Collab Predictions and the Feedback Storm
I figure everyone's heard by now that the EP got scrapped and turned into a band collab. Hoping it's not true, but from the rumors floating around, the odds of a collab seem pretty high.
As someone who's listened to some indie bands back in the day, I was pretty pissed hearing rumors of an indie collab. 'Cause Korean indie bands are all the same crap, and the rumors about them are mostly bad.
⋮ Anyway, I don't want it to happen, but since there's a chance, and no real clues, I'll predict and introduce some collab-worthy bands. Music has no tiers, but it's easier to talk in tiers, so I've ranked them myself.
1. Cloudfront
Skill: B (Average)
Collab Odds: B (Possible)
Modern rock band that writes good songs. Got stage time at Penta and did decent, even nominated for Handae Awards. Problem is their live sucks balls—people walked out during their Penta set. But songs are solid.
2. 2MAJOR
Skill: C (Meh)
Collab Odds: B (Low)
They've got faces going for them. But they had that big girl scandal, so odds low. Separately, they get songs from good composers—some next-gen K-pop vibe (fucking hilarious they can't write their own lol). So maybe possible?
3. Mistika
Skill: A (High)
Collab Odds: Low
Threw them in 'cause of that TOMBOY metal precedent, but honestly no clue.
⋮
11. Group Sound
Skill: SS (Top of current-gen bands)
Collab Odds: 0
Put 'em in 'cause they're the hottest right now, but no chance. Our girls sell out Olympic Hall for domestic shows, these kids sold out 5,000 seats at Jangchung on their first tour. No possibility, but they write killer songs with top buzz, so included. Collab with them would be huge—they're mass-appeal monsters.
“Told you not to spend so much time online, but you're doing it too, unnie.”
Harin hurriedly hid her phone and glanced sideways. Suryeon was standing there, having snuck up without a sound. With a slightly smug look on her face, Harin cleared her throat and stood from her chair.
“Weren't you going to the convenience store? When did you get back?”
“Just now. You must've heard the door, right?”
“Ahem! Anyway, go to bed already. You know we have to work on song demos tomorrow? Late-night snacks make you sluggish, so eat in moderation.”
“Yessir, got it, unni~”
Suryeon headed to her room with an annoyed expression. Harin considered chasing after her to nag, but let it go. It wasn't the first time she'd acted up—what could she do? She was an adult; she'd manage herself. Song demos were important, but not that critical to skip snacks over.
With that thought, Harin picked up her phone again. She wasn't as deep into fandom as Suryeon, but Harin had her own history of otaku-ing, so online communities were familiar territory. Among them, the ones discussing Aurora looked fine on the surface, but dig deeper and the vibe was toxic.
I'd probably feel the same. If the EP suddenly got scrapped...
There was only one reason something going well would get tossed: a problem arose. Back when Harin stanned Projeckt 6, rumors of internal issues or scrapped albums usually meant the next comeback was subpar. Fans knew that logic too.
But...
Harin looked back at the post she'd seen earlier. Group Sound, SS tier. It felt good that her new faves were ranked so highly. And, a bit pettily, she knew they were collabing with Group Sound... while everyone else trashed the idea blindly. Second-best feeling.
Let's see what you all say when the collab drops.
They'd probably deny ever hating or questioning Cream Ent's judgment. Common as dirt, but just as satisfying. Harin smiled, wishing that day would come soon.
Session recording day.
Harin subtly showed up at the company and headed to the studio where today's work was happening. Greeting passersby politely, she arrived to find all four Group Sound members already inside.
Huh? That's unusual.
From what Harin had seen, sessions usually recorded tracks one by one: drums, then bass, guitar, etc. But here, the four bandmates were all set up, making it feel a bit crowded.
“When'd you get here? Sightseeing?”
“Ah, yeah. Heard they were coming today...”
“You're here for autographs again.”
“Ehehe.”
The A&R team lead gave a light scolding, then peered back into the booth. Suyeon was gesturing and talking to the members, giving directions.
“Why are all four recording together? Isn't it usually one at a time?”
“They always do it that way. Take like 10 takes, pick the best. For normal songs we'd do our method, but collab means we accommodate.”
The engineer answered instead. Harin looked inside. The discussion dragged on.
“What are they talking about?”
