Chapter 27
The reflection in the practice room's full-length mirror showed an unmistakable nine-year-old kid.
Yet the orchestral rock sound flowing through my headphones was so solemn that it had nothing to do with that shell.
I tried recording the guide vocal for the song I'd just arranged again and again.
‘It had definitely improved.’
Even compared with the database from my previous life, Seo Si-yeon's vocals had visibly improved since the beginning of the competition.
That was thanks to the relatively efficient vocal-production technique I'd trained my body to use to overcome the narrow vocal cords and limited lung capacity characteristic of children.
It was a clear, transparent tone with a firm finish—a beautiful sound that even most adult vocalists would have trouble producing.
“...But it still feels kind of bland.”
I frowned as I monitored my recorded voice again.
The song's sound was at the edge of a cliff in the middle of a storm, while my voice was like a delicate flower blooming within that storm.
In other words, it was pretty, but it felt as if it were struggling desperately not to be swallowed up by the overwhelming orchestra and sharp electric-guitar sound.
That had its own charm, but it wasn't the direction I was pursuing.
Rather than feeling like my song, it honestly seemed more suited to a vocalist like Yoo Seol-ha, and my expression twisted.
“What could the problem be?”
No matter how long I thought about it, there were limits to objectively analyzing myself.
Besides, as a vocalist, I was probably only at an amateur level.
In the end, I decided to get help from an expert who could solve this problem.
I had one of Korea's top vocal trainers as my mentor, after all. I might as well make use of him.
* * *
“Oh, Si-yeon, you're here?”
“Hello!”
When I entered the annex studio, K-Sep greeted me. Fortunately, he wasn't wearing a sleeveless shirt today, but his slicked-back golden hair was still hard to take.
“I did manage to get some results. Would you like to listen?”
I connected the laptop and played the arrangement I'd completed over yesterday and this morning.
As the grand orchestral sound burst from the speakers, K-Sep, who had been relaxing against his chair, slowly leaned forward.
His eyes instantly changed from those of an entertainer to those of a sharp-eyed producer.
He didn't say a single word until the song ended. Only after the last string's reverberation faded did he let out a deep sigh and speak.
“...Si-yeon, did you really do all this yourself? Using that anime theme? It feels completely different from the original.”
“Yes. I redid everything except the topline.”
“No matter how many times I see it, I just can't believe you're nine years old.”
“Hehe... But, Mentor, I have something to ask.”
“Hmm. Sure, let's hear it.”
I asked K-Sep, who had returned to his serious attitude, in an equally serious tone.
“Everything is good, but my vocals seem to get a little overwhelmed by this sound. The song feels full, but my voice seems to be floating separately from it. I don't know what's missing.”
K-Sep stared blankly at me for a moment, then let out a small laugh.
“Wow. A nine-year-old worries about that?”
“I thought it might be time to pay attention to the vocal side of things, too.”
He spun his chair around to face me directly. The emotion in his eyes was closer to fear than pride.
“Good. You pinpointed it exactly. Si-yeon, your singing is like a perfect model student. Your pitch is accurate, and your technique is solid. But this song is rock. With rock, you know, there are times when its unique imperfect energy matters more than perfection.”
“Imperfect energy?”
“Yeah. Right now, you're trying too hard to make your voice sound pretty. You're focusing only on cleanly bringing your vocal cords together to produce a clear sound. But to break through this grand sound, your voice needs an edge. A rougher, sharper texture.”
K-Sep rose from his seat and pointed toward the microphone in the recording booth.
“Want to give it a try?”
As he instructed, I entered the booth and belted out my arranged version of myth mistery.
-Say goodbye, miss mistery
-What awaits me is ms. mistery
K-Sep listened to my singing with a serious expression, then cut the song off at the highlight—the high-note chorus.
“I just told you. It's too pretty.”
“...Yes.”
“I think... let me demonstrate first.”
Naturally, K-Sep sang well. He wasn't still active as a singer for nothing.
He hit the high notes cleanly, while adding a strange scratching sound to the ends of the notes in between.
“Like this. Can you do it?”
“Um... I don't know.”
“I'll stay beside you and guide you. Let's practice.”
After singing under the expert's focused training, I felt as if I was beginning to get the hang of it.
K-Sep seemed to feel the same way, because he wiped the beads of sweat gathering on his exposed forehead and let out a sigh of relief.
