Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 807



Only Noblemtl

Episode 807

Although Ayumu was around the same age as Seiko, she seemed much more lively and youthful than Seiko. This was due to her unique styling and clothing.

To use an analogy, let’s say that Seiko’s makeup and hair styling are always maintained during the ‘Apple Crush’ stage.

He is the person who took the elegance out of Seiko and breathed life into her.

“Hello, we are Samurai Girls!”

As the members of Samurai Girls greeted the audience, there was a round of applause. The members sat down on the three chairs placed in front of Ayumu amid the applause.

Ayumu started to proceed skillfully.

“They’re a very famous team these days, right? It’s an honor to welcome the Samurai Girls. Let’s shake hands!”

“Ah, handshake!”

The members who came face to face with their senior shook hands with Ayumu in a friendly manner.

Seongpil sat in the middle of the audience and watched the members’ talk anxiously. No, he was more nervous about the audience’s reactions than the members’.

‘Not at all… …no response.’

The age range is a bit higher than expected, but everyone probably knows about Samurai Girls. They appeared in the recent popular Amaiball commercial.

If you watch television, you can’t help but recognize this face, and you’ll probably also recognize ‘Sweet’, even if it’s only a highlight.

‘What I’m worried about is the reaction during the live performance.’

I wonder how they will react to the Kawaii Future Base.

‘Sweet’ isn’t completely immersed in the genre, but it deviates from the popular music success formula to some extent.

It is not the golden structure of popular music established by the Beatles: ‘1st verse – chorus – 2nd verse – chorus – bridge – chorus’.

Quite uniquely, ‘Sweet’ uses the structure ‘Verse 1 – Verse 2 (different format from Verse 1) – Chorus – Chorus’.

Didn’t Rika, Jung Ji-eum, and Kang Dong-hyun say that they were rescued from the pit of the minor music scene?

‘The audience will only have seen the highlights from the commercials. It’s ambiguous what part they should respond to. And the structure isn’t familiar either… ‘

On a festival stage where many singers appear, the audience can cheer even if they don’t know the singer.

This is because most songs, no, almost all songs, follow the structure of ‘Verse 1 – Chorus – Verse 2 – Chorus – Bridge – Chorus’.

I can see roughly where verses 1 and 2 end, and I know that when they end, the highlight will come up. Then, I can send my reaction.

But ‘sweet’ is clearly heterogeneous.

People won’t catch the ‘this is it!’ part of ‘Sweet’.

‘Even if it’s captured, there’s no chance it will respond appropriately to the genre.’

Will you really raise one hand and shake your arm to express your inner groove?

If Noah and Erica elicit a response, everyone will watch and remain silent. If even a few people follow suit, it would be considered a success.

‘so…….’

The changed plan is better.

They give up on going on stage and trying to get a response. They just focus on ‘Sweet’ itself and do DJing and vocal performances.

‘The charm of electronic music is the rapport and harmony with the audience.’

It is music that was originally intended to make the listener dance. It is different from music that is simply meant to be heard.

But since we are not in a situation where we can use that advantage, we have to rely on the performance of the performer.

‘Only then can I compete with Tomoe-san, who made music to be heard.’

A dancer standing on ice.

A skater standing on the floor.

A DJ who is hard to expect a good response from.

A desperate situation.

‘For now, I’ll just focus on the performance. I’ll leave the rest to Erika and Noah’s wit, and if possible, I’ll try to induce a response.’

It’s a desperate situation, but there are at least some countermeasures.

“Wow, this is the first time someone has prepared like this for my broadcast.”

At that time, Ayumu took interest in Rika’s equipment.

“Is this it? The one DJs use?”

“Yes! I am a DJ!”

“What is the EDM stage manners? Other musicians sometimes lead people to applaud.”

Seongpil’s eyes lit up.

It was the same for Rica too.

“When it’s the highlight, you can raise your arms and scream as loud as you want! I’ll practice now! One, two, three!”

Rika raised both arms.

No one heard.

A few people hesitated, but that was it.

silence.

‘Ugh… … .’

It was a sight that made Seongpil’s face turn red.

I remember when I went to see a pansori performance at school, the performer asked the students to add some cheering. The audience was silent because no one knew when to do it.

I remember the performer’s expression becoming as hard as stone after the show ended.

There was something like this at an idol concert. The idol asked the fans to stand up and dance excitedly when the music started. The fans couldn’t stand up because of the staff.

That idol had a pretty wounded face.

