Behind the Scenes: Music Special + A New Build Mode Track
Hello everyone! It’s Andrei, ready to talk music 🎶 As the team gets ready to start working on the Live mode and as I finish all the Build mode sounds, I had some extra time to make more music again! In the last post I showed (which you can check here), we saw some of the creation process of the sound effects for the Build mode. And since I’m feeling audacious, I’m going to do the same thing in this post 🥴 Only this time with the new music I’ve made! 😁
⬆️📽️ In the video above, you saw part of the recording process as well as the end result of a new Build mode track called “Little Trinkets”. As we stack layer by layer (with some weird occasional bloopers) you can get the idea of what the final version of the track is gonna sound like! In this post, we’re going to go through the recording process of most tracks that I’ve done for the soundtrack so far! 🥁
Setting up the Studio
The first thing that you got to do before recording audio is making sure there’s silence 🤐 As a home studio owner, it’s so easy to have noise sneak into your recordings; whether it is someone’s footsteps, the AC hum or, in my case, Kurama barking to every single life form outside the house. Once that’s checked, I then set up the mics, tune my instrument, and a lot of other technical things that take over all my attention span. Once I hit the recording button I realize: I have no idea what to play 😂So like anything in life, I improvise!
Recording Takes
I think that one of the things that characterizes the Paralives’ music direction is that I try to record everything myself with my limited abilities instead of using samples or many virtual instruments. As I brainstorm on the spot, usually an idea that I recorded on the banjo or mandolin gives me another idea on another instrument and, before I know it, I’m already vibing to a song that doesn’t even exist yet 🕺 So I record for hours and hours all while listening back to the whole thing. This process is very much like getting a train going: at first it’s hard but once it’s rolling, it goes faster until you can’t make it stop 🚂
Comping and Tweaking
In the end, I usually end up recording too much and everything sounds like a bit of a mess 😅 So I have to polish the song by choosing the best parts of every recording I did, removing some instruments, balancing volumes all while watching a gameplay video of Paralives to make sure the music fits the vibe! The music's most important goal is only to enhance the experience of the game. To feel like a warm hug 🫂
Here’s a screenshot of the Logic Pro project of “Little Trinkets” I know it’s a bit messy 👉👈
Even after “finishing” a track, the best part comes when I put it into the game and notice all the little things that I couldn’t have heard if I wasn’t a player, and proceed to note down all the corrections to do 📝 I’ve always been too much of a perfectionist so there’s really no end to the amount of things I want to add or change in my music 🥸 Somebody once said “A music producer never finishes a song, they just give up on it or run out of time”, just like me with this post’s text ✨
What was your favorite part of the video? What has been your favorite track of the whole soundtrack shown so far? Thank you all for everything, it means a ton 😁 Can’t wait to show you the next post!
Until next time,
Andrei ♪♩♩ ♪♩♩♩
Edit - January 23rd, 2025: This post is now public, feel free to share it!
Comments (122)
awesome yall did a good job
This is very nice
I love the track :) it is very uplifting and motivational
Two points: 1) Kurama is a key member of the audio team, and I expect him to be included in the game credits. 2) Describing the music as "a warm hug" is spot on. The music - the entire game, for that matter - feels like a warm hug.
Haaa meus ouvidos agradecem ❤️ essa melodia traz uma sensação de conforto. Amei
Muito obrigado Estefani! Estou feliz que você gostou😁
It's really beautiful and emotional to see how every sound is create and It feels really curious to see that you are using human voice in the music, something I didn't expect to see. The melody is really relaxing and original, I would love to hear something on the dog in the track :3
Hey Lenina thank you so much for that! I'm glad you enjoyed the post 😁 It'd be cool to show in a future post Kurama's contribution to the soundtrack hehe
I loved seeing the process of the song being made (and when is a Logic Project NOT messy? 😂)! The music totally fit the vibe of the game and I can so clearly see myself sitting by my computer, building my little home and listening to this beautiful music you’ve created 🥰 I find it so hard to create music like this, which is what I want to do in life, but you inspire me! So excited to hear more of your music in game. Thank you for this!
