New EP "Ah, You Haven't Left Yet."

After Taemin and the kids had all gone home, Suyeon was working alone in the company recording studio. Nothing in particular was sparking inspiration, so she was just jotting down whatever melodies came to mind, fleshing out the ones that seemed promising, and stashing the rest in a folder to move on to something else.

In the middle of that, the door creaked open, and Go Kyung-min poked his head in. It was 8:23 p.m. now.

Isn't it past quitting time?

"I'm planning to stick around and work a bit more... Aren't you heading out, Team Leader Go?"

Suyeon thought to herself as she asked. Go Kyung-min gave a wry smile in response.

"I've got some other producing work left to do."

"Ah, you've still got tasks ahead."

Go Kyung-min's eyes looked a bit hollow underneath. He hadn't been like that when he first joined the company. But it made sense. His responsibilities covered not just Group Sound, but the entire Label Echo Sound.

Come to think of it...

"Team Leader Go."

"Yes?"

"Could we talk for a moment? About work."

Suyeon, who had been about to let him go, called him back. She wanted to discuss the new EP and the album in general.

"What about?"

"It's about producing this EP. There's something I'd like to ask."

Go Kyung-min handled overall planning for Group Sound, but for the other indie bands under Label Echo Sound, he took on full producing duties. And though Suyeon didn't know it, back at his previous label, Wizard Lemon, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he'd been quite famous for his producing work. Even during Seo Myeongjeon's time, she'd heard of those indie bands that charted on Melon and milked it for all it was worth—some of them had been produced by Go Kyung-min.

"Normally, I'd just set the concept and run with it myself, but nothing's really coming to mind right now... And honestly, I'm more worried about the full album for the Japan activities anyway..."

Suyeon thought of the mobile game she'd gotten hooked on lately. She'd stockpiled recovery items knowing a boss fight was coming, only to get stuck on a mid-boss instead. She could blow them here and breeze through, but then the real boss would be a nightmare. That was exactly the situation she was facing now. She had some concepts in mind, but they felt too good to waste on the EP for Jangchung Gymnasium—better saved for the full album and Japan.

"So nothing's clicking right now. Any ideas on your end?"

"Hmm..."

Go Kyung-min scratched his head lightly. He didn't seem to have anything jumping out at him. Which made sense, really. Album producing was about painting the big picture: which songs to include or cut, how to arrange them, what concept to go with. All of it handled holistically.

Bands usually self-produced, and Group Sound was no different—Suyeon handled it herself. But even the Beatles had George Martin on most albums, and Pink Floyd had Norman Smith in the early days. Bringing in an outside producer was standard; they just weren't fully outsourcing.

Still, asking Go Kyung-min was like telling a mathematician, "Calculate 132142 times 1451253324512 in three seconds!"

"Well, I know you can't just whip something up on the spot. I was just asking."

Suyeon was smart enough to know that, so she wasn't pressing for an instant answer. Just as she was about to let it drop, Go Kyung-min spoke up.

"Do you have any tracks done so far?"

"Uh, no finished songs per se... Actually, scratch that—I've got a ton of them."

"A ton?"

"Yeah. Plenty of songs, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠they're all kinda iffy in their own ways. I've got a pile of ones I've set aside."

"Ah... If you've got that many, could I hear them? If it's okay."

"Sure, here you go."

"Hmm..."

Suyeon played him a few recent ones she thought had potential. She'd strummed them out on guitar and voice-memo'd as ideas hit, but none quite fit the Group Sound vibe she had in mind.

I still don't have a perfect grasp on what 'Group Sound's color' even is...

She hadn't nailed the feel yet, but most of the folder fodder just didn't mesh with the band. That's why they'd ended up buried and forgotten.

"I think there's some real gems in here. Like that one—what's it called? 651643SharpPercent?... Does the title mean something?"

"Just random keyboard mashing."

"Anyway, even that one has this band-sound vibe with a K-pop twist—it's solid. I kinda get why you're not using it, though."

Kyung-min nodded to himself, looking convinced. Suyeon had no idea what about.

"So, any inspiration striking?"

"No, not at all."

Kyung-min looked sheepish. Suyeon smiled to brush it off—no big deal.

Anyone who could deliver on the spot, in a day even, wouldn't be working here. That's what she figured.

"As for the album concept... Honestly, I think Group Sound's beyond the level where I can just pitch ideas."

"Come on, even Metallica uses producers."

"Anyway, right now, I don't have much to say. It's like building from the foundation—laying a one-room foundation versus a pyramid's. Totally different leagues. So I don't think it's my place to meddle... Better to brainstorm with the band members."

