Chapter 92: The Techniques of an Idol Who Never Fails

As I listened to Hwang Saebi's vocals, I started to create a song that would fit them.

Strangely, I didn't even have to think hard; the song just flowed in my mind one after another. Even the title, "Dramaqui," came to me right away.

Since most idol music nowadays is based on band music, rock was the genre closest to me.

At the same time, it was also the genre that felt the most distant due to its inherent exclusivity.

To me, any music a rock band plays is rock, and I consider rock ballads as a genre, but Hwang Saebi would grumble that if it's soft rock, it's soft rock, and if it's a ballad, it's a ballad, so rock ballads sound a bit strange.

How did Yang I-hyung know I was working and come into my studio? I turned to look at him and asked.

"How did you know I was working?"

"How would I know? I just came."

"Did you miss me?"

Yang I-hyung ignored my playful tone and pulled a chair to sit beside me. I handed him a headset and poured a cup of coffee from the coffee maker. There's also a capsule machine, but I'm too lazy to use it now.

I said to Yang I-hyung,

"Can you do the arrangement right away?"

"Hey, you little brat. Did you hire a slave?"

"You're going to do it anyway, right?"

As I said this, I took the coffee and sat in my chair. If it were anyone else, they might have asked if I would make coffee just because they came, but I decided not to with Yang I-hyung. After all, we spend the most time together outside of the members, so we agreed to save our energy for more important things.

Yang I-hyung put on the headset and listened to the music, then asked,

"Rock?"

"Yeah. It's our leader's solo."

I answered, and after he listened to the part he worked on, I continued,

"There's something to it. I want it to sound emotional and rough."

"Here we go again. Hey, bring your member. Let him translate."

So I called Hwang Saebi. He must have been practicing while listening to the recording, as he came in with his phone wrapped in a wired earphone and asked,

"Why?"

Then Yang I-hyung asked,

"What does emotional and rough mean?"

"Emotional and rough?"

Hwang Saebi scratched his neck and listened to the song I was working on. After listening to it a couple of times, he picked up the guitar in the studio. He turned on the distortion and adjusted the tone a few times before starting to play over the classical track I had created. The intense guitar sound that seemed to tear through the amp made Yang I-hyung say,

"…It just fits. Damn, what a dirty world."

"It's hard rock."

"It is hard rock. He's really a born rocker. He plays like he's on drugs, even though he can't even handle alcohol."

"He looks tired too."

Hwang Saebi stopped playing and replied to me,

"I really am tired."

"Alright, I get it."

"So, is this mine?"

"Yeah, it's yours. Sing it while you're here."

Hwang Saebi dragged a stool and sat in front of the pop filter. He listened to the song one more time and then started singing.

Yang I-hyung, who was listening, rubbed his chin with a serious expression and asked me,

"What's with Hwang Saebi? Why is he so good at singing?"

"He's always been good. I taught him a few things today, so he's even better."

Yang I-hyung looked at me in disbelief.

"You? Teach vocals?"

Fortunately, Hwang Saebi vouched for me.

"I don't believe it either, but it's true. Today, Jeong Hae-won gave me vocal training."

"…Is that even possible? Are you dreaming or something?"

"It's true."

That's how it happened. Haha.

I continued working on the second verse, and Yang I-hyung immediately started arranging as I created. Hwang Saebi went back to the dorm to get his guitar and finished the session recording right there.

* * *

The scope of what an A&R should do has become so broad that Park Geon-hoon, the A&R of TRV Entertainment, had almost synchronized his sleep schedule with Jeong Hae-won, who was working on the First Light song.

Park Geon-hoon became an A&R because he loved music, so staying up all night wasn't a problem as long as the songs turned out well. As long as the songs turned out well.

Staying up all night, skipping meals, and just putting in time didn't necessarily mean the songs would come out. Therefore, there were far more nights filled with regret, thinking, "I should have slept during this time," than nights where staying up produced something decent.

Still, despite the repeated nights of regret, he stayed up, hoping that even such wasteful days would eventually lead to good results.

When Park Geon-hoon brought in a bowl of steaming rice soup and entered the control room, he found the three of them, Jeong Hae-won, Yang I-hyung, and Hwang Saebi, collapsed and sleeping everywhere.

After listening to the demo Hwang Saebi had recorded, Park Geon-hoon, knowing Jeong Hae-won's personality, looked through the many tracks and said,

"Did you create this in the shortest time possible?"

Yang I-hyung and Hwang Saebi looked too exhausted to answer. Jeong Hae-won, who had been lying down, groaned and sat up.

"It was hard, but really fun."

It seemed they had been talking about music, losing track of time, working, playing, and listening to the music Hwang Saebi recommended. Jeong Hae-won shook the other two, trying to get them to agree.

"Hey, it was fun, right? Come on, agree with me."

"Let me sleep for three more minutes…"

Hwang Saebi mumbled, his face buried in the sofa. He must have thought he was back in the dorm. Yang I-hyung, who had been lying in front of the monitor, looked up at Park Geon-hoon and said,

"Hey, when did you come in, hyung?"

"…Only Hae-won had fun, right?"

Park Geon-hoon asked the two half-asleep people, but Yang I-hyung intercepted.

"He's a tyrant when he works."

"Hey, it was fun, right?"

"You're brainwashed…"

"That's true."

"Why don't they admit it was fun?"

Jeong Hae-won grumbled and turned on the music again to listen to the demo through the control room's speakers.