Hey Anna! Thank you so much for sharing that, it means a lot! It's true every time I open an old project, I feel like a granpa cause I get overwhelmed and can't make any sense of the mess. If it's of any help, I did this specific track with minimalistic layers, so basically just loop 4 bars and brainstorm all the things that you could add on top of it. Kinda how it's done in many urban productions. Also, I've always seen the instrumentation of our music direction as an orchestral approach with non-orchestral instruments, if that makes sense. Thanks again! 😁
I would die for a soundtrack that dives even deeper into this style. upbeat songs with some melancholy we can't quite pin point and unexpected instruments. I guess what I love is the unpredictability.
Thank you so much! I think the rest of the soundtrack is pretty much that. I'd love to add more unexpected instruments though!
Love the music. can't wait to hear it while i'm building my evil villain lair in the game.
Yessss can't wait for that either 😈 Thank you so much!
omg he is soo cute
Thank you 🦊 Kurama is a lil angel
Each part of this song did something to me I can't quite let go of, evoking feelings of a home I've never had, a departure I've never made, a reunion I've never been a part of, reminiscence I've never done, and a contentment I've yet to find. It's a life lived in the apan of only a few moments... Beautiful.
Wow that's beautiful Roe 🥺 Thank you for sharing that! It's crazy how we all have different experiences through the same music!
We're so lucky you're so talented! Fits totally the cozy/warm vibe of this game Can't wait to ear it myself from the game 🥺
Thank you so much Marina 🥹 I feel really lucky to be here! So glad you enjoyed it!
Omg 😲 I love this I can't wait for release this game is goingbto be a totally unique simulation game it's beautiful seeing it come together♡♡
Thank you Sophie! :D Can't wait either!
Appreciate youuuu 🩵🩵🩵🤧🥹👏🏽👏🏽
Thank youuuu!🥹
Oh I just loved this so much! It feels so light and gentle and friendly and warm! Lovely song- I'm so excited for Paralives!!!
Thank you so much Lautel! 😁 So glad you enjoyed! Me too I'm so excited!
To me, the most important part of a game is the music! The right tracks can instantly transport you into the game, taking you through an emotional roller coaster and years later, the moment you hear the tune again, it's a nostalgic overload that truly does feel like a warm embrace. Hearing this track, I can't wait for this to happen when I play Paralives! Beautiful song, Andrei, thanks for sharing this cool process! I loved the acoustic guitar part and the harmonizing and I love the notes that made it sound mysterious. (Also don't be too hard on yourself when producing) 😃💕#takemymoney
Wow thank you so much for your comment. That really means a lot. It couldn't have been said any better than how you described it. I do believe that, besides from just sheer beauty, music's emotional impact is very much intertwined with the memories that we associate it to. And hopefully that'll be a beautiful one once you play Paralives. I'm very grateful thank you
Wow, I got litteral goosebumps! It's beautiful Andrei ❤️🥹
I'm so glad you liked Neovelli! 😁 Thank you so much
It was very interesting. Andrei is so young, talented and passionate about his work. He deserves our love
I know I've said it a hundred times here already, but I really like watching the creative process behind the sound of Paralives, so thanks for sharing again Andrei! The only thing I think I like even more is the final result - can't wait to be building to 'Little trinkets,' it's the perfect vibe for it 💚
Thank you so much dcknx 🙏 I'm always glad to hear that you enjoyed the post! It was so fun to do!
This was so fun 😍😍 I love music but can only really play the piano lol so to see you have fun with all these instruments was so cool. I do think that when the Melodion comes in it's a bit overpowering for the otherwise super laid back melody and vibes, and maybe when the super high pitched part (idk what that is) comes in too, it's a lot. But in general I really love the way the song moves!! You are very talented, I can't wait to hear the full soundtrack 🙌🏼🙌🏼
Thank you Bethy!! So glad you liked it! Got it! Revisions are already planned on the things you mentioned! Thank you so much🙏
There's a high-pitched part in the song ‘little trinkets’ that bothered me a bit, it seemed to be too high in relation to the rest and ‘destroyed’ the atmosphere of the song a bit But great job, I love to see how cosy songs are born from little things I'm already spending a long time listening to everything we've already got, when Andrei finishes it'll be hard to stop 😄😄
Hey Tati! Thank you so much for your feedback. Other people have mentioned the same here and on Discord! We'll definitely make some revisions on that. I'm really glad you're enjoying the soundtrack so far! :D
I absolutely love this.
