Chapter 107

Its easy to follow .

KangYoon started to judge the song .

I is that so?

Yeah . Its easy to the ear . Theres no sense of rejection from the melody .

Park SoYoung heaved a deep sigh of relief as she was nervous after hearing what HeeYoon said about her songs . Easy to follow was one of the most vague statements ever . It was neither a compliment nor a criticism .

Is this rock?

Yes .

And in my opinion, you thought of HyunAh as you wrote this .

Thats right . You realized already?

I get the feeling that this is just suited for her . The bass line is very good . The thudding sounds very good . The chord progression is also nice . However .

Park SoYoung gulped . This was the important bit .

This is too weak for HyunAh to sing . In my opinion, I think you should raise the accents a little . Although this doesnt give any feeling of rejection, its like its too easy . HyunAh has the tendency to burst all her power in one go after building up, and I think shell find something like this, which is flat all the way to the end, quite hard to sing .

Oooh .

If I have to speak generally, its easy . You said that this song was for HyunAh, but I have a feeling that anyone can digest this song . However, my opinion is that singers with characteristic voices will reject this song .

After listening to KangYoons words, Park SoYoung nodded . She now understood a little about what she had to change . She took the score back again .

Thanks for your time .

No, youre HeeYoons friend . This much is nothing .

How important do you think it is to have my work evaluated by someone who actually works in the industry? Ill treat you to something later .

Okay, okay .

KangYoon saw Park SoYoung off with a smile .

At the front door of World Entertainment, Park SoYoung asked for one last time .

Uhm, oppa . If it were you, Would you buy my song?

At the careful question, KangYoon also replied with caution after thinking for a while .

If you are referring to that song, then I will indeed .

Really? I think theres something more to that .

Hearing that, Park SoYoungs expression brightened . However, KangYoon had something more to say .

Then, I will hand it over to a really skilled arranger . The melodys good after all . I will have to find an arranger who can bring out the liveliness from the song . It would be a different story if you were the one to arrange it yourself, but with your current skills Im not sure if Im able to leave it up to you .

Oh I get it . Okay . Looks like I must study harder .

Park SoYoung bowed towards KangYoon . Although this was the brother of her friend, she appreciated the fact that KangYoon was kind enough to do all this for her . Although his evaluation today was a burden on her heart, she was still thankful since she now knew what she could improve upon .

I heard that composers have their own special traits . In the case of HeeYoon, she writes things down even while doing something else if she thinks of something . If that doesnt work, she holes herself up at home and works on stuff . She told me that there are just right times for these things . But I dont think youre such type .

Yes . I have to squeeze my head for three whole days to get something . Nothing just comes to me incidentally .

Well, it differs according to the person . Fufu, you two have completely different styles . Well, I guess that should be the case . And also, I think your strongest advantage is that your pieces are easy .

Being easy is an advantage?

Park SoYoung had a hard time understanding what KangYoon meant . Having understood that, KangYoon explained it for her .

You can create melodies that anyone can easily follow . I think thats an enormous advantage . Composition isnt the end you know? Theres the arrangement process later . Next time, bring me a piece with arrangement done as well . Though, arrangement isnt as easy as composition, right?

Sure .

Ease is power . After all, it means that you can write melodies that are pleasing to the ear . The advantage is that anyone can easily sing along . If you can use that well, I think youll become a splendid composer .

Ooh . Okay . Thank you so much .

She received practical guidance that would be hard to hear from anyone else . Although this was her friends brother, she didnt expect this much from him . She was very appreciative of KangYoon .

After she left saying that shell work on it more, KangYoon stretched his arms out .

Let me get back to work too then .

The brief rest time was now over . Mountains of work was waiting for him .

***

Ease is power a melody easy to follow?

Having returned home, Park SoYoung reminded herself of KangYoons words over and over again .

Okay, lets make my future songs like that .

On the back seat of the bus, she decided on her style as a composer .

An advice from KangYoon was now creating a future composer .

***

The Rock Festival?

Jung HyeJin blinked her eyes several times while looking at the application form that KangYoon gave him .

Yes . The deadline is Friday, so please do it by today .

It was very rare for KangYoon to order things directly . Jung HyeJin immediately accepted and got the documents from KangYoon .

Lee HyunJi asked while turning around in her chair .

White Moonlights popularity should work, right?

It will suffice with her popularity among indies . And its about time too .

About time oh, you mean?

