Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: After First Album Activities End, Second Album Prep Begins (2)
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Once the song ended, applause filled the practice room.
"Jae, seriously. You did amazing. Teacher was shocked."
"Thank you. Was it okay?"
"Okay? It was way more than okay! Your emotional expression has improved a ton, especially that high note technique. You nailed it. Jae, like I always said, the key for you is not getting tense. What did I say your main issue was?"
"……I don't remember."
All things related to the real Ha Jae, I always covered with memory loss.
If I hadn't woken up in the hospital that first time, who knows what would've happened.
Anyway, amnesia was definitely a convenient excuse.
"Oh, right, yeah. That's it. Your biggest problem was tensing up so much that your body stiffened up. That's why your singing felt rigid overall, and why you'd lose power going into high notes or the latter half of songs—that's what I pointed out a lot. But today, that's completely fixed. You did so well."
"Thank you."
I bowed my head with a smile under her barrage of praise.
But Ms. Liz didn't seem ready to stop there.
"Seriously…… you did so well, it's beyond words. Hear that?"
"What?"
"Teacher's heartbeat."
"……"
"My heart's pounding like crazy. I've been a trainer for almost 15 years, and I've never seen growth like this in such a short time."
Actually, teacher, it's not growth—it's just returning to my original level.
Not that I could say it myself, but since I originally could sing……
I just smiled instead.
[Immense Narcissism! Passion +10%]
Yeah, sure. Thanks.
I ignored the system chiming in with its usual nonsense, as always.
"Did you maybe forget how to get tense when you lost your memory? That's the only way to explain this growth rate."
"I don't really remember my old self that well…… so I'm not sure."
"Anyway, you did great."
"Thank you."
Praise makes even whales dance.
My mouth corners started twitching upward.
No, can't get too smug. I'm still far from perfect.
But…… objectively, I did well. Can't I be a little pleased?
Just as I started feeling a bit cocky, Ms. Liz's feedback kicked in perfectly timed.
"Still, Jae, no getting complacent. You've improved a lot compared to before, sure, but shouldn't we aim higher? With your potential, I think you can do way better, in my opinion. Your tone is just that good."
"Ah."
She grabbed a black board marker and started writing on the whiteboard on the wall as she explained.
"Let's list the areas for improvement. First off, like I said, you're not the type with raw power in your voice, like Eun-young. It's not an issue with technique—it's just your natural tone. So that's unavoidable. Hmm…… metaphorically, Eun-young's like a sturdy axe, and you're a soft sword? Yeah. Sing to match that, and it's perfect. But right now, it feels like you're singing like Eun-young? That's the vibe I got. Hard to explain exactly. Like someone holding a sword fighting exactly like someone with an axe? Get what I mean?"
"Yeah, kinda."
Sturdy axe versus soft sword.
I got the gist of the metaphor.
Go Eun-young's voice type and Ha Jae's were totally different.
"Of course, you're way better than before. But if you refine it more to fit your voice tone's style, you could sing even cooler songs."
This was something I hadn't considered.
After my vocal skill leveled up, I felt like I'd regained my original style and ability, so I was pleased…… but this meant it didn't quite match Ha Jae's voice.
'Not that it doesn't make sense.'
Come to think of it, I'd been singing in a style similar to Go Eun-young's all this time.
Even during TL training, I focused on belting highs, solid bass, and projection techniques.
So unconsciously, I'd stuck to my original style.
But the weapon I had to wield now was this voice.
Ha Jae's signature soft falsetto.
So I needed to sing in a way that made the most of it.
'Ms. Liz hit on something crucial.'
She really was a skilled trainer.
Picking up the key points from one listen and conveying them right away.
I was impressed by her guidance once more.
"To do that, from now on, be more delicate and sharp. Put way more effort into emotional expression than now. Control even the tiniest tremors in your voice. Sometimes pour on the power like a storm, sometimes crack like a wail, sometimes whisper right in the ear. You know what I mean? Everyone else needs to do this too, of course. But Jae, especially you—focus extra hard on that in practice. Then you can hook people from the first line with your vocals."
"Sounds tough."
"Yeah, that's the hardest part, honestly……. Only way is to listen a ton and sing a ton. Teacher will help as much as I can."
Still a long way to go.
But I didn't feel bad.
Knowing there was room to improve in singing above all else. Knowing there was more to do.
That would be my driving force.
I bowed to Ms. Liz, who was circling "Delicate, Emotional Expression" on the board over and over.