Thank you Hilmi! Glad you enjoyed it!
Crazy idea here: what if y'all contacted Steve Jablonsky and paid a license to cover (re-record) some of his iconic tracks from The Sims 3 for the game?
This was a really fun read / watch / listen. Always appreciate the team for how much you all share with us! So cool to see how all aspects of the game are developing
Thank you Zoie!! It's always fun to share with y'all. I really enjoyed doing the post😁
This is awesome! My favourite part in the video is you doing the chorus. it's unbelievable! And probably this is my favourite song of the soundtrack. But all songs are amazing, as you said, I feel they give me a big hug!
Graciaaaaaaass!! 😆💪💪💪
It's always fantastic to hear from you, Andrei. Once again, what a beautiful creation. I know you and the rest of the Paralives team aim for a feeling of coziness for the game, but your soundtrack so far has always made me feel very vulnerable in a way I can't fully explain. Not in a sad way, just in a very raw way. It's like experiencing nostalgia for things unknown... Little Trinkets is no exception, especially the bit around 3:26 (also, the one around 4:33). There's something so poignant about these tracks that always makes me a bit misty eyed. To think that it emerged from improvisation and randomness is both fun and mind-boggling. That "accident" could have not happen at all, or in a completely different shape, and yet here it is.
Hey ladyteruki! Always glad to have your insight! 😁 It means a lot that the soundtrack so far has made you feel that way. Like I said in another comment, I do put a lot of my own nostalgia into it and it's very heart-warming how it could resonate on other people. Thank you for your appreciation 🙏 Most tracks do emerge from sheer improvisation and sometimes the ideas do pop up out of nowhere and I find myself with a bunch of recordings of potential ideas on my phone 😂
Love this!!👏🏻😁 amazing job as always Andrei! 🥁
Thank you Tinks!!!! :D
OMG this is amazing! You seriously need to write all the music for the game, very original and love all the instruments and layered sounds, You are a master Andrei! <3
Thank you so much Terry! I'm glad you liked all the layered sounds! :)
Very Wells i love a most
Thank you!
I love that. The track has emotional weight without being depressing
Thank you so much! That was one of the base criteria for the whole soundtrack! Glad it worked!
I hope we'll get to buy this soundtrack somewhere for download. It's so cute and I wanna have is to listen to it while studying c:
If you look at the Patreon tiers, the elder tier says you get a free soundtrack upon game release :)
Absolutely fantastic, magnificent work! The soundtrack is really killing it, kudos!
Thank you so much Luca! Really glad you've liked it so far :D
Geniální melodie. Do všeho vkládáte velké úsilí. Děkuji za vaší lásku, která jde cítit při všem, co vytváříte pro Paralives.
Děkuji mnohokrát. Znamená to hodně 😁
This almost made me cry. I don't cry to music often. Game's not even out yet how have you done this?
It gets me emotional too Rebecca! But I may be really biased in this😆 So glad you enjoyed it!
You’re so talented!!!
Thank you Chloe!!!🥹
This music is going to be really good! I can't wait!
Thank you Carelle :D Can't wait either!
I love it
Thanks Lucas!
Andrei, do you realize you’re potentially creating a very meaningful soundtrack that will resonate with many people for years to come? One day, it could even become nostalgic for future kids who discover Paralives when it’s released. 🥹 The song is really good and cozy - very much in the spirit of Paralives! Love it!
Hey SimMattically! That really means a lot, I'm glad you liked the song 🥹 To be honest what I think about mostly is how the tracks resonate with me personally. Most of them make me recall certain moments of my life and I use them in a way to let out a lot of emotions. It'd be a beautiful thing if ever this music gets to resonate on others and even help them go through something. Regardless I'm very grateful
OMG I can't wait to listen to the song in game, I am never gonna leave buildmode the song is too good. Thank you for this banger, Andrei ♥♥♥
Thank you Katerina! That means a lot! Can't wait for you to play the game!
