Chapter 6

### Spotlight on the Genius Vocalist Chapter 6

#### Chapter 6: Joining (2)

The place where they were supposed to meet Park Pil-joon was a pop-up store of a mobile communication company in front of Hongdae. Kim Ha-joon and Lee Sung-jin were so engrossed in looking around the store that they almost forgot why they were there. Song Da-som, on the other hand, was constantly checking her messages, eagerly waiting for Park Pil-joon to arrive. The evening brought a crowd, and the neon signs flickered chaotically.

"Seems like there are more people today..."

Kim Ha-joon said in amazement.

"Maybe it's the start of the semester? Oh, there he is."

Song Da-som, who had been idly listening to him, suddenly waved as she spotted Park Pil-joon approaching from a distance. Park Pil-joon was significantly larger than the others, almost twice the size, making him look like someone who had been in organized activities.

"I heard what you said earlier."

The bear-like man smiled warmly and extended his hand for a handshake. When I slowly shook his hand, I could feel his strength. His hand was large, and his palm had a rough texture, not quite calluses but more like torn scars.

When I carefully examined his hand, Park Pil-joon laughed.

"It's not from a knife fight or anything. I just kept practicing when I was young and it got torn."

His words made me feel as if my inner thoughts had been exposed, and I closed my mouth in surprise. It was like meeting a real-life character from a movie.

"Ah, yes."

I replied briefly.

A drummer is the heart of a band. When forming a group, this position is often the least popular, but it also plays a crucial role as the team's leader, providing the backbone that allows all the music to flow.

"Before we start the audition, how many bands are you currently in?"

I was genuinely curious about this.

"About three. But I'm planning to cut back."

"Why?"

"Because there are too many, and I don't have enough time to earn money from other jobs."

Park Pil-joon laughed awkwardly.

"Maybe I'll cut back here too?"

"Sure."

His eyes became a bit more serious. Song Da-som looked at him and smiled.

"Ah, Oppa, what are you talking about? Stop joking around."

"I wanted to talk to you in person, but I think I need to cut back on a few."

"What do you mean by that all of a sudden?"

Park Pil-joon sighed.

"To be honest, renting a practice room three times a week is tough, and the performance pay is low. And now the vocalist is gone."

Song Da-som's expression became serious.

"If it's tough, you should have said something. We could have helped with the costs..."

"Hey, I'm the oldest here. Would it be easy for me to accept that? Anyway, I've been thinking and talking about it a lot."

Park Pil-joon awkwardly stroked his drumstick bag.

"Can't you quit somewhere else instead of here?"

She spoke with a pleading look, almost as if she was trying to charm him.

"Hey, that doesn't work. I've already brought in a few vocalists."

It seemed I wasn't the first one he had considered. I was a bit disappointed that the plan was different from what I had expected.

"Still... this time, it will be over if you agree."

Park Pil-joon looked at Kim Ha-joon and Lee Sung-jin.

"What do you think of this person? Is he okay?"

They both nodded simultaneously.

"He's the best, hyung."

"I've heard good things about him too."

Park Pil-joon sighed deeply.

There was nothing I could do to intervene. I hadn't been officially accepted yet, and this was still their business.

"Honestly, I know you guys care a lot about Until Sunset."

"You do too, Oppa."

Song Da-som frowned slightly.

"Right. I care too. It's the first time I've won an award in an indie band and met you guys."

I could predict what he would say next, as I had a similar memory from the past.

"But honestly, even if Lee Hyun-min was a jerk, the band was maintained because of him. Ultimately, a band can't do anything with just instruments."

Park Pil-joon looked at me expressionlessly, as if seeking some kind of agreement. Or, perhaps, assuming that my singing skills were far inferior to the previous vocalist.

"I like being in a band. But we're not just doing this for fun, right? My dream is to make a living through music. Let's let go of Until Sunset... I'm sorry to the new member, but..."

He was firm.

Do we really need to hold onto such a drummer? Of course, I could objectively assess the situation. It would be difficult to find a drummer like him. There are few instrumentalists who can cover for others' mistakes during a live performance. His presence as a drummer was significant.

"I don't like it. Can't we at least listen and then decide?"

Song Da-som spoke with a pleading voice. Park Pil-joon looked at me with an empty gaze, not really expecting much.

"Ah... I admit you've all agreed, but I really don't know."

"If you don't know, just listen, hyung."

Park Pil-joon was scratching his head when Kim Ha-joon interjected, speaking with a determined look.

"Listen and judge. If you leave now, you might regret it later and won't be able to come back here."

Park Pil-joon laughed.

"Hey, Ha-joon. You seem to have found some confidence?"

Kim Ha-joon, embarrassed, lowered his head. Park Pil-joon and I made eye contact for about three seconds. I felt it was my turn to step in.

"I hope you can find some confidence too."

"Huh?"

"You keep saying you came here because of the vocalist."

"Isn't that obvious? Indie scenes are all about the vocalist."