It’s the same situation as before. It’s a situation where the other person is silent when you ask for their help.

I hope Rika doesn’t get hurt… … .

“Let’s do it again! One, two, three!”

Rika raised her arms again as if nothing had happened.

This time there was a little reaction.

“Ah! That’s it!”

Rika pointed to the person at the very front. The camera installed in the direction of the audience seats focused on that person, and his face appeared on the screen.

The screams of a young woman spread throughout the city. It was probably the people.

It was Jang Ha-yang on the screen. She looked at the camera with dazed eyes and then suddenly blew a hand kiss.

Rika swallowed the kiss and asked the audience again.

“Let’s do it again! One, two, three!”

Jang Ha-yang raised one arm and shouted.

“Yahoo!”

This time, the audience didn’t shout, but they all hesitated and raised their arms.

“Everyone stop right there! Just wave your arms back and forth! There are no rules or beats! Just shake to your own rhythm!”

In an instant, Rika’s audience training began.

Ayumu burst into laughter at the unprecedented situation. The filming staff also smiled broadly.

The 20-somethings followed Rika’s instructions and set the mood, but the older people looked very embarrassed.

But it wasn’t like he disliked it. He just felt unfamiliar with it.

Seongpil waved his arms like crazy, not caring even though the person sitting next to him, who was similar in age, was looking at him strangely.

‘Ayumu-san is the best!’

I naturally had Rika explain the genre-specific stage manners.

It seems that the situation where the audience just sits there like they are watching a classical music concert despite it being an electronic stage has passed. I don’t even want to imagine how miserable it would be if that scene was broadcast.

“Then I’ll ask you to come on stage.”

After talking for about 20 minutes, Ayumu got up from her chair.

A staff member ran out and picked up the chair she had been sitting on and disappeared like the wind.

The Samurai Girls checked their equipment. Erika and Noah had hand microphones, and Rika had the DJ table.

On the table facing Rika are a mixer and a launch pad for controlling the sound. On the left is a two-tiered synthesizer keyboard, and on the right is a small table with a laptop and mouse.

At first glance, it seems that Rika can handle more than three instruments at once.

Seongpil’s heart was filled with emotion when he saw the sight.

“Please listen!”

Rika shouted out her signature line, “Ayumu’s Jukebox.” That meant the stage was about to begin.

“It’s ‘Sweet’!”

* * *

The stage composition of ‘Sweet’ has changed.

But it’s ambiguous to say that it’s changed. All it did was change it from running around the stage all the way to staying still.

Noah thought it would be better to change. The one who would have a hard time would be Rika, who had to do the arrangement.

no.

‘It’s not that it’s better… … .’

I’m glad it changed this way. I’m really glad that I can just stand still and sing.

Noah has now entered his fifth year as an idol. The days when his vision would go blank and he would just sing and dance are over. Now, he can make eye contact with the audience and has been able to remember their faces for quite some time.

So I could see it.

‘What kind of reaction… … .’

In your 30s, when wrinkles start to appear on your face, and in your 40s, when the passage of time becomes evident.

The audience, which comprised 80% of the audience, remained motionless while listening to electronic music. It was not difficult to understand what their expressionless faces meant.

‘I don’t know how to react.’

First of all, those who appear on ‘Ayumu’s Jukebox’ are singers or bands. They are people who expect nothing more from the audience than for them to listen to their songs.

This is Rika’s first time appearing as a DJ. And DJs aren’t often featured in the Japanese mass media music industry either.

They don’t know how to enjoy electronic music or EDM.

‘thank god.’

Noah sang the song and thought again.

‘I’m really glad that the stage setup has changed.’

Are you saying that you have to run around like an excited puppy in front of a wall of expressionless audience members and elicit a response?

It’s not easy for Noah, who has been an idol for 5 years. Hopefully he doesn’t get his heart broken.

Although Rika asked for cheers before the start of the stage, it is uncertain whether they will properly cheer once they enter the highlight section.

How can we convince adults who look like, ‘Hmm, really? This is the kind of music that kids listen to these days? I get it.’ to understand this music?

It’s a bit new, but… … .

‘The Girls’ League was amazing.’

The tragedy that occurred at the HPT Music Awards two years ago is still famous today.

When the Girls’ League took the stage for the first part finale in place of Caius, the audience completely silenced their cheers as if they had planned it, no, they had planned it in advance.

The Girls’ League performed in front of a wall of silence.