Kyung-min scratched his head again, hesitating a bit. Suyeon wondered what was up.

"But there's one thing I'd like to ask..."

"Yeah?"

"These tracks here... Mind if I play them for some other people?"

"Huh? Play for who?"

"If you're not using them, it's a waste letting them sit. I've got some A&R contacts I could share with. Could turn into money."

"Ah, sure, go ahead."

Kyung-min bowed his head in thanks, plugged in a USB, and copied the files. Suyeon didn't think much of it. Eh, he'll shop them around, whatever.

"So, that's what happened."

A few days later. Suyeon had gathered the members to monitor With Guitar and brainstorm the album concept. She explained her chat with Go Kyung-min.

Basically: We need to nail the EP concept now, but my best ideas are for later, so I need your brainstorming...

"Why not just throw out those tracks and ideas now? Something better might come later."

"Sure, could happen. But flip it: Make an EP concept here, produce it, and if something better hits, delay the release and use my ideas instead?"

To Iseo's question, Suyeon replied like that. If they went her way, EP production just got pushed a tad—no real harm. But burning a keeper on a rushed job without solid ideas? That could spell trouble later.

"Anyway, I want to weave in your voices for this EP. We'll make the songs together, it'll be commercial... but we can still inject our color."

Hit me with opinions, Suyeon wrapped up.

Iseo's hand shot up instantly. Those fiery eyes—Suyeon knew what was coming.

"It's time for anisong vibes!"

"Otaku..."

"What! Yeah, I'm an otaku—what've you added? Be real, this band's roots are otaku. We started with a cover band song at the school festival—Ano Band! That's the core, right?"

Iseo ranted on. Suyeon just shrugged it off; Seoha cackled, teasing her mercilessly. Meanwhile, another hand crept up slyly.

"Um... I think anime rock... animerock would be good too..."

"No way, we've got two otakus here."

"See! Hyeona-unnie gets it. We can't ditch the roots. People water it down as 'otaku,' but it's roots, roots!"

"Nerdaku."

The usual childish bickering ensued. Suyeon tilted her head slightly—time to rein it in.

"Animelock, huh. Not bad."

"For real?"

"Why not? But while doing what we want is great, think about this EP's goal."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Suyeon handed out her prep sheets—walls of Korean text, no pics. Iseo opened her mouth to tease, but Suyeon cut her off.

"This EP's for our solo concert. Sell out 10,000 seats at Jangchung Gymnasium, ride that wave to Japan. So we need tracks our country folks will actually like. Animelock... tough sell for mass appeal, right?"

"Exactly. Sure, SNS has celebs and otakus leaning into it, but play anisong to normies? They all go eek! and bolt."

Seoha backed her up. But Iseo slammed the table, ready to counter.

"If mass appeal's the bar, was Korean rock ever mainstream?"

"Hmm..."

Fair point, Suyeon admitted. If it were, Group Sound's buzz wouldn't be such a big deal. Seoha shut up, stumped.

"Rock listeners are dying out anyway—no point chasing mainstream. Plus, Japanese bands and utaite sell out Korea left and right. Their stuff ain't exactly pop."

"Isn't that 'cause they've built legacy?"

"What's legacy?"

"Uh... legacy... y'know, legacy?"

The two veered into nonsense. Suyeon chuckled in disbelief, about to explain legacy—

"I think..."

"Yeah?"

Hyeona spoke up, resolute.

"The direction you set... might be off. That's what I think."

"Direction's wrong?"

"Yes... You're saying go commercial, right?"

"Yeah."

"But instead of chasing mass tastes... maybe our direction... the one we create... That's the way. I think so."

"Do otaku songs?"

"That's not—!"

Seoha's jab made Hyeona pause, breathing deep to gather her thoughts.

"Like you said... we're at the forefront of Korean rock now. So why analyze and chase...? Better than forcing commercial paths for sales..."

Her words sharpened.

"Lead our way... Not follow tastes—make them follow us! I think we can. We have the chops."

"Hmm..."

Suyeon saw the merit. Her mindset had been "match the masses for success." Hyeona flipped it: "Make the masses match us."

"But how?"

"We'll figure that out..."

"Back to square one?"

"No, the foundation's shifted. Same spot, different base."

Hyeona's pitch reset everything Suyeon planned—but no issue. It ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was just a mindset tweak. Songs wouldn't magically appear, but...

"Even so, we need a concept. Let's hash it out today..."

A phone buzzed on the table. "Who is it!" Iseo yelled. Suyeon grabbed hers—Go Kyung-min, out on errands today.