Chapter 12 of The Technique of an Idol Who Never Fails

9:00 AM. TRV Small Conference Room.

The conference room was bustling with A&R team members and five Firstlight members, except for An Joo-won, who was rushing in.

The A&R team leader, Park Sun-hye, spoke while the team members and Firstlight members faced each other.

"The members didn't give us many opinions this time."

Park Sun-hye, known for her meticulous expression and clear speech, continued.

"First, we selected three songs through a blind test. Please listen to them first. After that, we'll listen to the demo brought by your acquaintance."

Saying there weren't many opinions was a polite way of putting it; in fact, the Firstlight members had hardly given any opinions.

When asked to give their opinions, the members would just look at each other in silence. After the A&R team had listened to nearly 100 demos and narrowed it down to three, the members brought a demo by an acquaintance they had never heard before, asking everyone to listen to it together.

Park Sun-hye, who had dealt with all sorts of difficult people and conflicts, didn't show her frustration. However, the other team members clearly looked dissatisfied.

Park Sun-hye said,

"I think it's time for Firstlight to show what kind of group they are. While listening to the three songs, I hope you'll pay special attention to what you think Firstlight's identity is and the direction you want to take."

The members nodded vigorously, pretending to listen.

Coincidentally, all three songs had English titles, and they were played in alphabetical order.

The other two songs had perfect Korean lyrics, but one was still without lyrics, with the demo humming in English. However, it was sung by Kang Jin-gi, a well-known producer in Korea, so it couldn't really be considered a blind test.

The A&R team was almost certain that the next digital single would be Kang Jin-gi's song. Kang Jin-gi had already produced countless hits. His song was a safe and optimal choice, blending well with the group's identity. Although they talked about Firstlight's identity out of courtesy, it was almost a done deal internally.

After the three songs ended, Park Geun-hoon from the A&R team said,

"Let's see who raises their hand for number 1?"

No one raised their hand for the first song, and the same for the second. Everyone raised their hand for the third song, which was Kang Jin-gi's.

The A&R team members thought, "It's really decided now." They also thought, "It might be a good thing that the members are so compliant. They don't insist on strange things."

"The meeting will end quickly since everyone agrees," Park Sun-hye said, preparing to wrap up the meeting. But then, Hwang Saebi raised her hand and said,

"There's still a song we haven't listened to."

Hwang Saebi, known for her sultry charm, often looked tired to others.

Most A&R team members thought, "If the meeting drags on, she'll probably just pretend to forget and not bring it up." But it seemed she wasn't that kind of person.

Park Sun-hye had no choice but to say,

"Then, let's have another meeting to finalize the third song. And let's listen to the demo Saebi brought."

"I also brought an introduction to the song."

Hwang Saebi handed over a hastily written song introduction. Park Geun-hoon read it and had a strange expression, then placed it in front of Park Sun-hye.

[This is a song where all Firstlight members will unite to tear the stage apart.]

'What... What is this?'

The song introduction was aggressive, completely different from the image of Firstlight that all TRV employees had. They all thought of Firstlight as introverted and well-mannered.

However, the demo that played had a gritty, passionate, and ambitious feel, as if it had crawled out from the bottom.

[Third Second First Lala Light]

[I'll become a flame and burn this stage (burn it)]

[Throw us into the flames, it only makes us wilder]

[Crush us like a volcano about to erupt]

[We'll become flames]

[Light the fire, light the fire, light the fire]

[We'll become flames]

[The plan is one, to burn this stage]

'...This is intense.'

'It's difficult and intense.'

'It's intense.'

Park Sun-hye could tell from the team members' expressions that they were all taken aback by the unexpected demo.

This seemed more fitting for a new, raw-faced rookie group than a group making their second debut.

However, it also felt like the sharpness that had been honed during the two years of waiting after their forced disbandment.

Completely different from the 100 demos they had heard before, the A&R team was momentarily at a loss for words.

In contrast, the members finally spoke up.

Min Ji-ho clapped and said,

"I really wanted to do something like this."

Then, as if waiting for his cue, Han Hyo-seok said,

"To be honest, it's not my taste."

"I don't like it either," said another member.

Hwang Saebi, who had brought the demo, muttered and continued,

"Team leader said to think about our identity. I think this is Firstlight's identity."

Han Hyo-seok nodded.

"I think so too."

Despite not liking the song, all the members thought it represented Firstlight's identity. It was an unexpected result.

Park Sun-hye, who had initially thought of the Firstlight members as indecisive troublemakers due to the late demo, changed her mind the moment she heard the song.

The A&R team has its limits in choosing demos and creating track lists. Ultimately, the group's identity is something they need to reveal themselves. The company can't do everything for them.

