God of Music
Chapter 7
“Of course, it is good as it is now, but let’s do it once more . Producer Oh, in my opinion, it would turn out better . ”
“If team leader says so…”
Producer Oh JiWan’s reaction was sour, but he didn’t seem to oppose it that much . It was because KangYoon never said he was bad or criticized him in any way . After Producer Oh JiWan agreed, KangYoon picked up the microphone .
“JooAh, can you do it once more?”
“Ok . ”
After JooAh’s permission came, KangYoon gave the sign straight away . This time, KangYoon interfered lightly .
“Producer, I think JooAh’s voice feels a little too big . When she pronounces ‘sute’, her pronunciation vibrates a little bit . I’d like you to edit this part . ”[1]
“Is that so? Shall I adjust the high-tone since that part has a high melody?”
“That’s your area of expertise, Producer Oh, so I will leave it to you . ”
Of course, KangYoon could do it himself, but he didn’t interfere with the details . Producers, at their heart, were people who do art . They were prideful people . It was not good to meddle in their affairs too much . KangYoon was someone who had 10 years of experience, so he knew this fact very well .
The recording proceeded with Producer Oh JiWan adjusting the tones . JooAh was absorbed in her singing with her eyes closed, and the people outside also wrote what they needed while appreciating her singing coming out of the speakers . Each of them did their own work, whether it was coming up with a concept or thinking up ways to advertise this .
‘Phew . Now the grey disappeared . ’
KangYoon was relieved at the scene with no grey light . When he saw the delicate white light growing stronger, KangYoon could finally sigh in relief .
“Huh, why did I skip this part when it could get so much better? Team Leader, it’s at least a hundred times better than it was previously . This, I have learned something from you today . ”
After the recording ended, Producer Oh JiWan took off his hat and scratched his head . Recordings always left some disappointments . However, days like today, when he was refreshingly satisfied, were rare . He was the one to record JooAh’s albums until now, but it was the first time something like this happened, so he smiled awkwardly . He thought he had the best grasp on JooAh’s voice… But today, he accepted defeat .
“No, I just gave a small push . It was Producer Oh who did the work . I have a great feeling about this song . Shall we rest a bit?”
“Shall we? Well then, rest up, everyone . ”
When Producer Oh JiWan declared it was resting time, the studio members who were controlling the various machines in their positions sang in delight, and the other staff left with a cheer .
.
.
.
“Would you like a cup of coffee?”
Chairman Won JinMoon offered KangYoon, who was looking at paperwork in the corner, a can of coffee .
“Thank you, Chairman . ”
“Everyone’s resting, but you are not letting go of work… May I?”
“Of course, please sit . ”
KangYoon covered the paperwork he was looking at when Chairman Won JinMoon sat down next to him .
“Do you know the rumor about you?”
“A rumor, sir?”
“Work-man . You’re known for carrying paperwork with you, whether it’s in the resting lounge or in the office, so people call you work-man . ”
“It’s certainly better than mymy . ”[2]
KangYoon laughed . It meant that he was working hard, so he didn’t mind it .
“Has it been four months since you came to this company?”
“It has been that long already, huh . I came in during the summer, so there’s not much left of this year . ”
“Yes . So when is the album coming out?”
“I am thinking December, around the second week . ”
“So there’s not even two months, even if we count this month . You must be busy . Isn’t it fine for you to release it next year? Is there a reason for you to release it within this year? I think you’re aiming for the Christmas season, but you will have to compete with the big singers of Japan . ”
Do you stand a chance against the big singers of Japan? – This was his meaning . However, KangYoon confidently replied:
“It’s alright . Instead, we will only see results if we release it then . ”
“Can I ask you for the reason?”
KangYoon hesitated a bit .
‘Like the chairman says, two big singers came out . The male idol group Eiden and the female idol group Hydrea . However, the two leaders of these groups get mixed up in a scandal, a big scandal where they get photographed in front of the hotel . So they ended up ruining the Christmas marketing and delayed their comeback stage too . The singers who prepared comebacks at a later time, while thinking that these two were going to have their comebacks, were all dumbfounded and made a comeback hurriedly, but Christmas ended up being blank . We are using this opportunity . ’
KangYoon’s strategy was like this . Of course, doing things like reporting the scandal himself as a noise marketing strategy was a no-go . That would negatively affect him in the long term . Making enemies was not a good choice when considering the future . Anyway, he couldn’t say he knew the future, and even if he did, wouldn’t he just be treated like a psycho?
“You’re not thinking of competing with groups like Eiden, and you’re not letting go of the fanbases of women in their 20s and 30s, right? Hmm . I don’t have anything to say since I gave you all the rights, but I want to listen to the reason in the director’s meeting . Can you do it?”
“I understand . ”
“I will expect good things . Right now, my expectations are very big . I mean it . ”
I am curious but I will hold back for now . Instead, I expect acceptable results – this was the hidden meaning behind Chairman Won JinMoon’s words . It was a pressure mixed with expectations . KangYoon answered straight away, knowing that fact . Chairman Won JinMoon seemed satisfied with KangYoon’s answer as he tapped KangYoon’s arm and stood up from the seat .
