9 songs, “four of which “the production is perfect; I’m looking for a few more songs to tie everything together” and I’m doing a cover of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.” She also reveals the tile of the album

 

January 13, 2015: Lana records Paradise
 

Jan-Feb 2015: Art Deco, Burnt Norton, Terrence Loves You, Cry Kill Die, Come With Me, If I Die Young, Religion, God Knows I Tried/God Knows are recorded 

 

January 28: She is seen entering a recording studio with Mr. Brainwash

 

Jan - February 2015: Lana writes “High By The Beach”, “This was probably one of the last ones on the record”

February 16, 2015: Lana says to a fan that she was done with Honeymoon

 

March 31, 2015: On an interview with Mark Ronson he states “I’m going to do some recording with Lana Del Rey today and tomorrow. I found this cool old studio out here.” Later on a Reddit AMA he said “we did an early version of Terrence Loves You which i still love. hopefully one day maybe”

 

June 24, 2015 - She posts a photo on honeymoon with the caption “So tired in the studio”

June 2015: All songs are completed

In an interview, Lana revealed that she had written about sixteen songs for "Honeymoon," which turned out to be:

- "Honeymoon"; 

- "Music to Watch Boys To"; 

- "Terrence Loves You."

- "God Knows I Tried"; 

- "High by the Beach”

- "Freak";

- "Art Deco."

- "Religion." 

- "Salvatore." 

- "The Blackes Day"; 

- "24";

- "Sawn Song." 

- "California"

- "Crazy for You”

- "Paradise"

- "Come with Me"

- "Dead to Me".

- "If I Die Young"

- “Cry Kill Die”

September 2015: She records the first demo of “Lust For Life”

 

September 18, 2015: Honeymoon comes out

I think it's probably safe to say "Honeymoon" (album) sessions began around the time she recorded MTWBT, and she just changed which one was the title track ala White Hot Forever - > Chemtrails - this tracks with her "15 months" quotes about the time between UV (June 2014) and HM (Sept 2015) releases

 

also UV sessions probably ended latest in February 2014 when she announced it, as late as end of January she had tweeted "it's finished"

[Strangelove 1,847]

If you actually think about it he (Mark Ronson) probably misspoke when he said Terrence Loves You. Perhaps it's an unleaked song or something from Lust For Life. Also in retrospect those unreleased songs were most likely meant for the Deluxe version that was planned. It was scrapped. So in a way I almost believe she was completely done with all of these songs after recording.

 

It was common knowledge she had that LFL idea for a while but LFL seems to be more a original extension of Honeymoon that went south after the election. Of course after making such a masterpiece of Honeymoon it would be a challenge to release her fourth album that would measure up so perhaps that's why she decided to explore different sounds. Maybe she had some other issues going on during that period as well but it was so long ago I cannot recall. 

 

Was Heroin ever considered for HM or was it just LFL? 

[Rust Dress 40,286]

3 minutes ago, Dior said:

Was Heroin ever considered for HM or was it just LFL?

 

heroin was recorded after hm’s release

[Strangelove 1,847]

If I remember correctly Honeymoon did sample Rick James show on a few tracks (The Blackest Day being one) so Honeymoon being Born To Die reimagined isn't too far off of what the actual tracks include. But that's a bigger conversation. 

 

Also listening to Honeymoon now so much of the Honeymoon unreleased fits right on the album unlike her other unreleased music. So I speculate which tracks are a part of the scrapped deluxe version.  

 

I have to look later but Kieron said some stuff regarding Honeymoon in his Mix With The Masters episode. I will have to look later. If I remember correctly he spoke about how the album was largely more orchestra centered. 

[mybluenectarofthegods389 275]

38 minutes ago, LBcita said:

I think it's probably safe to say "Honeymoon" (album) sessions began around the time she recorded MTWBT, and she just changed which one was the title track ala White Hot Forever - > Chemtrails - this tracks with her "15 months" quotes about the time between UV (June 2014) and HM (Sept 2015) releases

 

also UV sessions probably ended latest in February 2014 when she announced it, as late as end of January she had tweeted "it's finished"

Thanks for the info

[Strangelove 1,847]

Also mybluenectarofthegods389's list is 19 songs. As I said previously Lana and people who are not Lana are not reliable narrators. So realistically we're looking closer to 24-30 songs written. The 16 figure was most likely the scrapped deluxe version. Whatever songs she did with Rick, I think. 

[lanaismamom 11,553]

7 minutes ago, Dior said:

Also mybluenectarofthegods389's list is 19 songs. As I said previously Lana and people who are not Lana are not reliable narrators. So realistically we're looking closer to 24-30 songs written. The 16 figure was most likely the scrapped deluxe version. Whatever songs she did with Rick, I think. 

im faiirly sure we know every song recorded from june 2014-june 2015, we just arent sure if beautiful people was ever intended to be on honeymoon but the rest is confirmed

[Strangelove 1,847]

lanaismamom, to be frank it would be impossible to know every song recorded during that period unless we were Lana ourselves. We know a large amount of her songs start off as voice memos on her iPhone, for example. The idea we know every single piece of audio Lana recorded during a certain time period sounds a little ridiculous. Now of course I am just using the basis of her previous recording behaviors to come to that conclusion.  

[lanaismamom 11,553]

1 minute ago, Dior said:

lanaismamom, to be frank it would be impossible to know every song recorded during that period unless we were Lana ourselves. We know a large amount of her songs start off as voice memos on her iPhone, for example. The idea we know every single piece of audio Lana recorded during a certain time period sounds a little ridiculous. Now of course I am just using the basis of her previous recording behaviors to come to that conclusion.  

uv and btd were different and develping different, I meant finalized song made back then, she really knew what she was doing back then and had a clear vision this is why Im sure we know of every thing 

[Strangelove 1,847]

lanaismamom, I think we are lost in translation. What I am saying is unless someone has direct access to her iPhone and personal computer and email there's no certain way to know every single audio recorded during a certain time period. Even with the Pussy and Melancholia audio, those were files Lana sent to someone that fans' got ahold of. The idea there isn't a song or two deranged fans couldn't get their hands on is a little ridiculous. 