Beautiful!!!
Thank you!
The music you created is gorgeous! I can't wait to play the game and be listening to this! The vibe is exquisite 😌
Thank you Stephanie! It really means a lot :)
I love it Andrei! I was just waking up when I watched the video and listened to Little Trinkets and it was exactly as you said. A warm hug. Thank you so much. 💜✨
Thank you so much! I'm really happy you enjoyed waking up to it :)
Love it. So talented, Andrei!
Thank you Micheal! :D
I think this might just be my new favourite music along with Intertwined! The music posts are my favourite types of posts here
Thank you so much Renikee that means a lot! 🥹 I love intertwined too! I just listened to it this morning and got so nostalgic!
I upped my membership a bit ago just so I can get the soundtrack on game release, I absolutely love all of the tracks so far. Thank you for sharing!!
Thank you so much Lindsey!! It really means tons that the soundtrack motivated you to do that it's so awesome! I'm really happy you've enjoyed it so far 🙏
The song composition is lovely, but I'm sorry, that high-pitched synth-y whistle sound is a sensory nightmare for me for some reason. 😬
Hopefully, you should be able to turn off the song in the settings. It does stick out compared to the beginning of the song. And the bit after the whistle sounds after busy and a bit "hurry hurry hurry" to my ears. Not sure if build mode music should stress out the player.
PEAK
THX!!
absolutely ADORE the new track!!! wonderful job <3
Thank you so much Daniel! :D
I like it a lot! Although the pitch that starts at 3:28 should be toned down a little, it was a bit annoying in my opinion.
Agree, it's a bit too strong, it could be softer and that part would become much better imo
That was magical!! ✨️ Thank you for sharing the behind the scenes music creation! I love the 'Little Trinkets' tune and I can't wait to build by it!! 💕
Thank you so much Tey! I'm really glad you enjoyed it! :)
Let's gooooooo! You make it look so simple and magical—amazing work! So much effort and love put into this game; I absolutely love it.
Graciaaaaaaaaaaassss😁😁😁
Love seeing this side of the game!
Thank you Siri! Glad you liked it!
It does feel like a warm hug so mission accomplished 🫂
Thanks so much Andres! Really appreciate it
Trinkets sounds beautiful. I can certainly hear why you called it trinkets.
Thank you Fran! I called it Little Trinkets to make contrast with the last Build mode song made Building Blocks! :D
Andrei can also sing?? 🤯
He sure can!
I appreciate you sharing the process! Video game music is an underappreciated task, and especially in life sims, where you can spend hours building or making characters, I feel like that music is doubly important. It's cool to see the creative process on display!
Thank you so much Ellen! I feel like life sim in general has so much potential but because of it's sandbox nature, music has to somehow fit the many possible scenarios so it's understandable that players would prefer sometimes to hear their own music also to not get tired of the same songs playing. In our case we aim to just give a unique cozy experience that hopefully most players could appreciate! :D
Oooh, I have to say I really love the build mode track and I think the title is just adorable!! Music like this will really add to the cosy atmosphere while building in Paralives. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much Trisha! As long as y'all feel cozy while playing then all's good! :)
Such a fun video and post! I absolutely love little trinkets, I love the way all the songs build up and each segment has its own feeling of tranquility that just washes over the listener. Beautiful work 🤍
Thank you so much Cece! Really glad you liked the build up :)
Such a beautiful track. I'm very excited to listen to this for hours as I meticulously build my homes!
Thank you so much! I'm happy you enjoyed it :D
I'm just in love with this music
Thanks so much Giuseppe!
It was so beautiful watching this come together! This was a fantastic behind the scenes!!
Thank you Ashley! It was so fun to make the track :)
Yall are amazing I'm so excited for this game! 🥰
Thank you Kristen! Me too AAHH!
I was so hopeful for a new animation showcase, but at least the songs are still perfect 🥹
Thanks Gustavo! There are some gorgeous animations coming up in a future post! Can't wait either!
Awesome. We’re waiting for posts about the characters and the life mode! Can’t wait any longer😄
Thanks Rusiana! Definitely more live mode content is coming up in future posts :D Can't wait either!