Chapter 5

Spotlight on the Genius Vocalist Chapter 5

Chapter 5. Joining

As I was thinking about what to sing, Song Dasom suddenly showed me a video on her phone.

A video of the band’s performance played from her phone.

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"It's a bit disappointing that they're not more well-known..."

Even though they won, the number of views was only this much.

My question, which could have been considered rude, was met with a resigned response from Song Dasom.

"Contests like this for indie bands are usually like that."

Song Dasom gave a bitter smile.

While I didn't mean to belittle the indie scene, it still felt a bit unfair.

Being ignored by the public isn't the essence of indie music.

I used to not understand why people would quit music.

But as I got older, I slowly began to understand.

I looked at the phone screen again.

The bass started first.

Upon closer listening, it was a country genre derived from American folk music.

"You play the bass well, don't you?"

However, Kim Hajeon's stern expression was visible even through the screen.

A slightly stiff melody slowly flowed.

It didn't seem to be his true skill level.

The drums gradually loosened the somewhat rigid melody.

"The drums are smooth. Is this person not coming today?"

The drums seemed to wrap around the bass with experience.

Following the lead tempo, Kim Hajeon also blended into the music.

"Oh, the drummer has practice with another band today."

Song Dasom said.

"How many bands does he play with?"

"Since drummers are a bit scarce in this scene, he plays with multiple groups. He went to practice with another band today."

I could somewhat understand what Song Dasom was saying.

There aren't many instrumentalists in Korea who can perform at a band level.

Especially in the indie scene, it's even rarer.

The drummer is definitely a skilled player.

That's why he's involved in various bands.

Then, the most important part, the vocalist's voice, started to play.

"Huh?"

As I exclaimed, the band members' expressions turned a bit bitter.

Usually, the introduction of a song sets the tone.

What the judges on TV say isn't entirely wrong.

The overall impression of a person is set in the first few bars.

"Is this the previous vocalist?"

"Yes..."

When I asked, the band members' faces darkened.

Something must have happened...

From the next bar, their faces started to frown.

"He started well, but then he started to fall apart?"

The pitch and tone of his voice were a bit rough.

The rhythm was slightly off at first, but it completely went off in the latter part.

"Still..."

However, his breathing technique and the way he led the melody were excellent.

The most important thing was that he had the power to lead the listener.

While listening to the song, there was only one thing I could say.

"Free-spirited."

A few more bars ended, and the keyboardist started to vary the melody, making the vocalist even more immersed in the music.

Song Dasom's guitar, with its clean dynamics, was also impressive.

The problem was that the other members couldn't keep up with the wild vocalist.

Only his voice stood out, and the other members became mere accompaniments.

"He's good, but why did he leave?"

I had a rough idea, but I was more curious about the exact reason.

He seemed to lack consideration for the other band members.

A very self-centered character.

Of course, his skill was undeniable.

I was simply curious.

About this my-way attitude.

"He was a wild one."

Song Dasom laughed awkwardly.

"Why?"

"That was a live performance he did while drunk. It was an important contest... He was always short-tempered and would get angry easily during practice..."

Kim Hajeon's dark expression suggested that he wasn't a good person.

"He drinks before live performances too..."

"That's because he's crazy."

Looking at him now, he did seem crazy.

In the video, he was extremely self-centered and completely immersed in his own music.

...And he was actually drunk.

But I had to admit that his strange charm led the band.

"Sorry, can I listen to it one more time?"

Song Dasom looked puzzled but played the live performance again.

This time, I wanted to find a place to interject my voice.

The bass was inexperienced but very skilled.

The guitar was relaxed and far better than most band idols.

The drums were already at a high level, and the keyboard was no exception.

So this time, I listened purely as a listener.

I closed my eyes.

A country song that evoked an old barn, with a calf running around.

The place was ownerless and vast.

The bass didn't try to restrain the calf but let it run free.

The guitar tried to rein it in, but it didn't work.

The drums gave the calf another warning.

"Don't go wild here."

But the vocalist didn't listen.

More, more freely.

The keyboard made the barren plain even wider to make him stand out more.

"You have to go further."

