Let’s Rock!!
The live session "Let’s Rock!!"—now so mainstream and generic that using it feels downright corny. But Cheol-yeon shouted it without a hint of hesitation, shaking his head wildly with glee. The crowd's attention, which had been locked on the "new member," cooled in an instant, replaced by a gradually building heat that filled the gap.
He's definitely gotten older. Didn't he ever think it was tacky? Hwa watched her senior's performance with that thought in mind. Classic hard rock, just like Taylor'd would do—and what they did best. Hard-hitting and exhilarating, but never crossing into metal territory.
"Today, I came to meet you—! Gaaaaah—!!"
A song brimming with rock spirit. Screaming at the top of his lungs, rallying the audience, bouncing around the stage. Even for the first song, he was pouring everything into the vocals—it was easy to see why Taylor'd had earned the title of "national band." That inexhaustible energy they shoved at you whether you wanted it or not. Hwa felt a twinge of fatigue already from the opening number and gently closed her eyes, trying to dial back the "heat" just a bit.
And in the performance she heard that way, she sensed a slight disconnect.
The guitarist's playing style is... completely different from the previous one?
Taylor'd's former guitarist had stuck to a style that was intense if you were kind, oily if you weren't. His lifestyle matched: long black hair, leather jacket uniform, yelling "Rock 'n' roll!" every day like he wanted to live like Lemmy Kilmister. Not the type to leave a good impression on Hwa.
But the kid strumming now... high school girl? College? She was delivering a clean, straightforward style. So clean it bordered on dry, or even thudding—precise notes at precise timings, like a computer with zero personal interpretation. Not Hwa's favorite. If forced to pick between the two, she'd take the "oily" one.
But it suits this song. A track made for the vocals, with no room for the guitar to shine. Watching the high school guitarist who clearly understood her role, Hwa nudged her internal likability rating up a notch.
"Great playing. New song, right?"
"Yes! It's a new one. 'The Day I Meet You'! Please give it lots of love."
Whoa~ clap clap clap. The audience applauded, and the band members bowed awkwardly over and over. Kim Cheol-yeon watched the scene and spoke up.
"The charts are so packed these days, I'm not sure if it'll climb."
"Yeah. When it's Taylor'd, you expect it to go boom right up, matching the name."
"Have the missus give it a little push. Yeah?"
"Missus? I'm just the old lady in the back room. Don't expect anything from me."
The crowd chuckled at Ji-yeon's banter. A bit more chit-chat followed—album concepts, the kind of songs they wanted to make. All music-related talk.
"Oh! And one thing I'm super curious about. Who's that?"
Ji-yeon pointed to the female guitarist sitting stone-faced at the edge, utterly unfazed. The question everyone was dying to ask.
"Our guitarist. Newbie."
"Whoa, so Yong-seong quit?"
"Nah, not that. Family stuff came up this time... I fixed the schedule with the missus, then Yong-seong bailed for work. Normally you'd reshuffle, right? But who am I? A man of loy-al-ty, that's who. So in the end, I brought in a session player."
"Whoa... everyone, give it up for the man of loyalty!!"
Cheers mixed with applause. A little more banter, then the baton passed to the female guitarist. She took the mic from her expressionless state, froze for a second, her face twisting through complicated emotions... before breaking into a bright smile.
"Hello! I'm Ha Suyeon, vocalist and guitarist for the band Group Sound, and session guitarist for Taylor'd!"
"Ha Suyeon? Sounds familiar."
"Oh, this is the girl from the rival network. That band audition show winner."
"Winner~? Oh... total pro... Ah, I think I've heard that song. Overmistake."
"Yes. That's right... yep. Overmistake is our song."
"?"
Ji-yeon blinked at the unheard-of ending as the interview rolled on. Vaguely mature, vaguely kid-like, vaguely age-appropriate—strangely ambiguous answers. Amused by the fun reactions, Ji-yeon kept drawing her out.
"I think I've heard it before. School viol—"
"Sorry!!"
Suyeon's head bowed so low it nearly hit the floor. The comically over-the-top reaction just made everyone burst out laughing.
"And finally, could you introduce the band?"
"Ah, sure! Our band is Group Sound! Vocalist and guitarist is me, Ha Suyeon. And bass and backup vocals by our band's Choi Iseo......"
And so, the broadcast wrapped up smoothly that day. Taylor'd finished without a hitch, and she did too. The only surprise was Taylor'd's "session guitarist."