"Thank you. I'll work harder."
"Good. And Jae, listen to a lot of Linda Ross from now on. It'll help."
"Linda Ross?"
"Yeah. Especially her fourth album tracks. She switched up her style big time challenging R&B then, and it suits you perfectly."
"Got it. Thank you."
Linda Ross was an all-time legend among female singers in America.
Her insane range climbing to impossible heights, versatile styles per genre, and stellar showmanship had made her massively famous.
A legendary singer hailed as reaching god-tier in vocals.
'I should check it out.'
I knew her hits, but never dived into full albums.
I thanked Ms. Liz once more and headed back where the members were doing individual practice.
Teddy went out next for his turn, and the others talked to me.
"Jae, your singing improved so much. Blew me away."
"Hey, Ha Jae…… hyung. How'd your highs suddenly get so clear? Mine won't no matter how much technique practice I do."
"Jae, let's frisk you. Did you get a singing pouch from some old sage or what?"
"Wow, Tae-hee hyung. You're such an old fogey."
"What, punk?"
"But Jae hyung, your technique really improved. Highs are way more solid than before. How'd you do it? That doesn't happen overnight."
I gave a simple answer to Kim Kwang-myeong and Go Eun-young's questions.
"Just kept practicing and it clicked."
"You practiced hard even on days off following hyung around. Impressive, Jae. At this rate already, you'll grow even more!"
Then Park Su-rim, who'd been quietly watching me, smiled and patted my shoulder.
But something felt off. Her face was smiling, but it looked kinda twisted for some reason.
……Nah, probably imagining it.
At my answer, Kim Kwang-myeong pouted like he was dissatisfied and grumbled.
"I practiced and nothing. Lucky bastard……. I wanna sing well too."
"But Kwang-myeong, you're a rapper."
"Still, singing well would be cool."
"True that."
Listening to them, I sat on the floor for a bit and picked up my phone.
Time to check out that Linda Ross song Ms. Liz mentioned.
On the portal site I opened to search.
'Hm?'
Then, one article in the center of the portal caught my eye.
I clicked it like I was mesmerized by the headline.
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[Delegate] Comet Rookie 'S-T' Makes a Splendid Leap…… A Different Kind of New Idol
(Reporter Ki Joo-yeol) In today's Korean music scene, where idol groups pour out like bamboo shoots after rain only to vanish in a flash, one group has burst onto the scene shouting 'We're something different.' It's TL Entertainment's five-member boy group, 'S-T.'
From first-gen idols to now, TL Entertainment—longtime idol powerhouse producing stellar acts—unveils their first group in four years, 'S-T.' True to the name 'Stylish-Talented,' members earn rave reviews for both charm and skill……
(omitted) ……Netizens encountering rookie group 'S-T' are cheering that the five members are the future leaders of entertainment. Meanwhile, S-T continues promotions for debut track.
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As expected, S-T took off with solid popularity from debut.
No, maybe even more attention than I remembered.
The outlet 'Delegate' running this piece was pretty telling too.
Delegate, named after the English word for 'delegate,' was Korea's top tabloid.
Famous for snapping up money-making scoops faster than anyone.
Especially celeb scandals—they reported quicker than almost anyone, unmatched in speed.
'Even Delegate running puff pieces like this……'
Meant S-T's success was pretty much locked in.
Left a bitter taste.
'Don't get rattled.'
I shook my head hard, closed the window, and searched Linda Ross's fourth album.
Track 1, topped the results.
I grabbed nearby earbuds, plugged them in, and hit play.
Classic R&B piano melody flowed, followed by Linda Ross's beautiful tone in my ears.
- I don't care if you're mad or strange
As you can reach me in this cruel night
I don't care if you hurt me so bad
As you can reach me in this cruel night
Her emotional delivery, freely mixing head and chest voice in a soft mix, tugged at my heart.
Sweetly whispering love like a lovesick fool, then sharpening like resentment toward a lover, then languid like a merciful god, then desperate pleading……
'This is the feel they're after.'
Not especially high notes, but definitely a song that moved people.
I listened to the other album tracks next.
Aside from the title, most focused on delicate emotional expression like track 1.
'Now I know exactly which direction to practice.'
Gotta listen a lot, sing along a lot, digest it my way, and express it.
Start practicing Linda Ross songs first.
Then, ding-ding-ding! A unique alert sound pierced through the earbuds straight to my brain.
A notification I'd never heard before. What? I tilted my head and read the popup.