Even Noah, who was a bystander at the time, felt his hair stand on end. It was impossible to even fathom the feelings of the Girls’ League on stage.

‘But now I understand a little bit.’

It’s almost torture to present heartfelt music to an audience that shows no sign of being persuaded.

The highlight of ‘Sweet’ is gradually approaching.

After verses 1 and 2, ‘Sweet’ enters a typical build-up.

The numerous instruments that filled the space disappeared and fast and heavy percussion increased the BPM. In between, Erica whispered in a way that was difficult for her to understand.

The lyrics are in English.

It’s a fast rap to the point that he didn’t even use English when recording, but wrote down the pronunciation he heard in English separately and recorded it.

The tempo gets faster and Erica’s rap matches it.

And then right after that, all the instruments disappear.

‘As anyone familiar with electronics would expect… … .’

highlights.

The moment of the drop.

Rika raises her left hand and flashily presses the launch pad with her right hand.

The sound that had been condensed like a spring exploded, scattering fireworks of sound in all directions.

Noah grounds the vocals with low chords, while Erica completes the vocals with a sharp falsetto.

The highlight of ‘Sweet’ is the perfect harmony of music and song.

If this were an EDM festival, there would be thousands of people cheering and screaming at the top of their lungs.

Waving your arms would give strength and energy to the performers on stage.

Music and humans will become one and blend together.

‘Ah, as expected… … .’

Only a very small number of people responded to Rika’s hand sign.

A few young people waving their arms boldly.

Seongpil in the middle, waving his arms like crazy, Jang Ha-yang in the front.

And surprisingly, Yoon Sang-yeol thoroughly observes electronic audience manners and is just serious about music. Choi Yu-hyeon is fluttering his hands timidly, looking embarrassed next to him.

As expected.

‘It ended up like this… … .’

Noah glanced at Rika next to him as he matched the chords of the highlight.

Rika does her best as a DJ.

He clearly studied gestures by watching videos of countless DJs, and played the synthesizer melodically with his remaining hand, bringing out a flavor that wasn’t in the original song.

Even for Noah, who is unfamiliar with this genre, Rika’s live DJing performance surpasses the level of the original song ‘Sweet’.

Still, there is no response.

Most people turn their heads hesitantly to check the reactions of those around them, and soon they look straight ahead with a ‘ahem’ to save face.

‘I can’t help it.’

A pianist playing Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2 in a club is unlikely to receive several standing ovations.

In the first place, do clubbers even know the manners of maintaining a standing ovation until the performers bow several times after the show ends?

Even if they were notified in advance, would they continue to stand and applaud for several minutes or even dozens of minutes?

‘I won’t do it.’

It can’t be helped.

It is a difference depending on the characteristics of the stage.

okay.

‘I can’t help it… … .’

“Question question! Doctor Prescription! This is the answer!”

Erica began rapping and sprinting across the stage. She swept the audience in one go, jumping on one leg and almost running.

“Tell me you like me!”

As she crossed the audience, she waved her arms up and down as if to tell them to stand up.

“I hate bitter tastes! I won’t force myself to eat them!”

I kept repeating it for a few seconds while the highlight stayed on.

‘what…….’

Noah has a special talent.

It was a special skill I learned to meet Yoon Sang-yeol’s standards.

It was the ability to overlap the two pictures, like a game of spot the difference, to match them to the original.

She can layer her own performance with the choreographer’s original to spot any flaws.

And to Noah, Erica’s performance looked very similar to something.

‘The performance of the EDM singer that Rika gave as an example.’

If the singer’s performance is the idea of ​​the first existence, then Erica is the second copy of the idea.

Sunlight.

A tree that shines brightly in the light.

A photo of that tree.

A drawing of that photo.

A text describing the picture.

The first existence deteriorates into the second existence, then into the third existence. Erica is the deteriorated second existence.

But it approaches.

The second being approaches Idea very quickly and soon surpasses the original. With a stage that is colored by Erica, it surpasses the original with an unreasonable momentum.

So Erica acts as if she is a performer standing in front of tens of thousands of people. No, there are already tens of thousands of people in front of her.

That’s what Erica demands.

‘wake up.’

The first condition for an artist is to believe in himself. He cannot convince the public with art that cannot even convince himself.

Erica believed in the performance she was putting on.

“Only the sweetness that melts on your tongue. Only.”

That belief becomes a persuasive force that says, ‘This is what must be done’ and spreads to the audience.

“Just this sweetness.”

Those in the front row began to respond.

