Chapter 44
Chapter 44
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 044
Chapter Title: Trailer OST Production
-----------------------------------------------------------------
2013 passed by, and the new year of 2014 dawned.
Unlike the tumultuous end of last year, this year's end went by more quietly than expected.
Last year's end was hectic with the Girls Memorial year-end offline collab, special video shoots, and all that,
but this year, we just focused on development work and let it slip away....
The most memorable event from this year-end was... the Girls Memorial Christmas special video shoot.
I had originally planned to join the shoot this year too,
but out of nowhere, Myunghoon Brother announced he wanted to participate.
It was about time to let the Girls Memorial fandom know the director had changed, so I gladly gave him the green light....
On the actual day of the shoot, though, I slipped a calming pill into the hand of Myunghoon, who was visibly tense.
He still couldn't shake off the nerves even as he headed out for the flight—it was a little pitiful, but whatever....
It was his chosen path, after all.
Apart from these minor hiccups, we managed to close out the year without any major issues.
So, at this point, as the old year faded and the new one began, what was I up to...?
I'd answered Chaeyoung Senior's summons and visited the recording studio.
"What's up?"
"I finished it. The new track for this trailer."
"Already? Didn't we just start on the trailer storyboard last month?"
Chaeyoung nodded at my question.
A quick glance around showed empty beer cans and sheet music scattered everywhere.
'No wonder she finished the track in a month....'
"Can I hear it now?"
"Hold on."
Chaeyoung was about to play the song from the computer hooked up to the massive speakers when she paused and looked at me.
"You closed both studio doors, right?"
"Huh? One sec."
I didn't remember, so I checked just in case—the outer door wasn't fully shut.
'It was open.'
I closed it all the way and came back in to see Chaeyoung Senior giving me that "just as I thought" look.
"Seriously, you're still as scatterbrained as ever."
I felt a bit wronged by her reaction, but I couldn't really argue.
I had forgotten, after all.
"Alright, here we go?"
As the song kicked off, sound from the huge speakers flanking the computer began filling the studio.
It opened with a deliberately subdued dubstep beat.
The quiet dubstep built in pitch, cresting to a peak,
then a bass scrape—like heralding the story's start—burst forth, driving the track forward with the drums.
The bass and drums carried it at a steady BPM until the highlight, where an electric guitar joined in.
Those three instruments—bass, drums, electric guitar—collided in overwhelming explosive power.
It felt just like visualizing the trailer's theme of riot and upheaval.
After the overpowering highlight faded into a lull, the electric guitar that had led it dropped out, leaving the bass and drums to take charge again.
Meanwhile, an avant-garde backing track underneath ramped up the BPM, pushing toward the final climax.
In that ultimate highlight, the electric guitar rejoined.
It ended with piano weaving in for harmony, unleashing one last burst of power.
"...So, what do you think?"
After hearing the whole thing, one thought stood out.
A perfect song embodying the trailer's concept.
Avant-garde through and through.
"It's great."
"Don't just brush it off like that. Anything you want to tweak? Be honest."
I pondered her question for a moment before speaking up.
"The intro dubstep part."
"Yeah, go on."
"What if we amp up the drop a bit more? And dial the volume down just a touch."
"Hm... Hang on."
Chaeyoung took my suggestion and fiddled with the synthesizer on the monitor.
"I'll play it again—tell me right away if it's off."
No sooner had she said it than the intro restarted.
The heightened drop definitely ramped up the tension—it felt way better.
"Perfect."
"Any other spots?"
"Well...."
We went back and forth with feedback on a few more sticking points, and after about three rounds of approval, the OST was finalized.
"...That wrapped up faster than I thought."
"Yeah. I figured it'd take a full day just for sign-off."
"That's 'cause you nailed the track, Senior. What sparked the inspiration?"
Honestly, I never imagined she'd deliver this level of quality in just a month.
I'd known Chaeyoung Senior was a genius ever since she became the youngest music director at a major broadcast station, but...
Seeing this side of her after only witnessing her usual work-and-alcohol-soaked self hit different.
"Once I saw the trailer storyboard and script, the melody just played in my head."
"...For real?"
"Yeah. If only all my regular gigs came that easy, I'd have no complaints."
Chaeyoung shook her head wistfully and headed to the fridge.
"Wanna celebrate with one?"
If I said yes, it'd definitely be beer, not a soda.