The guitar sound was powerful, almost like the main character, but when Hwang Saebi's vocals started, even the guitar became secondary. It was a voice that overflowed with charm. There was a man's deep, lonely longing, hoping that this love would end in a happy ending in a drama.

[The sixteen lines that continue]

[The song I sing for you]

[The pain I feel is because the story continues]

[The tears I shed are because it's a scene, a drama]

[The sincerity that doesn't reach you]

[Is because it's a drama, just a narrative]

[The pain in our story is because we can't be happy]

[If we're happy, the drama ends]

[If it's a drama, we end up happy]

[The pain in our stories is because we can't be happy]

Even though autumn is the season farthest from January, listening to this song made the surroundings feel like autumn.

Park Geon-hoon thought about the songs that had been released so far.

Since Jeong Hae-won joined, there hasn't been a single bright, cheerful love song; all of them were about difficult and painful love.

Thinking about it, it seemed like a decent concept.

"You're a group that specializes in painful love."

Hwang Saebi, who had been sneaking a bowl of rice soup, chuckled. Yang I-hyung said,

"Exactly. I don't get it. Have they ever experienced unrequited love?"

Jeong Hae-won, taking the bowl of rice soup from Hwang Saebi, replied,

"None of our members would ever have the guts to talk to someone they like. If they liked someone, they'd probably just stay far away."

"That's why they can't even show their faces."

Yang I-hyung grumbled. Even while eating the rice soup, the four of them continued to talk about music without a break.

* * *

January was really busy.

Whenever I was so busy that I couldn't function, the A&R team and the managers would take care of me, and time would pass.

The biggest challenge in January was the recording of one of Big Blue's members, Daniel.

I was waiting anxiously in the control room of Pomdafe Entertainment. He was on his way from the airport.

The schedule was already set, and I had agreed to it, but both the staff of Pomdafe Entertainment and the members of Big Blue were overly apologetic.

"I'm really sorry to come at this hour."

"I usually stay up late, so it's really okay."

I checked the time.

Fortunately, it was exactly 4:00 PM, and Daniel arrived.

"Am I late? Hello, Hae-won."

"Hello…"

Before I could greet him, Big Blue's manager pushed Daniel.

"Daniel, no time for greetings!"

"But, we should greet each other, right?"

"Daniel is American!"

That's how Daniel was pushed into the recording booth.

We had to record for exactly 30 minutes and then immediately move to the concept photo shoot, so we started the recording right away.

My parents were really into the American TV show Daniel was in, so when I mentioned the recording, they subtly hinted at wanting an autograph. However, with only 30 minutes to record, it was impossible.

Unlike the other members who recorded the entire song, Daniel only recorded his part. And since no retakes were possible, I had to be more focused than usual.

"Daniel, can you listen to the beat one more time?"

"Sure."

"Daniel, the beat."

"Okay."

Because of the urgency, I gradually reduced the number of requests.

He had practiced diligently, but perhaps because he had to do it alone without the music, his timing was off.

"Daniel, can you listen to the beat one more time?"

"…Sorry."

"It's not your fault, and we don't have time for apologies."

Because of the urgency, I felt like I was losing my patience during the recording, but I had no choice.

I had never had a situation where retakes were impossible, so this constraint felt significant to me.

I didn't want to be rude to a senior with over ten years of experience, especially a member of my favorite idol group.

But because it was my favorite group, I couldn't afford to mess up this project. Of course, if I had more experience, I might have handled such moments with more ease, but I wasn't there yet.

I practiced the beat with Daniel using a metronome without turning on the music, and then we started the recording again.

Fortunately, he wasn't just a pro; during the short time given, Daniel corrected the parts he got wrong.

Then the manager said,

"We have to go now."

"Just one more time. Three minutes will be enough. I'll take the blame if we're late."

I said and started the final recording. Three minutes was more than enough; the last recording was finished in 1 minute and 20 seconds.

I hurriedly followed Daniel, who was leaving the control room, and bowed deeply.

"I'm sorry."

Daniel glanced at me for a moment and then ran off, looking busy.

After organizing the track Daniel recorded, I finished my work and left Pomdafe Entertainment. When I checked my phone, I saw a message from Daniel that had come a while ago.

[Daniel: Why? Was the recording bad?]

My apology must have sounded like a prediction that the recording was bad. I quickly clarified.

[Sorry for the late reply]

[The recording was great, Daniel! I was a bit too pushy with the directing. I shouldn't have been so hasty, sorry.]

A moment later, I received a reply.

[Daniel: ??]

[Daniel: I didn't understand.]

[Daniel: I'll talk to you after the shoot.]

Oh, he must find Korean difficult. Given that he's been shooting dramas in the U.S. for the past few years, it's not surprising that he might have forgotten some of the Korean he learned.

[Our parents are huge fans of Daniel. They watch the drama on Xflix every week. Enjoy the shoot and have a safe trip back!]

I sent the message with an apologetic heart and put my phone in my pocket. I immediately lay down in the back seat of the car heading to the dorm.

"It's done!"

I shouted with a mix of relief and satisfaction, and Manager Kang Young-ho chuckled.

With this, the song production for Big Blue was complete.

While working, I realized that although we can still handle any song, Big Blue, with its high expectations, might not be able to do so. The fact that we still have many steps to climb felt gratifying at the moment.

Now, we just have to wait for Big Blue's music to be released and focus on our work.

Still, for now…

"Hyung, can I take a nap?"

I feel like I might have a heart attack, so I need to sleep…