The girl who'd played so cleanly on the first song switched to the polar opposite on the others. Confident one moment, emotional the next... For her young age, she exuded total assurance that she could handle any style.
She was pretty damn good. Looked like a high schooler—actually said she was in her second year. Few at that age reached that level of proficiency. You'd need to be one of those "genius guitarist" types from TV.
But Hwa's interest in Suyeon stopped there. She just thought: In this era pumping out guitarists left and right, that level was just average among geniuses. Hadn't she been the same? Raised hearing she was the best singer in the Yeongnam region, but in the entertainment world full of top-tier talents, she was just a solid vocalist number one.
With those thoughts, Hwa paid Suyeon no more mind. She was far too busy for that.
"Ah, this is tough for me. I can't do more. Sorry. Let's call it here for today. Please deposit the pay to my account."
With that, the session guitarist packed up and left. All that remained was the account info she'd handed over.
As the staff eyed her, Hwa listlessly picked up the paper and wired the money.
"Did I push too hard?"
"Uh... hate to say it, but yeah, a bit."
"...Why? That hard?"
"If it weren't, everyone would do it."
Even the staffer who'd started off polite now sounded awkward. Hwa got it—this was totally fair.
How many times was this? She'd tried every hotshot session guitarist, but none nailed the vibe she wanted.
Some feeling, that hollow echo with a touch of life... damn, how do I even describe it?
'Let me give it a shot.'
'Nah, not that feel. Sadder...'
'Sadder than this? Hmm...'
'Can't explain it. A bit more?'
'How many times is this? I can't.'
That conversation loop, how many times? Even the session legend she'd brought in for recording sounded perfect at first, then off the next day—shelved.
The track had been floating in limbo for over three years now.
Should've recorded with that master when he was alive.
Hwa felt deep regret. She'd heard of a guitar session legend who'd played for decades. Name was Seo Myeongjeon, right? Bad personality kept her putting it off. When she finally called a year ago... he'd passed.
Thunderbolt news. Hwa felt her pillar of faith crumble.
"Noona. Honestly, at this point, you gotta know when to quit. Nothing's perfect."
"...Maybe two years ago. But too late now. Quitting here would be crazier."
To her manager's words, Hwa muttered that. Started as a casual track, but the process taught her tons, through countless trials. A song steeped in her history—she couldn't release it with even one unsatisfying element.
"Hah... whatever. Since I saw that senior, maybe ask him to intro a session. Or hell, learn guitar myself."
Ignoring her manager's "don't joke," she called Cheol-yeon.
Short ring, then connected.
"Sunbae."
"Hey~ what's up? Something from back then?"
Quick greetings, then she explained: song shelved for years, needs session. Tried all the good ones. Only untried was Seo Myeongjeon. Who's dead.
"Hmm... use that kid then."
"Who...?"
"The one I brought this time."
"Her? The girl?"
Her tone slipped unconsciously—you kidding? Despite the potential offense, Cheol-yeon chuckled heartily.
"She's Seo Myeongjeon-sunbae's disciple. His last one."
"...What?"
"The final kid he raised before passing. Total genius. Hell, he even left her his guitar—that Strat she's carrying is his keepsake."
He explained more: just two years learning guitar; insiders keep her under wraps; up to her if she'll session, not you deciding. Sounded absurd, but from Taylor'd's leader Kim Cheol-yeon, dead serious... Hwa listened, overwhelmed.
"I can intro her. Hate to have competition if I wanna use her, especially after she turned me down this time."
"Turned you down?"
"Yeah. Taylor'd leader Kim Cheol-yeon's session offer—shot down. Even offered tour bandmaster! Reason? Too busy studying. That's the kid."
Busy studying? Hard to believe. Which Korean guitarist turns down Taylor'd tour session master? Instant flood of gigs. If it were her, school be damned.
But Ha Suyeon rejected it. Just "busy with school."
Big bowl or clueless kid? Unclear.
Call ended, Hwa booted her computer, opened YouTube.
"If you're not convinced, search YouTube for 'Group Sound,' 'Seo Myeongjeon Memorial,' 'Invasion from Seoul 2024.' Oh, 'Bye Taylor'd 2024' too. You'll get it."
Following Cheol-yeon's advice.
How amazing can she be?
That day's Suyeon performance? Just "good"—solid band guitarist basics.
But Cheol-yeon's words suggested more: way more versatile. Hwa couldn't buy it. Not talent—physics. From zero to TV-level in one year? Huge. Beyond? Like turning pinecones into grenades.
Thinking that, she hit play on a video with Ha Suyeon's name.