ALL NOVEL Chapter 39
“How did you know?”
“Of course, I had to know. I heard it a lot when you recorded it.”
I was quite surprised, but the composer seemed to treat it as something trivial.
Is that what it means to be a professional?
“Give back all those karaoke room visits we’ve had together, Hyejeong.”
“More importantly, it was really good.”
“Ahaha… Is that so?”
“Yes, that friend is naturally talented.”
“Hyeon-su?”
“If Hyeon-su is Slim Gold, then yes, that’s right.”
Oh… Does he really have talent?
Though he looks like that, the composer is quite a famous professional in the industry.
He’s already credited on several hit songs.
“Oh, is that it?”
“Don’t you know? The album that just came out is causing quite a stir.”
“Really?”
I raised an eyebrow at the composer’s statement.
Causing quite a stir, you say?
“Hyeon-su is just a rookie with a bit of a name, right?”
“That was until the day before yesterday.”
He said that while pulling out his phone, tapping a few times, and showing it to me.
“Isn’t it trending right now?”
“Trending?”
What does that mean?
Ayang and Hyeon-su didn’t say anything about it.
And it’s only been a while since the album was released; how can it already be trending?
Despite my skepticism, I looked at the composer’s phone.
Soon, my eyes widened.
“Is this for real?”
The screen he showed me was a music chart.
Among them, the real-time hot chart.
Hyeon-su’s songs were lined up in the real-time rankings of the latest songs that had just come out.
Yes, they were lined up.
Not just one, but the tracks from the album were neatly arranged.
“How did this even happen?”
“Well, aside from the good song, there are many other reasons. First, we had a vacancy because no influential singers were releasing new songs, and then there’s the promotion.”
“Promotion?”
“Big names in band music are pushing it lately. From broadcasting to articles and social media, they’re desperate to introduce it to their fandom.”
“Ah.”
I recalled the people I had seen at that gathering. Come to think of it, there were quite a few famous faces.
“Nowadays, promotion is essential for a song to get heard. So, from that standpoint, it’s an excellent marketing strategy.”
“You really know a lot…?”
“It’s because it’s my livelihood. The industry always needs to be monitored closely.”
Pro stuff is indeed on another level, huh?
But if the album does well, isn’t that a good thing?
I figured I was just helping out as a side job anyway…
“I was skeptical, but then it must be Miro, right?”
“Yeah?”
“Isn’t she in that group photo with the Doyoung-kang line?”
Doyoung-kang? I saw them at the gathering last time. They were among the most notable and senior members there.
“Look closely; that’s definitely Miro next to Ayang, right?”
He said that while showing me the picture.
Familiar background and familiar people… and there I was, piled up with drinks, drawing a V-sign with my hand…
“Huh?”
“My face was red, and I didn’t recognize her at first because she looked so different.”
“No way…”
Doyoung-kang line? Wasn’t that just a light gathering?
But more so…
“Where did you get that photo?”
“I’m following her on Instagram. But this, apart from that, was sent by a junior.”
Ah, I did say I could post it…
But…
I scrutinized the photo.
Looking completely wasted with a bright red face, I wondered what I found so funny back then.
But she’s still pretty.
In a situation that would seem silly for anyone else, it just looks cute when it’s the original.
“Wow, the photo turned out great.”
“Anyway, we kind of strayed from the topic.”
I gasped at my own face, but the composer brushed it off lightly.
As he spoke, he put his phone down and pulled out a notebook again.
“Anyway, I tried to reflect everyone’s opinions as much as possible and preserve individuality. It’s different from anything I’ve done before, so it feels fresh.”
In the notebook, there were densely packed words and phrases. It was likely filled with the opinions shared by me and the other members.
“Oh… Is this usually not the case?”
“Well, there’s usually a general idea when a request is made, but no one goes into such specifics. Those who have such demands are typically composers themselves.”
“Hahaha… So our company made unreasonable demands, huh? Anyway…”
“Are you going to sell out your company this time?”
“…I can be a bit thrifty.”
The composer looked incredulously at my words.
…It’s kind of embarrassing when it’s said by someone who usually keeps a straight face.
“Ahem, anyway, what do you think of our ideas? Would they be helpful?”
“Huh? What help can they be? It’s just about combining what’s here.”
“Hahaha… That’s pretty sharp.”
“Honestly, if you just look at the song itself, it’d be better if I made it on my own.”
Ugh, that’s really harsh.
Well, it’s something I already knew.
It’s unlikely a boat with amateurs at the oars will sail smoothly, right?
But…
“Still, we’re streamers. Since we’re live streaming with the viewers, it would sound better while showcasing our individual styles to both those watching the current broadcast and future listeners.”
What if the boat heads for the mountains?
Sometimes, a dense forest can feel more calming than the wide-open sea.
“Exactly, that’s why I don’t say much.”
The composer nodded in understanding, his typical deadpan expression.
“But we still need to set some priorities.”
He said that while showing me a page in his notebook.
Individuality, freshness, etc…
It was clear those were the things I had mentioned.
“I’ve already jotted down some major points here.”
The composer handed me the notebook and pulled out a pen, starting to circle a few listed words.
“This one and this one; these will be included. If there’s anything else you think needs to be included, let me know. I need to gather everything properly for the lyrics recruitment.”
“Recruiting for lyrics?”
“Yeah, I can write lyrics myself, but I want to ask my friends for help.”
It really seems like it’s getting serious. Well, good is good, I suppose.
“Hmm… Then, I think this and… this, oh, this one would be nice too, but it’s not a must.”
I picked from the written options what might be good to include.
Is all this going to go into the song later?
Thinking about it, I felt somewhat excited but also slightly worried.
Did I add too much? What if it turns out like a chimera monster?
“Don’t worry. I won’t force anything in there.”
Oh no, did my thoughts show on my face? The composer added that reassurance as I pondered over the notebook.
“Hahaha… Right? I’ve chosen everything for now.”
With a lighter heart after selecting everything, I handed it over to the composer.
“What do you think about this?”
“Looks good. Thank you for your cooperation.”
We continued chatting for quite a while.
From why I gave those opinions to what thoughts I had during the last recording session, and how Hyeon-su ended up featuring on his song, his working process, and so forth.
After discussing music for a while, he paused for a moment and, cautiously, said.
“Speaking of which, this is unrelated to this album, but…”
“Huh, what do you mean?”
Since we had been chatting for a while and had built some rapport, I playfully picked it up, but the composer wore a serious expression as he made his offer.
“How about releasing a song yourself?”
“…A song?”
His suggestion was something I hadn’t even considered.
“In fact, I have a piece that I composed a while ago.”
“A track?”
“Composers often have songs that don’t find a home.”
He said a bit bitterly as he cleared the notebook off the table and pulled out his phone.
“I know this is a sudden proposal. But could you listen to the song and decide?”
“Um… I’ll listen to it first.”
It was sudden, but it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try, right?
As I accepted, he tapped his phone a few times and soon played the song, catching me off guard with the melody and voice that flowed out.
“Uh… You sing well?”
“I couldn’t find a guide vocalist, so I did it myself.”
That ended the conversation.
After that first sentence, I concentrated on the song.
‘…It sounds like a pop song.’
I was a little surprised right after hearing the intro.
A famous K-pop composer’s hidden track turns out to be this kind of song.
Even though the lyrics were in Korean, it was impossible to deny the strong pop song vibe.
Listening with a somewhat puzzled heart, the feeling of puzzlement gradually turned into admiration.
By the time the song ended completely, I couldn’t help but question again.
“…Can I really do this?”
Is it too big of a challenge for me?