Taking temporary residence at Los Angeles’s most fabled hotel, songwriter and producer Emile Haynie wrote his elegiac debut album We Fall over the course of three prolific months. And with a little help from his friends, the Grammy-winning producer of Lana Del Rey’s “Born to Die,” “Runaway” by Kanye West, and Eminem’s “Headlights” (to name just a few) has created this year's essential break-up record.

“In terms of the relationship, I’d never experienced loss like that before,” says Haynie, who, after starting the record in the Christmas of 2013, moved from New York to Los Angeles and invited a who’s who of musical guests – including Del Rey, Rufus Wainwright and Charlotte Gainsbourg – to drop by his makeshift studio at the Chateau Marmont. “To be surrounded by close friends who helped me out through the process – I’d never had a recording environment like that. It was just such a wild ride of coincidences.” 

“Falling Apart” features vocals from Andrew Wyatt of Miike Snow and harmonies from legendary Beach Boy Brian Wilson. Haynie’s flower-filled-hotel sessions are recreated in today's film from Nick Walker, which features a supporting cast of songwriters Jeff Bhasker, Lykke Li, and Romy Madley Croft from The xx.

There’s a shout out to artist George Condo in the credits of “Falling Apart.” What’s the story there?
Emile Haynie: We were both having a bad night and decided to hang out at the studio. George plays the guitar and we just had a random jam session and made this very aggressive piece of music. George was the one to tell me that I needed to make something really beautiful to offset this, and that was the genesis of the whole album. Who knows what would’ve happened if we didn’t hang out that night.

How was it transitioning from making beats to producing and songwriting?
EH: My approach has been the same as when I was making hip-hop. I can’t shake that feeling. I started on the SP-1200 [drum machine] and that would drive the whole thing. Writing songs for me really started years ago when I went on a trip to London to work with Ian Brown [of The Stone Roses]. I learned from him. Also working with Kid Cudi, as he was so melody driven. However, “Falling Apart” was the first time I’d ever just sat and wrote a song by myself. 

How did you start working with Lana Del Rey?
EH: I met her pretty early on before she had a record deal. Lana had one of those haunting voices that really stood out, and it sounded like the kind of voice I would want to sample. I was playing really tripped-out music and strings at the time and it was the perfect match. She loves hip-hop and she wasn’t scared by the drums. She’s cool. She understands that.