Chapter 37

Reckless Genius Composer Returns - Chapter 37 (37/482)

Engineer Yoo Jae-woo from A&R Team 2 thought to himself.

'Yeah, the team leader is right.'

The team leader's words about two perfectionists meeting were absolutely correct.

"Hmm, a bit disappointing? Could you do it again?"

"Teacher, I'll do it one more time."

"It might be tough, but could you redo just that measure?"

Once again, Hyun-seung shook his head with a displeased expression.

"The breathing seems too heavy. Could you do it again?"

"The ending note doesn't sound good. Could you try it again?"

"I heard a scratch in your voice just now. Could you do it again?"

Following this, Moon Bum-jae started to push himself even harder.

As a result...

The A&R staff were falling one by one into the trap of "again" created by the two of them taking turns.

"I've never stacked this many takes. With this many, we could make ten different versions of the same song…."

"Hyun-seung, didn't you say you didn't get much sleep for a few days while recording the other tracks? Are you really a dolphin?"

"Your nickname as a sadist isn't for nothing, right? It's already good, can it get any better here?"

While occasionally catching a few hours of sleep in the staff lounge and brushing their teeth in the shower, they spent a total of three nights and four days in the recording studio together...

"It's getting better. Could you do it one more time?"

The word "completion" still felt far away.

"I'm so tired, I feel like I'm going to throw up."

"Yeah, I already did."

"Hold on. If you throw up, you'll lose energy."

While Hyun-seung's eyes still sparkled, theirs were already unfocused and dark with shadows.

Even if they were engineers who worked all night like it was nothing, this was clearly a brutal schedule.

"Mr. Min Hyun-seung, are you a robot…?"

"Even a robot would be drained by now."

"Is it because you have good stamina from being young?"

"It doesn't seem to be an age issue…."

Originally, they weren't this withered like dry flower petals.

Indeed.

At the beginning, they had enthusiastically participated and responded.

They actively contributed ideas on how to refine the song and where to add effects.

The song itself was flawless, but Moon Bum-jae's voice, which brought it to life, was even better.

At least, until the first day.

"If you're tired, you can just go."

Hyun-seung glanced at them and casually said.

"Huh? No, it's not that…."

"It is tough…."

"But it's better that we're doing this together…."

The engineers subtly checked each other's reactions. After all, they had boasted that they would be helpful, so they couldn't help but be cautious.

"To be honest, it doesn't seem like we're helping much. It might be more efficient and reasonable for you to focus on your tasks without us getting in the way, right?"

Their energy seemed to drain away at Hyun-seung's added words as they slumped over the console.

"Anyway, you're so honest…."

As engineers, they couldn't provide any clear help, so they were essentially just spectators watching the recording.

They could only cheer and applaud as Hyun-seung dominated the recording room and directed the session.

If it wasn't clear who was the engineer and who was the composer, it might make a bit more sense.

'I can't back down here.'

They rekindled their determination to see it through to the end, as they were already this far.

It wasn't just them. A burning passion was also radiating from inside the booth.

How long had it been?

By the time they reached the point where they couldn't even believe the recording would ever end.

"Alright."

"Alright."

Through the booth window, Moon Bum-jae and Hyun-seung exchanged okay signs.

The engineers looked at them with wide, disbelieving eyes.

"What? Is it really over?"

"Is it over?"

"There actually is an end!"

Then, the door of the recording booth, which had been closed for a long time, finally creaked open.

"Teacher, you did a great job."

"You did a great job too."

Moon Bum-jae patted Hyun-seung's shoulder and praised him again as he came out.

Only after seeing this did the engineers burst into cheers of joy.

"Teacher, you really, really did a great job!"

"Legendary is legendary!"

"The source material will be unbelievable."

However.

"Wait, wait—."

Moon Bum-jae was more concerned with the result than their praise.

"It's too early to get excited. The last one was quite good, but let's listen to the result first."

Isn't it true that nothing is over until it's really over?

At Moon Bum-jae's words, the engineers all showed shocked expressions.

They thought one music freak, Hyun-seung, was enough, but now there were two.

'I should thank Oh Do-hyun for this.'

Hyun-seung covered his face with his hand and smiled faintly.

If this song...

If someone other than Moon Bum-jae had sung it, it would have been over long ago.

'They would have jumped out of the recording room like a spring, hands and feet in the air.'

'Most of the musicians I've recorded with have done that.'

However.

If he had been as relentless and persistent as this, even in recording a single measure or syllable...

Moon Bum-jae repeatedly dove into every detail, from the last note to the breath he exhaled.

Seeing Moon Bum-jae engage in this enjoyable battle of nerves with himself, he felt a strange excitement.

Was it a series of pleasures?

"Let's listen to it quickly!"

On the other hand, the engineers wanted to confirm the "completed work" and head home to their warm, welcoming families.

Of course.

There was also the hope that a timeless masterpiece might be born.

Eventually.

― Are you still tweaking my voice there?

They all murmured the same words as if they had made a pact, after listening to the voice that came through the speakers.

"My God…."

A song that seemed to be a major disaster was now complete.

* * *

Finally, the highly anticipated first solo album of composer "HS" was completed.