* * *

The first highlight of ‘Sweet’ exploded.

‘Ah, as expected.’

Rika groaned inwardly.

‘It’s completely different from our concert.’

The people stood up and responded enthusiastically without even knowing what was going on.

Even at the first fan meeting, in that small space with not many people, he accommodated me.

Is this the kind of situation where people say to fight while looking at the person?

Of course, of course.

‘I knew it.’

I was preparing myself mentally.

I kind of expected it would turn out like this.

Then, in the second highlight that follows right after, he gives up on responding and focuses on DJing.

‘I won’t do it.’

It’s obvious what you guys are thinking.

‘These days, music is flashy and sophisticated. It feels like they’ve poured a lot of money into it. Unlike the past, the technology has advanced so much that the sound is clean and the sessions and techniques are top-notch. But isn’t there something lacking?’

I guess that’s why he’s so upset.

And they keep talking about things like ‘the authenticity of music has disappeared’ and ’empty, unconvincing music’, comparing it to the music they were familiar with in their teens and twenties.

‘Even if there is no response, shouldn’t a musician be able to clearly convey his or her music from beginning to end?’

Just give me some adjustments!

This is the kind of music!

This is how you enjoy it!

Don’t just enjoy the music by shaking your body and flailing your arms while looking around!

Of course, I understand.

It would be difficult to embody unfamiliar manners in a short period of time.

‘So I’ll help you.’

Rika inserted a build-up during the highlight. A loud, resonating beat was inserted into the highlight that spread out clearly and brilliantly.

Thud, thud, thud, thud.

It’s getting faster and faster.

It’s a distinctly heterogeneous sound, a sound that portends something.

‘React.’

Be sure to react next time.

You’re kindly informing me.

You can respond next time.

Rika’s index finger pressing the launch pad becomes faster and faster. The acceleration of the obvious beat is the most primitive technique foreshadowing a drop.

It is also a method of heightening excitement that has been used throughout human music history.

‘Even if you don’t know electronics, you can understand it.’

In the past, Rika studied music from several composers before producing the Kawaii Bass song ‘Love Mirror’.

Jeong Ji-eum, Jeong Ho-hwan, and Elric.

Elric had asked us to think about the ‘origin of music’, showing us the music of primitive tribes that anthropologists had painstakingly filmed and preserved.

‘I think songs and music were created to convey one’s feelings to someone.’

Then Elric told her to put imagery into the music. Rika accepted the teaching with joy, but there was something else that caught her attention.

One thing that was not missing from the music of the primitive tribesmen he showed was the percussion instrument.

The rhythm of percussion instruments.

It was a very primitive rhythm, but it was not much different from the modern one.

The first instrument that made humans dance… … Rika was fascinated by it.

‘It will definitely reach you.’

Rika made the percussion sound faster. Her index finger pressing the launchpad became faster and faster, reaching a BPM of over 160.

‘Make it reachable.’

I will make you all stand up and enjoy this music.

Even if I am embarrassed by not getting a response again, even if I am compared to Tomoe as a result, even if I lose my reputation as a DJ (as an idol) in that disappointment.

‘Must do.’

I didn’t just do what I was told.

I didn’t just take the easy way out.

The path Rika has chosen has always been a difficult one.

By collecting the pieces of aura discarded by others and replicating them over and over again, you finally arrive at your own aura.

The road I took to get to this point, to not doubt myself, was by no means a smooth one.

‘Even if no one knows about my efforts.’

Even if no one recognizes the results she achieves through her efforts, Rika pursues that path.

This is the path that Joara showed me.

A piece of aura copied from her.

‘Even if it’s a detail that only I know, I never miss it, and I never do it carelessly.’

Because God is in the details. Rika challenges those details, those difficulties, those hardships.

Because walking a set path is just a journey, not an adventure.

What you get from traveling is fixed, and what you get from adventure is always more than the trip.

A few seconds after Rika started to speed up the tempo, the audience finally started to notice something strange. They felt a sense of discomfort as it was different from the musical scenery they were familiar with.

That’s it, Rika exclaimed with joy.

‘If it succeeds.’

If I raise you all up.

‘I didn’t just successfully complete the stage.’

It becomes an ‘incident’ and a ‘miracle’.

What Rika will gain at the end of this adventure is not a career as a musician who has completed the stage professionally, but fame as an adventurer who has completed the adventure.

But if it fails… … .

‘It’s okay to fail!’

It must be embarrassing.

That’s good too.

