Pre-Release Blues and Promotion Gambits

EP pre-releases. They might've felt fresh at first, but now they're just seen as a standard promo tactic. A strategy to build hype for the album while stirring up buzz in advance. But the reason Myeongjeon hadn't considered one was...

She just wanted to drop the whole album at once. Doing a pre-release felt like teasing with a "Here's a little taste" vibe, diluting the impact. 'Am I the only one who thinks that way?' Anyway, that's how Myeongjeon saw it, so she had this subconscious aversion to the idea. But now that things had come to this, did she really need to stick to that stance? It wasn't some grand principle worth dying on a hill for.

'Plus, it's about time to start recording the title track.'

Expected tracks: five. (Working title) Ashen Days. (Working title) Sternstunde. One track with just a rough draft, and two more not even conceptualized yet. Maybe it would be better to finish the EP first, then dive into practice. You couldn't be sure a practiced song would make the cut anyway—feels off eating before the table's even set, right?

But considering all four were students... If they didn't start practicing now, they might miss the schedule they'd mapped out. The first track was one thing, but the second would push Seoha to her limits.

'Gotta ask the girls and decide.'

Start recording the first track, and while at it, poll the kids for their opinions. If no strong takes, ride the pre-release wave to keep the momentum going... That's what Myeongjeon figured.

"Shouldn't we talk about some other stuff too...?"

"Huh?"

They'd just settled the pre-release question and were about to wrap the meeting when... a comment from Hyeona. Myeongjeon's expression shifted to one of curiosity. Hyeona, who rarely piped up with ideas, saying something like that felt a bit offbeat.

"I think deciding how to promote the EP after the pre-release is important too."

"Hm... Yeah, you're right."

Myeongjeon nodded at Hyeona's words. Whether to drop one track early was key, sure, but the real priority was the EP's success—and the band's.

"Come to think of it, with all this attention right now, just doing one pre-release and then dropping the EP... wouldn't that feel kinda lackluster?"

"What do you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mean?"

"Like, people hear the pre-release and go, 'Oh, that's the song,' and that's it? No sustained buzz. The gap between pre-release and EP just sits empty."

Myeongjeon fell into thought at Seoha's follow-up. 'She's got a point.'

Myeongjeon had considered it too. The downtime was the issue. Shortening it would be ideal, but... reality said no. They still needed time to finish all tracks. Even with "Ha Suyeon's" genius talent, impossible was impossible.

"Right now, we could release two tracks immediately. But with practice and recording... factoring that in, the only one ready for near-term release is [Ashen Days]."

So Myeongjeon laid out the situation for the girls. Normally, she'd decide herself. But she'd racked her brain with no breakthroughs.

"That's why... if we're promoting, it can't just be about the track release. We need other angles. Any ideas?"

"Dunno."

Silence fell with Iseo's mumble. Someone once said grasping the problem is key to solving it. But Myeongjeon couldn't buy that. What's the point of identifying issues without solutions? This viral hit was pure luck. You couldn't bank on it repeating. This time they got lucky—no guarantees next time.

"What about shooting a YouTube video?"

"Like how?"

"Vlog or something..."

Myeongjeon tilted her head slightly at Iseo's suggestion. Lately, Iseo seemed oddly fixated on vlogs and that sort of thing.

"Just vlogging our daily life won't cut it. Showing our routine doesn't magically make things happen."

"The Charismatic Guitarist's True Identity: A High School Girl? Peeking into a Beauty Band's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Daily Life!!—title it like that, do makeup, shopping, photo booth pics... Show off our pretty faces. Won't that work?"

"Hey, then show your face. Why're you always trying to sell mine? You're not exactly ugly yourself."

"Oh yeah? Heh heh heh."

Myeongjeon sighed watching Iseo grin goofily. Focus on making good music, not this weird stuff...

"Filming Suyeon doing makeup would probably rack up views, though."

"You too?!"

