Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Recording Session
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Seeing the reactions on social media, Creatin had no choice but to tremble with anxiety and unease once again.
“What do we do?”
“It’s fine. It’ll be fine. No, why are you all worrying? We haven’t heard anything yet.”
Jae-hee quickly reassured the members.
“It’s just scary because the company called us in. Especially after what happened last time.”
“What’s wrong with everyone? We’re doing great right now. Haven’t you seen our video views? We’re the ones who were chosen as the idols most likely to turn their lives around with Twisty Puzzle. Are you all just going to keep sounding so defeated?”
Fortunately, there were plenty of things to help ease their worries.
“We’re really popular right now. Our social media accounts are buzzing, and all the videos uploaded to our official YouTube channel have insane view counts.”
Jae-hee didn’t stop talking, hoping to see the members’ faces brighten.
“Besides, I heard our debut song has even entered the charts. There’s no way we’d get bad news in a situation like this. Our agency is all about results, right? The reason our comeback was pushed back was because RE-V was more popular than us.”
“Yeah.”
“They can’t just keep us on the shelf forever, so they have to put us out there while our recognition is high thanks to Twisty Puzzle. That means there’s no way our comeback will be delayed any further. And even if something like that happens, we have to appeal to the company now, using the points I just made as our argument.”
Creatin was currently experiencing popularity for the first time, thanks to their appearance on ‘Twisty Puzzle.’
After proudly taking first place in the first round of the main competition, they had maintained their top spot in the second round—where they had chosen the ‘Game’ category as a challenge—with an overwhelming difference in view counts.
They were now preparing for the third round, and social media was abuzz with interest in whether anyone could stop Creatin’s winning streak.
That was why Creatin absolutely could not back down.
They didn’t want to experience their comeback being powerlessly postponed like last time.
“It’s definitely going to be good news. I’m sure of it.”
Just then, the door burst open and company employees walked in.
“You’re all here. Then we can start the meeting right away.”
“Yes.”
Jae-hee tried his best to put on a calm face.
“The reason we’ve called Creatin to the company today is that we thought it would be good to discuss the comeback schedule.”
Creatin swallowed dryly.
With tense faces, they all stared at the employee’s lips.
They didn’t take their eyes off them, as if determined not to miss a single movement.
“Originally, we were planning to prepare for a comeback after a short break once the filming for Twisty Puzzle was over, but we were wondering what you think about moving the schedule up a bit.”
Creatin’s faces gradually brightened.
“Really?”
“Yes. There are some internal company matters, and we figured it would be best to do it as soon as possible.”
Internal company matters.
This was to have RE-V make their comeback with a mini-album instead of a full one.
Creatin knew this, but they were actually grateful for it.
After all, they had been eager to make their comeback as soon as possible.
“Since we have to move the date up, it’ll be a single album. It’s just one title track, but you’ll be incredibly busy preparing for it alongside Twisty Puzzle. Will you be okay with that?”
At the employee’s question, Creatin nodded with bright smiles.
“Brace yourselves. It’s not going to be an easy task.”
“We’ll work really hard, so don’t you worry about a thing. We can do it. We’ll do it no matter what. We can start practicing right this instant.”
The preparations for Creatin’s comeback, which had been on hold, resumed.
* * *
“Who cares who sings it? What matters most is that the person who can bring it to life sings it.”
Judging by his unsmiling expression and tone, he didn't seem to be joking.
“No. What’s so great about the chorus anyway?”
“I’m from a survival show where we’d fight tooth and nail just to sing one more part.”
At my direct response, Leon let out a short “Ah.”
“I guess survival shows are systems that make you stake your life on being the center or getting a single part.”
“Yes.”
Getting the chorus part was a huge deal.
It was the part most often used in teasers and the part that got the most airtime.
Considering the nature of a drama OST, it was highly likely that other parts of the song would barely appear throughout the drama’s run.
‘Why would he offer me such an important part?’
If Leon’s position had been a rapper, it would have made sense.
But it wasn’t.
Although he had no official position and was simply called an all-rounder, a hexagonal idol, if one had to categorize him, he was a vocalist.
‘Isn’t it natural for me to react this way when someone who’s a good singer offers me the chorus?’
“Think about it carefully. Before I’m an idol, I’m a producer. Looking at it purely from a producer’s ambition, not an idol’s, do you think I’d covet this part?”
Objectively, Leon was not a singer who excelled at high notes.
He was more renowned for his unique vocal color and flashy dance skills than for his high notes.
But the chorus of the song he had brought, ‘Misty Rain,’ was in the D5 range.