While Hyun-seung used to churn out songs like a factory, this time it took quite a while.

Of course, compared to the speed at which other composers prepare albums, it was still lightning fast.

Hopefully.

Manager Kim was heading to the "Marketing Team" with Hyun-seung, as this was a meaningful album.

"Since you worked hard, I'll buy you lunch today."

"Company cafeteria?"

"Are you looking at me too cheaply?"

Walking and bickering, they soon arrived at the marketing team's office.

"Alright, everyone, it's time for a caffeine transfusion."

Manager Kim skillfully distributed the bribes he had prepared.

"Is this about the distribution of composer HS's album?"

"That's right."

"This album will be a hit too, right? I wonder who this person is…."

The employee who took the coffee chuckled and continued.

"There are quite a few rumors in the company. I heard that the composer has an abnormal personality but a rather handsome appearance…."

"Just rumors."

"Is that so? I heard that he can recover his condition with just 10 minutes of sleep a day, like a dolphin. And what else? His personality is as bad as Beethoven's and he's very picky…."

Just as Manager Kim turned to check Hyun-seung's reaction,

"Ah, right."

The employee, flipping through a thick file, continued.

"About the release date."

"Uh-huh."

"I'll try to move it up as much as possible."

At this, Manager Kim narrowed his eyes.

"Well, I appreciate it, but there's no need to rush."

"I think it's best to do it this way."

"Why? Is this quarter's sales a bit short?"

The manager looked at him as if he really didn't know.

"Manager, haven't you heard the rumors?"

When Manager Kim asked, "What rumors?" the manager lowered his voice and added.

"About J-Blade."

At this, Hyun-seung furrowed his brow.

'J-Blade?'

A name he had heard so often in his previous life.

A composer with a solid career.

Hitmaker, genius, copyright tycoon, and so on.

'A composer with a lot of flashy adjectives.'

He had many hit songs and was very active in broadcasting, making him well-known both domestically and internationally.

Furthermore.

Not only did he compose songs, but he also released a series of successful solo albums, pioneering the culture of composer solo albums in the domestic music market.

"Why J-Blade?"

In response to Manager Kim's question, the manager continued.

"There's a rumor that J-Blade will release a solo album around the end of this year. They say he's sharpening his knives…."

He then looked around and added confidentially.

"Because of J-Blade, all the artists scheduled to release in the second half of the year are asking to move their release dates to next year."

A smile appeared on Hyun-seung's lips.

'J-Blade…'

To be precise, J-Blade was a "genius of the previous generation."

Around the time Hyun-seung started his career and gained fame,

He suddenly retired, disappearing into legend without ever properly competing in terms of chart performance.

'If my memory serves…'

The solo album J-Blade was set to release around the end of this year was a masterpiece filled with songs that would continue to bring in substantial royalties even after his retirement.

In other words.

If the release date was well coordinated, it would mean a chance to face off against the genius of the previous generation, who had never been properly matched.

'Finally, a chance to go head-to-head.'

The thought of being able to compete with someone who had always been a benchmark for comparison made his heart race.

However.

Manager Kim, unaware of Hyun-seung's thoughts, spoke after deep consideration.

"Then, it's better for us to move quickly and get ahead…?"

According to the manager, the trend was for albums and songs scheduled for the second half of the year to be postponed.

'Then…'

To capture the chart, which would be like an open field, they needed to move quickly and plant their flag first.

Moreover…

As the year-end approached, Christmas season songs would flood the market.

And a major composer like J-Blade would release a carefully prepared solo album.

The domestic music platforms would likely become a battlefield of blood and flesh as the year-end approached.

So.

Now was the perfect time and opportunity.

"Um…."

Manager Kim, having made this judgment, added quietly while checking Hyun-seung's reaction.

"Move as quickly as possible. We can't get anywhere near the end of the year."

The manager nodded slightly in response to the secret instruction.

At that moment.

Manager Kim sensed unease from Hyun-seung's voice coming from behind.

"Manager, I have something to say."

"Absolutely not."

"But I haven't said anything yet…"

"Just no."

"How do you know what I'm going to say?"

Manager Kim firmly replied.

"Anyway, that's not the right answer."

Seeing the smile on Hyun-seung's lips, it was clear he was about to say something unreasonable.

"Can't we just have a smooth process this time?"

"What do you mean?"

"Let's just go eat some good food."

Just as Manager Kim hurriedly said, "I'll leave it to you!" to the manager and was about to leave,

"Um, manager?"

Despite the manager's attempts to stop him, Hyun-seung approached the manager.

And then.

The words Manager Kim had feared came out of Hyun-seung's mouth.

"I'd like to push back the release date of my album to the end of the year."

As expected, the uneasy premonition was right.

"I knew it! I said no!"

It never fails.

"My album…?"

The marketing manager's eyes widened in surprise.

"Y-You, you're HS…?"

He then recalled the "HS company rumors" he had been spreading and awkwardly cleared his throat.

"Please, I'd like to release it at the end of the year."

Hyun-seung politely added.

"Definitely."

Thus, it became clear that Hyun-seung preferred the bumpy, treacherous unpaved road over the well-maintained, smooth highway.