“Dunno... song stuff, probably.”
The engineer hit a button, and voices came through the speakers.
“You haven't been practicing lately?”
“I have...”
“I've been telling you to cut that blunt bass touch, that clunky feel. But it's not improving. You're just flailing your fingers now. Why bother with real instruments? VIs would give the same tack-tack-tack sound.”
“Ah, this isn't working.”
Suyeon's voice had turned icy as she pushed Choi Iseo. Harin felt a chill. The documentary was real. Those scenes of her ripping into members weren't staged.
“And the drums too. This is my song you're recording, but it's not our sound fundamentally. Don't force it to fit our band—go light. This is idol music, not rock. I get wanting to pound away, but dial it back. Highlight the vocals, focus on dance performance. Acting like stars and shoving your heads in like 'my turn to shine today'—is that normal?”
“Whoa, scary.”
The engineer cut the feed before it continued.
“Feedback's brutal. Explains their skill.”
While he spoke, Harin thought, then asked, “Heard if we finish today's work and make progress, we'll do vocals too?”
“Yeah.”
The A&R lead's reply drained the color from Harin's face. Memories of songwriting feedback day flooded back.
“I won't be that harsh. Just matching today...”
But Suyeon had hammered her verbally—irrefutable critiques. Even the vocal trainer said, “From a band view, that's how it feels. Gotta learn.” Harin had teared up back at the dorm, feeling she'd let down her faves, Group Sound.
But seeing this... what she'd endured was Suyeon's “not harsh” version. No curses or emotion—just stone-cold bandmate grilling: “You're not doing it right. Do I have to spell it out?” The members sat silent.
“Uh, let's just record...”
“We can, but it'll drag with endless takes. Better feedback first to nail it quick. Few more minutes, please.”
“Ah... sure.”
The engineer's intervention ended at Suyeon's firm tone. Feedback dragged on minutes more. In the heavy air, Harin's shoulders felt weighted. After this track, would her members and she face that storm...?
Gasp... takes me back to trainee days... no, worse...
Memories of brutal trainee survival hit her, making her shiver. Suyeon's voice snapped her out—she'd finished and exited the booth.
“Oh, Senior Harin.”
Suyeon's blank face. Normally, Harin the fan would know it was her signature “looks pissed but isn't” expression. But after that insane feedback, it screamed 'I'm annoyed—why are you here?'
And so...
“Uh... uh... h-hi!”
Harin bolted spectacularly, leaving teary idol-worshipper panic behind.
Suyeon stared bewildered at the fleeing Harin, then turned to the engineer and A&R lead.
“What's her deal?”
“...No idea. Sorry.”
A few days later.
“So, settled on an album concept yet?”
With Cream Ent collab tracks done instrumentally—lyrics and vocals left—Suyeon gathered the band. Collab hurdle cleared; back to Group Sound's EP.
“No.”
“S-sorry...”
“Nothing comes to mind.”
“Figures.”
Suyeon sighed, tilting her head. What now? Just write whatever stuck? Follow Hyeona's idea of sticking to Group Sound's vibe so fans followed? Easy, but Suyeon wanted to grow the others' producing skills this time. She couldn't solo-produce forever. One viewpoint stale-mates innovation. Everything tires eventually. Diverse perspectives ensure lasting success.
“Seriously nothing? No pressure. Not asking for full songs—just concepts or ideas.”
“Um... well, I have... something...”
Hyeona's hand crept up timidly. Suyeon gestured go on.
“Have you... seen Sound! Euphonium...?”
“Nope.”
“Talking with those idols... Aurora... sparked it. Sound! Euphonium is about an orchestra club... super emotional animation...”
“Short version.”
Suyeon cut the ramble. Hyeona pouted briefly, then continued.
“We did that Plastic Nostalgia concept... detached from Korean high school life, but pulling impossible feels... What if we retry that? Graduation vibe this time. You're all graduating. Like Asuka-senpai in Euphonium... sending people off...”
“What?”
“Asuka-senpai... has regrets, unresolved feelings, leaves them behind, but walks forward bit by bit... 'cause she gave her all. That sentiment...”
“No clue.”
Seoha muttered, baffled. Suyeon didn't know Sound! Euphonium, but got Hyeona's intent. But this explanation? Useless. Sounded like a total anime addict...