It seemed to whisper.

Overall, they were very skilled.

If I joined, I thought we could achieve even better results than the previous vocalist.

I wanted to move forward in a way that would highlight each member's individuality.

"Let's do it together."

After savoring the song with my eyes closed for a while, the words naturally flowed out.

It was mostly good.

I was puzzled as to why the views were only in the thousands.

When I slowly opened my eyes, I saw them smiling.

"You liked our song, right?"

"Yes, to be honest, it was really good. I'd like to ask you to join."

I wanted to take this on, as if it were fate.

This moment felt like an opportunity for me too.

Seeing how they played to create a path for the vocalist, I could tell they were all at a high level.

Then Kim Hajeon interjected.

"But don't we need to test the new vocalist too?"

He was smiling playfully.

"Well, should I sing something here?"

The cold practice room had only an amp, a few guitars, and a keyboard.

Song Dasom nodded.

"Since you need to hear it anyway, Mr. Baek, can you show us?"

"Sure, no problem."

The only issue was what song to sing.

And there was no microphone or anything prepared.

Would it be okay to just sing live here?

Thinking of it as a test after a long time, I felt a bit nervous.

"I'll get my guitar."

Kim Hajeon had already taken out his bass.

"Let me prepare for a moment."

He slowly caressed his bass.

"To be honest, the bass wasn't great earlier, right?"

"Not really, but..."

I felt like he had hit the nail on the head.

"I know. Everyone is just pointing out my flaws."

"But your hands don't show it."

"Since then, I've practiced more, so I'll show you a better performance."

Kim Hajeon's eyes were full of determination.

As if he felt he was the only one not recognized.

"You were really good."

He was good, but that was it.

He was at a level that could be heard anywhere.

"I'll show you. Until you feel it's good."

My title had changed to "brother."

"Originally, Hajeon has a bit of a competitive spirit in these situations."

Song Dasom laughed awkwardly.

I liked that he had a competitive spirit.

Kim Hajeon's eyes reminded me of my trainee days.

"Then..."

I closed my eyes for a moment.

And I connected the scenes that came to mind.

Like weaving threads.

The window, the car lights shining from afar, the days that passed, the juniors who debuted before me.

"Okay, I'm ready."

I opened my eyes.

I remembered the times when Park Cheolho comforted me.

"Hajeon, start the bass now."

Song Dasom and Lee Seongjin looked at me.

I had to sing.

To not disappoint Song Dasom, who brought me here.

To move forward a bit more.

"Brother, softly? Or a bit more intense?"

"Um, I think softly would be better."

After a moment of thought, I said.

Connecting the images from my childhood.

Looking back, it was never a happy memory.

"Then I'll go with Glomy Voice's 'Untitled,' brother. You know it, right?"

"Yes."

It was a song with a strong bass line.

A track that fully captured their style from the mid-1990s.

Close to upbeat rock, but when you just listen to the bass, it's a song with a bittersweet vocal.

The bass uses all the strings, making it a bit difficult.

"Mr. Baek, can you sing in tune with the music?"

While Kim Hajeon was playing, Song Dasom looked at me with a worried expression.

I nodded, indicating it would be fine.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I created a rhythm with my front foot.

I carefully observed the part where I would slowly enter.

The point where the note rose and then fell.

Something else rose inside me.

As if it was urging me to recall that scene.

No, to create it, to show it to people.

I slowly opened my mouth.

"Through the wide-open window, the car lights come in.

Every day that repeats is actually meaningless.

Better to scatter than to disperse,

Memories of looking forward to the traffic lights."

As I sang the two bars, Kim Hajeon looked at me with surprise.

Lee Seongjin closed his eyes and savored my voice.

Song Dasom smiled, seemingly satisfied.

I closed my eyes for a moment.

The wind that tickled my face that day.

The distant sound of car horns.

The snow on the branches that seemed about to fall.

Following the faint direction of the street.

It was strange.

Clearly, the practice room was my stage, but when I opened my eyes, the scenery was completely different.

'This is back then...'

The phenomenon I saw at the bar.

'...'