"Let's listen to it one more time."

Park Sun-hye replayed the music to give the team members time to gather their thoughts.

The guide recording was done by the youngest member, Park Sun-jae. His voice, which was unexpectedly high, added a surprisingly charming contrast to the intense song.

While listening, I noticed some commotion by the door. Turning around, I saw An Joo-won, who had just arrived, and another person with a black hat pulled down, whose face was completely hidden. Despite this, I was certain it was a celebrity. When he gestured to Hwang Saebi through the glass, I recognized his face.

'Jung Hae-won.'

Park Sun-hye, who had reviewed the plan to relaunch Firstlight and had seen Guksun-a several times, immediately recognized Jung Hae-won.

Eavesdropping on Hwang Saebi's conversation with the person by the door, she realized this song was written by Jung Hae-won.

'Jung Hae-won wrote this?'

Park Sun-hye had pretended to know that Jung Hae-won, once called a national scandal, was living as a hikikomori after Guksun-a.

However, this song was too passionate to have been written by someone living in isolation. The most surprising thing was that there was no trace of the anger one might feel after hiding from the world due to hate comments. All that could be felt was the excitement of youth, running with their breaths almost out of their chests.

Park Sun-hye thought this was truly an idol-like quality.

* * *

As soon as I arrived at the conference room, I stopped An Joo-won from entering.

"Hey, look. Can you see if you still look drunk?"

"Do I?"

An Joo-won turned around, and fortunately, he was completely sober, and the perfume had covered any trace of alcohol.

At that moment, my song started playing in the conference room. I was relieved that it was Park Sun-jae's guide recording again, but then the chorus came.

[Third Second First Lala Light]

[I'll become a flame and burn this stage (burn it)]

"Huh?"

This was a song I had hastily created with virtual instruments, and the guitar sound was different.

It was exactly the feeling I wanted. Naturally intense.

I could tell who had recorded the guitar just by the sound. It was Hwang Saebi, who had a background in a band.

When I gestured to Hwang Saebi, he immediately came to the door. Hwang Saebi patted An Joo-won's shoulder.

"Joo-won, let's do our best."

"Ah, sorry."

Like a thief caught red-handed, An Joo-won immediately apologized.

I asked Hwang Saebi,

"Did you record the guitar?"

"Min Ji-ho wanted it to be intense but natural. I tried recording it, and it fit. Is it really right?"

"Yeah, it's perfect. Thanks."

I wanted to tell Yang Yi-hyung, the composer, that these guys are real geniuses. Man, it's intense...

Anyway, the electric guitar sound definitely increased the hit potential by 5%. The song was much richer than before I left to find An Joo-won, and the chorus stood out more.

After a brief conversation, An Joo-won bowed deeply, apologized, and sat down, and Hwang Saebi went back in and sat down.

I knew I shouldn't linger, but I couldn't leave and was loitering in the hallway.

Peeking inside, I saw that the music had ended, and there was a lot of commotion. A woman who looked like the A&R team leader glared at me, telling me to leave.

I quickly moved away and returned to Yang Yi-hyung's studio near the company. Yang Yi-hyung, who was working, said irritably,

"Why are you here again? I finished your part."

"This place feels so comfortable. You do your work, and I'll lie down and play games."

Nowhere in TRV felt comfortable, but Yang Yi-hyung's studio, even with the scolding, felt comfortable. I lay down on the sofa at the back, and Yang Yi-hyung, after cursing, focused on his work again.

The anxiety and pressure I felt outside didn't follow me into the studio. This was a place where only music mattered, regardless of the world outside. The thought that this was a safe haven calmed me.

Of course, Yang Yi-hyung wouldn't think so, so I need to set up my own studio. I need to save more money.

Lying on the sofa, I tried to sleep, but my mind became clearer, and I couldn't fall asleep. I didn't know why I was so nervous, given that the chances of my song being chosen were almost zero.

I waited for almost an hour, but there was no contact. I got up and said to Yang Yi-hyung,

"Bro, shouldn't you tell me if it didn't work out?"

"Is the A&R team a charity? They usually don't."

I see. I need to get used to waiting.

Anyway, they should contact me when the meeting ends and I need to go back to the dorm, but there was no contact. I couldn't wait any longer, so I left the studio and called Hwang Saebi.

"Is the meeting over? Should I come pick you up?"

-It's not over yet. We're taking a break now. Can you buy us some drinks?

"Okay. But the meeting is still going on?"

-We've had three majority votes in 10-minute intervals, but none have passed.

It must be a very intense discussion.

I asked again,

"What's left?"

-Kang Jin-gi's song.

"Oh, you guys got a song from Kang Jin-gi?"

-Yours.

I almost dropped my phone.