I couldn't believe she was offering beer in broad daylight.
"We're on the clock."
"I'm having one."
She cracked open a beer and saved the audio file, ignoring my dumbfounded look.
"So, when's the trailer video slated to finish?"
"The basic storyboard's with the art team now, so probably by summer once production kicks off."
We chatted about this and that as the file slowly saved.
Being a three-minute track, it was taking a bit.
As our conversation lulled, Chaeyoung started humming the new song under her breath.
Hearing her hum made something itch in the back of my mind.
Like I was missing something...
It hovered just out of reach, and as I stared blankly at her,
it hit me.
What I'd overlooked.
"Chaeyoung Senior."
"Hm? What?"
I turned to her, and she looked up with a startled expression.
"This track we made."
"Yeah."
"What if we add lyrics to the OST?"
"Lyrics?"
"Yeah. Drums and bass fill it out, but it's still kinda plain right up to the highlight."
"True...."
"A singer could beef that up and make it perfect. What do you think?"
"Hm... Give me a sec."
She seemed caught off guard by my sudden pitch but nodded after a moment's thought.
"...Could work. But who's doing the lyrics?"
"I'll give it a shot."
"You?"
"Listening to this OST sparked some ideas."
"Lyrics are tough without experience."
"I wrote some back in university club days, so it'll be fine. If it sucks, you can help polish it then. Deal?"
She mulled it over briefly before nodding.
"Sure, why not."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Balancing company work with lyric-writing wasn't easy, but I managed to finish them in ten days.
Thank goodness for that club activity where I wrote lyrics for doujin tracks with a senior...
Without that experience, I wouldn't have even tried.
Chaeyoung scrutinized the lyrics I'd handed her.
Her expression was dead serious, though the periodic beer chugs kinda killed the vibe.
"How are the lyrics?"
"Better than I expected. A few lines and tweaks needed, but that's nitpicky stuff only pros sweat."
"Cool. So then...."
"I'll fix 'em. Won't take long anyway. More importantly, got a singer lined up?"
"That's actually what I wanted to ask. Mind doing me a favor?"
"Favor? Shoot."
"There's a singer I want, and I need you to make an intro."
"Make an intro? Who're you thinking?"
"Ishida Kei."
"What?"
She stared at me in disbelief at the unexpected name.
Ishida Kei.
Currently hailed as the top vocalist among Japan's skilled male singers.
Normally, he'd be way out of our league for a game OST, but...
I knew from pre-regression memories that he'd collaborated privately with Chaeyoung several times years ago, so it was worth asking.
The track didn't really need his vocal power, but he was still the best pick.
Plus, his name value would boost promo.
"...You want me to connect you with Ishida Kei? Are you nuts?"
"You can make it happen, Senior."
"He's not even Korean. Be real."
As expected, she was playing coy.
Time to play my hand.
"Dawn's Flower Garden, 2 Liters of Tears."
"Huh?"
"Eden's Girl, Galilee... Want more?"
I rattled off titles of dramas and films he'd done undisclosed collabs on with her, and she visibly flinched.
"H-Hey... How do you know all that...!"
"It's not that hard to dig up if you try. You didn't exactly hide it on purpose."
"......"
"I'll keep it quiet—no media buzz, no extra gigs for you. Promise?"
With my confident tone, she ruffled her ash-blue hair roughly and sighed.
"I know him, sure, but no dice. We're not that close that I can just demand it...."
She refused with a firm look.
But after nearly ten years knowing her, I could tell.
That wasn't anger—it was her flustered face.
She got cold and detached when actually mad.
"I'm not expecting a yes. How about this instead."
"...What do you want?"
"Contact him and just float the collab idea. If he's in, great. If not, I'll drop it clean."
"...Why should I?"
"Do this for me, and I'll hook you up with something you always wanted."
"Something I wanted?"
I answered her question in a teasing drawl.
"That Balvenie 30-Year Rare Marriage sleeping on my shelf. The one you eye every time you visit. Yours if you help. Deal?"
"...You're giving that up? You said it was a gift and non-negotiable."
"Means I'm dead serious."
She shot me a dissatisfied glare,
looking torn, but I wasn't worried.
The bait was too tempting for her to flatly refuse.
A booze lover like her? No way.
Sure enough, she glanced at me sidelong, sighed, and spoke.
"If he says no, that's on you. Got it?"
"That's all I need."