[mybluenectarofthegods389 275]

1 minute ago, Dior said:

lanaismamom, I think we are lost in translation. What I am saying is unless someone has direct access to her iPhone and personal computer and email there's no certain way to know every single audio recorded during a certain time period. Even with the Pussy and Melancholia audio, those were files Lana sent to someone that fans' got ahold of. The idea there isn't a song or two deranged fans couldn't get their hands on is a little ridiculous. 

But those would be acapella demos that are probably like sugary sweet and only have a hook

[Strangelove 1,847]

mybluenectarofthegods389, Sugary Sweet is similar to Melancholia and Pussy as she sent them to the producer. Otherwise we would not have a snippet of the audio. Now of course if you entertain fans have access to her iPhone and personal computer then you would have to conclude they're hoarding every single voice memo and laptop demo she has ever made which is even more ridiculous than the former statement.  

[lanaismamom 11,553]

19 minutes ago, Dior said:

mybluenectarofthegods389, Sugary Sweet is similar to Melancholia and Pussy as she sent them to the producer. Otherwise we would not have a snippet of the audio. Now of course if you entertain fans have access to her iPhone and personal computer then you would have to conclude they're hoarding every single voice memo and laptop demo she has ever made which is even more ridiculous than the former statement.  

now how do u know she sent them to a producer, not sure about phone but they had an access to her computer back then and i dont count here voice memos and acapella demos when saying we know of every song and thats it, she really didnt finalize much songs during that era

[Strangelove 1,847]

lanaismamom, if you're saying we know of all the finalized and fully produced songs even I think that's a stretch. It's more than common for her to record a fully produced song in a single day with a producer as a one-off thing. Look to her session with Barry when she was in Italy touring as I've read. And also the only way Sugary Sweet wasn't either sent to Lana or sent to a producer would fans having direct access to her iPhone or computer which I have already discussed why that isn't plausible. 

 

I am not going against the fact we know probably a majority of songs included in the process of making Honeymoon.  I just dispute the idea she recorded a measly 19 songs "finalized" and there aren't more fans are unaware of. I consider audio like Melancholia and Pussy to be finalized enough to be songs. 

[The Siren 30,526]

49 minutes ago, Dior said:

lanaismamom, if you're saying we know of all the finalized and fully produced songs even I think that's a stretch. It's more than common for her to record a fully produced song in a single day with a producer as a one-off thing. Look to her session with Barry when she was in Italy touring as I've read. And also the only way Sugary Sweet wasn't either sent to Lana or sent to a producer would fans having direct access to her iPhone or computer which I have already discussed why that isn't plausible. 

 

I am not going against the fact we know probably a majority of songs included in the process of making Honeymoon.  I just dispute the idea she recorded a measly 19 songs "finalized" and there aren't more fans are unaware of. I consider audio like Melancholia and Pussy to be finalized enough to be songs. 

I think you missed their point. They were saying we may know every finished song intended for release during these sessions. 

Its very much common sense to know that it's literally impossible for us to have access to EVERY second of audio she's recorded over the years. Especially given the possibility that she could have deleted a recording before it even reaches a second pair of ears. 

[Strangelove 1,847]

The Siren, I did not miss their point. As you can read in the post I acknowledged there are most likely fully produced songs intended for release we will never know about. That is common sense. 

[The Siren 30,526]

Wait hold on, I thought If I Die Young was recorded 2016?

[Embach 45,090]

3 hours ago, Dior said:

If you actually think about it he (Mark Ronson) probably misspoke when he said Terrence Loves You. Perhaps it's an unleaked song or something from Lust For Life. Also in retrospect those unreleased songs were most likely meant for the Deluxe version that was planned. It was scrapped. So in a way I almost believe she was completely done with all of these songs after recording.

 

It was common knowledge she had that LFL idea for a while but LFL seems to be more a original extension of Honeymoon that went south after the election. Of course after making such a masterpiece of Honeymoon it would be a challenge to release her fourth album that would measure up so perhaps that's why she decided to explore different sounds. Maybe she had some other issues going on during that period as well but it was so long ago I cannot recall. 

 

Was Heroin ever considered for HM or was it just LFL? 

No, Mark Ronson worked for Honeymoon.

 

From Lana Del Rey Wikia:

Later, in an interview with Grazia in December 2014, Del Rey talked about working with Mark Ronson, acclaimed pop record producer who worked notably with Amy Winehouse on "Valerie", saying "I played him [Mark Ronson] ten songs that I have composed for this next album. Not so much that he added his usual signature, soul and funk. But rather it explores a sound close to the golden age of jazz".

 

In April 2015, Ronson confirmed he was in the process of recording songs with Del Rey in L.A, saying "I'm going to do some recording with Lana Del Rey today and tomorrow. I found this cool old studio out here. [...] She has some songs and I said I had some demo ideas, and if they are any good, then maybe she'll like them and we'll go from there."

 

On August 25, 2015, it was revealed that Ronson would not be involved with Del Rey's album after all. Ronson explained, "I hate to crap all over your excitement, but we just worked a couple days together and I think she's amazing, but we didn't actually end up doing anything for her album." He added, "I said it and I shouldn't have opened my big mouth, but I love that track 'Honeymoon' and the stuff I've heard from the record is great."