“The Chairman’s a chairman, alright . He gives me pressure this way . ”
KangYoon muttered to himself as he saw Chairman Won JinMoon’s disappearing back . Superiors were always uncomfortable to be with . He headed back to the studio for the recording .
JooAh’s recording for the album continued for a long time . The lights KangYoon saw were mostly white, but there were some grey lights from time to time . From problems with pronunciation to problems with the voice, the guitar, the microphone, etc… There was a variety of reasons for grey light to appear . Of course, when something trivial happened, Producer Oh would solve it himself while KangYoon advised from time to time, and the song was finished .
By the time another song was finished recording, it was already past midnight .
“Thank you for your hard work…”
JooAh, who came out of the booth with sweat all over her body, spoke with a feeble voice . Not only her, but everyone was exhausted .
“Thank you for your hard work, everyone . Let’s end it here today . ”
When KangYoon proclaimed, everyone sang in delight, and the studio became empty in no time .
“Thanks for your hard work… Phew . I can’t do a recording tomorrow…”
“You’ve worked hard . Is your throat bad?”
“No, it’s not that . I just spent too much energy… It’s the first time this happened…”
When KangYoon asked while passing her a bottle of water, JooAh drank with big gulps and replied .
“Let’s rest tomorrow and resume recording the day after . Producer Oh should rest too tomorrow and let’s resume working the day after . ”
“Can we do that?”
“For work like ours, efficiency is very important . Let’s rest up when we can and resume with vigor . ”
When he said that, Producer Oh cheered with a haggard face, packed his clothes, and ran straight out . Nowadays, the poor guy didn’t even return home once . This kind of rest was literally honey to him .
“Oppa, in this situation, aren’t you supposed to drive them more? Everybody does that normally . ”
“Doing that doesn’t help . Working while exhausted doesn’t bring out any efficiency, and people should rest to charge up their energy to work . They don’t do well by just working thoughtlessly . ”
“Wow, is it like that? You’re quite different to the people I worked with until now, I think?”
“What about me?”
“I am very comfortable . The other unnis and oppas also say that . Oh, that doesn’t mean we’re looking down on you, you understand, right?”[3]
The planners who directed albums until now were all workaholics who were crazy about working . However, KangYoon was different . Of course, he did a lot of work himself, but he didn’t urge the other staff to work . The staff all felt comfortable with their work so their efficiency increased . The KangYoon JooAh felt, was like that .
“To say it nicely, I’m good . JooAh, it’s late . Go home now . ”
“Ok, ok . Oppa, however this album turns out, let’s work together . This is not a joke . Ok?”
“Ok . Go home already . ”
“It’s for real . It’s a promise!!”
JooAh had a really good impression of KangYoon . There were a lot of people who praised her until now, but KangYoon was the first one to understand her so well and lead her . If it’s this person, she felt like he would give a satisfiable result, whether it was a success or a failure .
JooAh, who was waving at KangYoon, was dragged by the manager who came to pick her up and went to the dorm .
“I should leave now too . ”
It was very late . KangYoon hurried home .
***
A new morning came .
He needed to go to work quickly, but the time when he should leave was getting delayed .
“Oppa, I’m alright so go to work . ”
HeeYoon, who was undergoing dialysis while lying on the hospital bed, worried about her brother who couldn’t even go to work at the right time . However, KangYoon smiled at his sister while brushing her head .
“Today, they said to come to the hospital with a guardian . Oppa should of course come . ”
“But oppa’s very busy . You came back at dawn last night . ”
“Hey . ”
KangYoon brought his index finger to HeeYoon’s lips . It was an indication for HeeYoon to not speak anymore .
“Even if work is important, there is nothing as important as you, HeeYoon . You just need to get healthier, ok?”
“Ok, I’m sorry…”
“That again, I said to not say sorry, right?”
“Ok, I won’t . ”
If one underwent dialysis, then s/he couldn’t move for 4~5 hours . Their face would get paler too . KangYoon’s heart would tear whenever he saw his already-pale sister in pain . However, he didn’t show his pain on the outside . Since, should HeeYoon see his pain, she would shed tears…
“Oppa, I’m sleepy . I will sleep for a bit . ”
When HeeYoon fell asleep, KangYoon went to see the doctor .
“The numbers are stabilizing a lot . You’re keeping the dialysis appointment date, and above all, I think the lack of stress has contributed a lot . ”
KangYoon carefully went over the graphs that the doctor showed him . It was about his sister . Although he had no medical knowledge, he could judge whether something was good or bad . He cared for HeeYoon that much .
“Please let her eat the medicine regularly, and keep the dialysis appointment dates…”
The doctor’s words weren’t that different from usual . His point was to keep eating the medicine regularly and keep the appointments . However, what was different from usual was the hope that HeeYoon was getting better . KangYoon calmed down with those words alone .
‘Don’t worry . This time, I won’t let you pass the days in vain . ’
Looking at his sister’s white face, KangYoon resolved, and resolved again .
To protect HeeYoon whatever the cost .