Being embarrassed means that there is still a part of the egg that surrounds you that needs to be broken.

When all those eggs are broken and shattered, when there is no shame in realizing one’s own art, then it can be done.

‘The artist that Director Park wants.’

And I will be.

‘The artist.’

A person who is not ashamed of his own world must become one.

As the beat reached its climax, Rika’s pupils dilated.

‘React.’

This fast tempo was a signal to the audience.

at the same time.

‘React.’

It was also a signal to Erica.

Sungpil had asked Noah and Erica to show their wit. If the audience responded, they could perform on stage as originally planned.

Now is the moment.

Right on this stage, at this moment, Rika was demanding advice from Erika.

‘React.’

no.

‘It will react.’

The reason why pop music is loved by all ages is because it adheres to one golden rule. That golden rule is also the reason why older people are immersed in the music and genres they listened to in their teens and twenties.

That’s right, repetition.

Popular music has long used the fact that psychology has revealed that humans basically overvalue what they know.

Rica also expects such human nature.

‘I have no choice but to react.’

Because the second highlight of ‘Sweet’ is.

‘Because it’s a part used in the Amaiball advertisement.’

It is currently one of the hottest melody lines in Japan.

‘Erika, you are a great entertainer.’

So you will definitely know.

That this part is the last chance to turn the mood around.

That you are sending a signal.

You need to know.

‘now.’

drop.

Drop it.

Rika put her hand on the synthesizer, and Erica shot out like a rocket from where she was standing.

“uh?!”

Even Rika was surprised by the speed of her movements. Erica swept across the stage and actively encouraged the audience to respond.

Erica stood at the edge of the stage, almost touching the audience, with her arms outstretched. As she crossed the stage, several people at the front reached out to her and asked her to hold their hands.

It felt like a local superstar had appeared.

Erica gladly grabbed the hands reaching out to her and stood up. Then, as if declaring something, she looked toward the center of the audience and raised her index finger.

Pointing to the sky under the spotlight, she reminded me of a priestess receiving oracles at Delphi, a priestess who conveyed words from the highest heavens.

The trust is handed down.

It’s a phrase that’s become so famous and old that it’s not even easily used in pop songs, but it was almost synonymous with the electronic scene.

“Put your hands up in the air—!”

Erica just jumped in place.

And the world ran too.

People looked at their sides and behind them, unable to hide their bewildered expressions. Nevertheless, they had to get up from their seats, swept up in the flow that had become the majority.

In the audience, there were people who were swept up in the atmosphere without realizing it, people who were watching the mood around them, and people who stood up from their seats and waved their arms in the face of the great flow that they could not possibly refuse.

The world Rika saw shook.

The sight of people who seemed like they would never dance to her music filled her with an indescribable torrent of emotion.

But there was no time to be moved.

‘Thank you, Eri-chan.’

She belatedly placed her hands on the synthesizer and continued playing the melodic music that Seongpil had requested.

‘It’s my stage, but Eri-chan has become like the frontman.’

Erica stands confidently in the center of the stage, continuously belting out high-difficulty falsettos to the melody line.

Even while running around, he didn’t have any trouble breathing. It’s amazing lung capacity, technique, and showmanship.

His talent as a natural entertainer shines.

So, even though it is Rika’s stage… … .

‘I can’t help it.’

In a band, it’s natural for the main vocalist to be the frontman and get the spotlight. People tend to focus on the person who sings anyway.

In addition, he is showing off with such a high level of difficulty vocal adlib as if to say, ‘Look at me.’

It’s strange not to be crazy about Erica.

‘This atmosphere was also created by Eri-chan.’

The end must be conceded… … .

“Rica!”

Erica called Rika’s name loudly.

Yes, I called.

Erica stepped away from the center, calling Rika’s name as if introducing the next batter. All one hundred people’s eyes were focused on Rika.

The confusion was brief.

Rika skillfully grabbed the attention focused on her.

Riding on the ending ‘Sweet’, she showed her final performance.

Remix.

‘You’re handing it over to me now?’

And you guys, are you coming to see me now?

‘Fatally… … .’

Rika played with the corners of her lips raised in a sarcastic manner.

To the small, pretty grasses that opened their eyes in spring and eagerly awaited the new green summer, the spring breeze gently stroked the grasses’ heads while secretly envying summer.

The wind blows.

The grass is shaking.

It was an incident.

It wasn’t just a matter of musicians finishing their stage career; it was an event that overturned the very foundation of the stage.