I sighed along with him.

"Always talking about the vocalist. Of course, it's important. But then, why do we have a band? Why do we play instruments?"

I felt sorry for him, as he seemed to be undermining himself. Music is always based on the performer's emotions. He seemed a bit intimidated at the moment.

"To lift the vocalist, of course. That's how the market is now."

Park Pil-joon said with a mix of certainty and self-mockery. I spoke slowly.

"Let's change that, then."

The members' eyes fixed on me. They were taken aback.

"Didn't we talk about something similar in the practice room earlier?"

I looked at Kim Ha-joon as I said this.

The biggest problem with Until Sunset was that it was vocalist-centric. The vocalist's free-spiritedness overshadowed the other performances. These members also needed to be recognized. They had the talent and deserved the love of the audience. I added a comment to Park Pil-joon's puzzled expression.

"Let's make the part distribution cleaner. The current performance is honestly a mess, right?"

"Huh?"

"And how long will you be treated like 'just a drummer'? You're good, but you're still just a drummer, right? Don't you want to change that?"

One reason drummers are often avoided is that they are hidden behind the stage, out of the audience's sight. Especially when special effects like dry ice are used on stage, the drummer disappears from people's view. This was a common issue and a source of frustration for all drummers. I addressed this point.

"Ah..."

Park Pil-joon sighed. It wasn't just a hollow promise. He didn't want the band to be evaluated solely based on the vocalist. He wanted to rise together with the others. I had always felt sorry for idol members who lacked presence, even when watching TV during my trainee days.

"Honestly, I've had these thoughts a lot..."

Park Pil-joon smiled bitterly.

"Then I'll show you. Just trust me a little."

"But still!"

His voice became more agitated, as if the pent-up frustration was finally bursting out.

"But still... I can't keep wasting time on just possibilities... I'm sorry."

Park Pil-joon bowed deeply.

"I'm sorry to everyone. I'm 27 now. I can't keep wasting time on just possibilities..."

When he bowed, many people looked at us.

"Ah, really! Hyung, you're so frustrating."

Kim Ha-joon, who had been silent, spoke with frustration.

"What?"

"Just listen, listen and judge. Hyung, how many years have you been playing music?"

"Seven years, right?"

"Then you should have ears. Listen and decide whether to stay or leave."

Kim Ha-joon shouted, and Park Pil-joon looked at him in surprise. After a moment, he looked at the ground, closed his eyes, and shouted.

"Ah... I don't know. Then show me."

He was speaking to me.

"How can I show you?"

I was thinking of showing him right away at a nearby karaoke room.

"Then... um..."

Park Pil-joon seemed to be thinking. When the band members started to move towards a nearby karaoke room, I felt a surge of enthusiasm. I wanted to show him, to the drummer who admired the previous vocalist and undermined his own value.

"Let's do it here. We have to busk around Hongdae anyway."

It was a bold suggestion. The other members were stunned.

"We're not prepared. Are you going to suddenly make us sing here?"

"Are you crazy?"

"Ah, hyung, are you just going to leave?"

Kim Ha-joon, Song Da-som, and Lee Sung-jin asked in different directions. Park Pil-joon just smiled.

"Lee Hyun-min did it well. Remember? When he was drunk, he didn't remember, right?"

I was a bit taken aback, but the mention of the previous vocalist sparked a competitive spirit. Park Pil-joon looked at me as if challenging me, or perhaps finding it amusing. He seemed to have regained some confidence and started speaking playfully.

"Show us here. Are you confident?"

"I am."

When Kim Ha-joon asked, I didn't know, but now I felt I understood something. My voice had definitely changed. My goal was to create a space and make it visible and tangible to others. In short, Park Pil-joon looked at me with interest.

"Then show us. Show and prove that you're not just a good vocalist but an excellent one."

"Okay. A cappella, right?"

I felt more excited than nervous. This was almost my first time performing in front of an audience. I was far from the free-spiritedness of the previous vocalist, with a voice more like a metronome.

Everyone except Park Pil-joon looked at me with anticipation.

"Phew..."

I took a deep breath, feeling a sense of romance. I was finally starting to feel the emotions I had barely experienced in my early 20s. Many people were passing by in front of me. If I didn't perform well, I would be out. I would be treated like a madman. But if I did well, things would change.

"Can you do it?"

As I hesitated, Song Da-som looked at me with concern. No matter how well you sing or play an instrument, starting something suddenly on the street is difficult. I thought about what emotions to put into my performance and what world to create.

"It's fine."

I slowly examined her worried gaze. What song should I sing? A sweet song? An upbeat song? When I suddenly opened my eyes, I had an idea. I knew the song I needed to sing.

"If I sing this well, will I be officially in?"

Park Pil-joon nodded.

"Just sing a song you can do well!"

Song Da-som raised her voice. It was time to act. I continued the song from earlier, but this time with more of my current emotions, thinking about changing your world, even if just for a moment.