Seoha chimed in casually. Myeongjeon sighed again. Then came a barrage of random ideas: online concert? Fan sign? Challenge? TikTok viral? Just film anything?

"Give me something realistic and useful. No more nonsense."

"If I had realistic, useful ideas in this situation, I'd be in promo, not the band."

Hm, fair point. Myeongjeon tilted her head, brushing off the chatter while deep in thought. Seemed like no easy fixes—maybe back to basics?

"Ah! Got it. A good idea."

"What?"

"Ask Juhyeon. Have him promo us. Post on Insta or whatever—bet it'd blow up."

Iseo called it a good idea. But Myeongjeon's brow furrowed deeply.

"Why the face?"

"I don't wanna get tangled with him anymore. Keeps texting me on Kakao. Driving me nuts."

Started innocently: congrats on the show, wanna send a gift, can I buy the track? Networking in the industry, Myeongjeon responded as kindly as possible (putting in serious effort). Now it was veering personal: what'd you eat, guitar recs for beginners, left-hand fingering tips...

"And that guy—Ryujin? Jinwoo? Whatever—he's blowing up my Kakao too. If this gives him an excuse... Ugh, just stressful."

"Why? Juhyeon's plenty connected, right?"

Leaving Iseo looking oddly miffed, Seoha spoke up. Money, connections. Solid personality. No dating scandals. Famous. Et cetera...

"Don't say creepy stuff like that."

"Huh? Why's that creepy? It's just dating talk."

"I'm married to music—no time for anything else."

Dismissing the nonsense, Myeongjeon slammed the table.

"Straightforward it is. Show 'em a live show first. Everything else later."

Challenges, vlogs, TikTok—secondary. Nail the release and showcase first.

"Paradox works, but it'd just be our regulars. Better rent Hongdae outdoor stage, busk-style to draw a crowd."

Pair pre-release drop with busking: covers to hook 'em, then new track. Bring Dain's trio for cheer squad, nudge fans to come out. Per Iseo, leverage looks too. Skirt a bit shorter that day, makeup on. Draw in the looks chasers. Snap pics pretending not to notice—buzz city, right? Promotion win.

The girls nodded at his plan. Myeongjeon pondered maximizing it. Anything else...?

Ah. Yeah, one thing.

Myeongjeon dialed someone. A few rings, then a response.

"Ah, yes, Professor. It's Suyeon. Doing well? Got a favor—your friend, critic Kim Suryeol? Wanna ask him something..."

Kim Suryeol was a music critic. Now treated like an elder statesman in the industry. Despite friends urging, "Can't you take it easy now?", he stayed active and vigorous... To core music fans, "If it's a Kim Suryeol pick, it's worth a listen."

His main stage: band webzine. Weekly roundups of new band releases—short one-liners, longer reviews for standouts. Those "Must-Listen Music" picks? Bands brag, "We got the Suryeol pick!" and issue press releases. Busy guy. Daily new tracks. Radio spots. Gig checks. For fairness, no dinners with labels. Contacts? Just a few from way back.

'This the spot?'

Masked up, Suryeol approached a Hongdae outdoor stage. Prep in full swing: four high school girls bustling, rowdy crowd gathering. He was here to cover hot band Group Sound. Friend Professor Chae Hogun had mentioned, "They're doing live. You heard 'em?"

Suryeol strived for impartiality, but one rule from day one:

'Active high school girls. Total newbie bassist. Classical-leaning keys. Indie drum prospect. And guitar that's ridiculously good.'

Initial lineup sounded like hype bait. He'd griped to his friend, "Now they're pretending virals aren't trainee plants doing band gigs?" But rumors said otherwise. School fest, anime covers, settled at Paradox—monthly gigs. Made Band Pioneer quarters. Recent Juhyeon concert session. Steady climb... Hottest indie act lately.

'Is the hype real...'

[Ashen Days], pre-release from indie-famous Label Echo Sound (rumors of a recent sale). Solid track, but live would decide the review. Plenty of bands ace studio, flop live. This one might too...