The vision I saw yesterday wasn't a hallucination. No, to be honest, I'm not sure if this is reality now.

The sensation was too vivid to be just my imagination.

For a moment, I suppressed my confusion and continued to the next bar.

"Now, today is far away, and the day that's over is all gone.

The lights fade and flicker."

During my trainee days, I sang by the small window.

Without a microphone, my voice rose, and I knew I was alone in that world.

This is definitely my space.

What if no one comes in?

If this practice room is a dream.

As I sang, I gradually felt like I was inviting someone.

"Every day that repeats is actually meaningless.

Every day that repeats has no will."

Back then, each day felt like hell.

A life defined by scores.

A life where I couldn't debut no matter how well I did.

Perhaps there was no meaning in that repetition.

I realized this song was for that version of me.

I'm not an idol anymore.

I'm the vocalist of an indie band.

I wanted to be with them, visible in my space.

At least here, I wasn't alone.

I didn't feel the pain of those days, only warmth.

Why?

At some point, what I was holding onto changed.

Enough to transform the space I was in.

Do I want to change something?

No, that's not it.

"I want to follow those lights and disappear somewhere."

I kept repeating the last line, thinking.

There was a vivid point I could see. A point called the "genius zone."

I remembered that the legendary band 'Led Zeppelin's vocalist said he could see the scenery of the song when he was in a trance.

Was this happening to me?

Just because of the divorce?

Because I wanted to sing more?

The change was sudden.

But I didn't want to lose this sense of "space."

I wanted to think of it as a blessing.

Because.

If I have this sensation, I can fulfill the dream I've always wished for.

I slowly observed the few audience members in my space.

Seeing them listen with their eyes closed, I thought this wasn't too bad.

Until Kim Hajeon's bass stopped.

My voice filled the place.

* * *

Kim Hajeon played the bass absentmindedly until the lyrics ended.

Or rather, he stopped when he realized he was repeating the same phrase.

It was about 50 seconds, maybe a minute.

Even though he knew it wasn't a song for him, it felt like it was.

He slowly recalled the time when the previous vocalist dominated.

"What kind of bass is this?"

The previous vocalist, Lee Hyunmin, who smelled of alcohol and tried to hit him.

He was finally blocked by Song Dasom's order to leave and never showed his face again.

It's different.

Completely opposite style.

But his voice was sophisticated and had the power to draw people in.

Regaining his composure, Kim Hajeon spoke.

"...I want you to join us. I can adapt. No, I will adapt."

Through Baek's voice, this old practice room became a stage and shone.

He understood why Song Dasom brought him here.

"I brought him, so I'm definitely in favor."

"Same here. I've never heard a voice like this before."

Everyone, except for Park Piljun who wasn't there, agreed.

Kim Hajeon thought the previous vocalist left because of him.

That's why Until Sunset fell apart.

If he had just endured a bit more and taken more abuse.

Even if he got hit a few times, he wished his first band wouldn't have fallen apart.

He was the one who called Lee Hyunmin the most, but he never answered.

This time... he wanted to make the best band with this person.

Kim Hajeon shouted to Baek.

"Please, I'll do whatever it takes. Let's do this together."

"That's not necessary. I want to join too. 'Untitled' is a difficult song, but you played it freely."

Baek looked at Kim Hajeon with admiration.

"Um... it's just a song I like and have practiced for a long time."

Kim Hajeon's face turned red.

Lee Hyunmin only ever insulted him, so he wasn't used to compliments.

"Please work with us. And everyone, you don't need to follow the vocalist. I'll adapt too."

Those words pierced Kim Hajeon's heart even more.

Lee Hyunmin would often threaten to leave if they didn't adapt to him.

"Sure, sure. But there's a problem."

Song Dasom said, looking at her phone.

"What's the problem?"

"Our band operates by unanimous decision, so we need the drummer's approval. Can you sing just for that?"

"Yes, I can."

"Then let's go."

"Where?"

"To Hongdae."

She waved her hand excitedly and went out first.

Kim Hajeon was disappointed that he couldn't immediately recruit Baek, but he had no choice.

"Rules are rules."

He slowly picked up his bass and followed the band members out.