“Phew... Is it because you're young? You learn fast. This is enough for now. It would probably be better for you to find the feel yourself for the rest.”
“Yes. Thank you for your hard work!”
“Yeah. All right!”
At that moment, I remembered what I had originally intended to consult K-Sep about today.
“Oh, right! Mentor.”
“Hmm?”
“Could you take a look at this?”
I told K-Sep that the pre-chorus felt dull, and he nodded as if he understood what I meant.
“Hmm... Well, I'd recommend a sound effect with an intense feel.”
The effects he mentioned were a sub drop and an explosion sound. Naturally, I'd already tried both, and they had all been judged unsuitable.
“Sorry I couldn't be of more help. I'll think about it some more and talk to you tomorrow?”
“Yes! Thank you.”
* * *
When I left the annex and returned to the main building, the Blooming members were still occupying the living room, laughing as if they were on a school field trip.
“Aah! Our cutie is here!”
“Ooh.”
Yoo Seol-ha grabbed me in a tight hug as I passed by and forcibly sat me on her lap.
“Hwoo...”
As I rested my head against Yoo Seol-ha's bouncing chest, I felt a sense of calm spread through my mind.
What was it about this soft mass that could affect a person's emotions so much?
I poked Yoo Seol-ha's chest a few times. My fingers sank right into the soft flesh.
“Kyahaha! That tickles!”
“Do you want a pair this huge too, Si-yeon?”
The one asking was Kim Seol, the drummer. She looked like a stereotypical delinquent high school girl and blinked her distinctive narrow, slit-like eyes.
“Um. Even so, I think this is a little too big.”
“Right? Hers are just ridiculously huge.”
Jo Na-eun was the one who eagerly agreed. Of the five, she was the closest to having a chest like a chopping board, so she brightened and her eyes sparkled at my words.
I gave Jo Na-eun's body a quick once-over.
‘Even so, those are way too small.’
They were so small that it was hard to tell whether they were even there. At this point, mine might actually be bigger.
“Hey! Cutting-board girl. Bigger is always better when it comes to breasts.”
“Shut up, Titty Boy.”
I watched the two of them bicker blankly for a moment.
Soon afterward, Park Hee-su forcibly pulled Jo Na-eun, who had become woozy after being verbally beaten down, to her feet, saying that break time was over.
“Oh. Do you want to come watch too, Si-yeon?”
“I'd be grateful if you'd invite me.”
I was quite curious what kind of stage this group would put on.
Considering the situation so far, Blooming was the group I would probably be involved with the most even after Singerstar ended.
The group's power had already been proven with glassy sky, and unlike the others, who would probably join major agencies, Blooming would be relatively free, making collaboration easier.
And Blooming, which had no member who could compose, would desperately need me for its future activities.
All things considered, maintaining a good relationship would be beneficial for both sides.
“Oh. I know this song.”
“Ah. Yeah. It's a famous song.”
The song Blooming had chosen for this round was a famous band song called Black Humpback Whale.
It was characterized by a wistful chorus and a slow tempo for a band song. It wouldn't be wrong to describe it as a rock ballad, essentially.
“Good choice. I think it'll suit you well.”
“Right? Senior Jina picked it!”
She definitely had a good eye for songs.
Well, no wonder. Despite being a former idol, she had grown her company into one of the Big Three entertainment agencies.
Just then, a strangely shaped instrument sitting in one corner of the practice room caught my eye.
It had a fan attached to the front of a guitar, and I couldn't tell at all what purpose it had been built for. I wasn't even sure it was an instrument in the first place.
“What's that?”
“Ah... That? It's a fan effect unit, apparently. Na-eun made it.”
“The sound is pretty unique, huh? Want to hear it?”
While setting up the instrument, Jo Na-eun briefly explained how it worked.
“So the spinning fan changes the sound's waveform?”
“Yeah! Then it makes a crazy cool sound!”
Jo Na-eun continued explaining, clearly thrilled that I had taken an interest in it.
Apparently, the guitar tone became distorted as if it were underwater, creating a tremolo effect...
I didn't really understand, but I just wanted to hear the sound. I didn't have any particular purpose; I was simply curious what kind of sound would come from an instrument that looked like that.
And the moment Jo Na-eun began playing, plucking the strings, I realized it.
“Can I use this?”
This would become the final piece of my arrangement.