“I can’t ruin a song I worked so hard on with my own hands. How could I do that? It’s ridiculous for me to strain myself to sing a range I can’t handle, and if I lower the key, it won’t have the same feel. So, isn’t it natural to pass the part to someone who can handle this range?”
I stared at the sheet music without a word.
He was right.
If the key of the chorus were lowered, its poignant feeling would likely diminish.
No composer would unnecessarily insert high notes just to show off a singer’s technique.
“Then I’ll take that as a yes. Anyway, if you say you can’t do it, this song just disappears. I couldn’t think of anyone else who would suit it. That’s why I just kept it in storage after making it.”
This must have been why Leon had turned down the song.
Because no one had appeared who could sing it.
“And to confess something now, you have more parts than I do.”
“What?”
That was the second shock.
“See the parts marked in red here?”
“Yes.”
“Those are all your parts.”
Hearing that, the red markings that filled the sheet music came into view.
“Wait. Doesn’t this basically make it my song?”
“That’s right.”
Leon’s utterly confident response left me speechless.
“I’m seeing you make that surprised face a lot today. That CCC Lemon? Our fans send it to me sometimes.”
Leon was enjoying my reaction.
But why on earth would they send him my CCC Lemon picture? It wasn’t like we were known to be close.
“Technically, it’s your song, and I’m featuring on it.”
“You asked me to feature for you.”
“I had a feeling you’d say you couldn’t do it if I said I was featuring.”
His analysis was spot on.
Leon featuring on a song I sang?
If I had heard that first, I might have said no out of pressure.
“But it’s too late to back out now.”
“What? Why?”
I wasn’t going to say I wouldn’t do it at this point, but I wanted to hear the reason.
“I’ve already contacted the production company. Told them Seo Yoon-seul of RE-V would be singing it.”
“I, I see.”
Leon smiled and nodded.
“Want to record while you’re here?”
“Already?”
“Yeah. Let’s just do a temporary recording. Listen to the guide track once.”
His drive was like a bulldozer.
As Leon fiddled with his phone, the song began to play.
“You can read sheet music anyway, so you should be able to sing it after listening a few times. I need to hear how it feels to get a sense of it. I might end up making more revisions.”
I had come with a light heart, so I hadn’t expected to end up recording.
“Then, I’ll just text my manager.”
My manager was probably waiting, thinking it was just a meeting, so I felt I should at least send him a text.
“You don’t have to.”
“Huh?”
“He probably knows.”
Leon said with a shrug of his shoulders.
“I told you Sang-cheol used to be my road manager, right? He was with me for about a year. So he probably had a rough idea. That I’d pull something like this.”
From our earlier conversation, I could guess that this wasn’t the first or second time Leon had done something like this.
“Alright, alright. Let’s focus on the song now.”
And so, after listening to the song about twice, I was ushered straight into the recording booth.
This was truly a first for me.
‘Even during RED CUBE, things moved quickly, but they gave us a few days to practice before recording.’
“Relax and sing comfortably. I’ll just sing it from start to finish.”
He told me to relax and sing, but that wasn’t something I could just will myself to do.
‘Still, this isn’t the real recording.’
I shook my body slightly to loosen up.
“Ah. Ah.”
I lightly cleared my throat.
“Okay, I’m starting.”
* * *
The recording finally ended after about two hours.
Now I understood why Leon had a reputation for being sensitive during recordings.
Even though he had told me to do it comfortably since it wasn’t the main recording, sharp feedback came back every time I finished the song.
He was not the same person who had been laughing and talking just a moment ago.
“Can you make that part resonate a little more?”
As I jotted down Leon’s requests on the sheet music one by one, there was soon no empty space left.
Still, he wasn’t emotionally sensitive, so it was manageable.
“I didn’t mean for this to happen, but I got fired up again without realizing. You can come out now.”
“Okay.”
When I came out of the recording booth, Leon gave my back a light pat.
It seemed to be a gesture of ‘good work.’
“You worked hard. You understood and accepted whatever I asked for, so I kept getting greedier. How about we work on one of my album tracks together later?”
“Really?”
It felt good, as if I had been acknowledged for my skills.
“Yeah. I think our voices blend pretty well, too.”
Leon kept glancing at the equipment, as if he was eager to get to work.
It seemed best to get out of his way.
“Well then, I’ll be on my way. I think I’ve made my manager wait for too long.”
“Oh? You will?”
As expected, Leon’s face lit up.
‘It’s not like I have anything else to do here anyway.’
“Then I’ll get going.”
“Okay. You must be tired, so get some good rest. Thanks for the plant. Get home safe. I’ll call you when the song is out.”
“Okay.”