There was only one time that KangYoon could mean: going mainstream from being indie . Lee HyunJis prediction was correct and he continued speaking .

Once we finish the contract with a concert hall, well open it in autumn, and White Moonlights entrance to mainstream media will also begin then . The Rock Festival will be the beginning of that .

Well, thats true . The Rock Festival is gaining popularity nowadays, so it will be the perfect opportunity to raise their popularity .

Thats right . If spring was hot thanks to JaeHoon, well have a hot summer thanks to them .

KangYoon shook his head . His springtime with Kim JaeHoon was indeed very hot . As compensation, he now had sufficient finances, and he was now going to drag White Moonlight to mainstream media .

Then who will it be in autumn then? JiMin?

I think well have to wait some more for JiMin . Its not like were lacking funds right now . I think that we should wait some more and polish her properly .

Looks like well have a frightening singer on hand in the future . She was already scary when I peeked at her practice with Seonbae (t/n: the prof) . I like this . I feel like our company is finally starting to take shape .

Lee HyunJi felt good . Considering the hard times she had thanks to the troubles with the singers as well as the pressure of finances, it was now much more stable . There was Kim JaeHoon, who was earning them money, as well as White Moonlight, who was steadily gaining popularity . KangYoon was also earning money with his songs, so the state of the company was now much more stable .

However, KangYoon shook his head saying that there was still much to go .

This is just the beginning . Its still too dangerous to rely on Kim JaeHoon alone . And we also have to host a concert, so we have to save up for that as well .

A concert? With our current finanaces, a country-wide tour is too much of a stretch .

Well only do it once or twice in Seoul . But, we definitely have to do the end-of-year one . To do that, well have to save up for it . Its also what JaeHoon wants to do, too .

Looks like my holiday season this year will be spent at the company .

Pouted Lee HyunJi slightly . However, she was very happy about it .

KangYoon left her behind and headed towards the practice room that White Moonlight was in .

You dont know what Ill say my tears fall on my -cold cheeks

When KangYoon opened the door, Lee HyunAhs powerful voice was filling the room .

Is this a new song?

KangYoon crossed his arms while looking at the multicolored musical notes make white light . The low-pitched distortion from the electric guitar was especially showy .

To me nothing

Lee HyunAh was drunk on singing . The yellow musical note coming from her was accenting the white light .

Not bad .

The light was not bad . The sounds all harmonized quite suitably, and ended like that .

Fuah . Hello .

Greeted Lee HyunAh in everyones place . KangYoon waved his hand .

Can you gather around for a sec?

Everyone put down their instruments and gathered in front of him . Since KangYoon wasnt seen much these days due to work, everyone was nervous .

Theres a Rock Festival in August .

Wait, wait a minute . Isnt that the one held in Goyang?

Lee HyunAh reacted to the words Rock Festival . The rest of the members all widened their eyes too .

Are we going there?

At Lee ChaHees question, KangYoon nodded his head .

Yup . Well turn in the application form today, and unless something special happens, youll all go there .

Wow!

All of White Moonlight shouted in joy . The Rock Festival was known to have the largest audience reactions among all the concerts in the country . There were even rumors that singers on the stage there received healing from the audience . And now, they were about to go on it . They each gave each other high-fives .

KangYoon spoke after they calmed down a little .

Youll get busy from now on . We were given one hour in the Rock Festival . That means, this is an hour long concert . This is a different story to last time, where you shared the stage with other singers .

Seeing them excited, KangYoon cautioned them . They were still young . Although youth was good, too much excitement would lead to mistakes . KangYoon wanted to avoid such mistakes . Everyone nodded in understanding .

After the Rock Festival, it will be autumn, which is when well open our all concert hall . A month after that, youll go mainstream .

WHAAT?

Everyones voices got loud again at his declaration . They were shocked .

We are all going together right?

When Kim JinDae asked, KangYoon spoke as though it was obvious .

Youll go on stage as White Moonlight .

Implying that they were obviously going as a team . Hearing that, Lee ChaHee poked Kim JinDaes side .

Are you dumb? Dont you know how good our president is?

No, its not that .

Stop your bullshit .

In the end, Kim JinDae dropped after being scolded by Lee ChaHee .

KangYoon spoke in detail about their future schedules . He talked about how they no longer needed to worry about having a stage, and that they should take care of their appearances in preparation for going mainstream . At that, Kim JinDae muttered something but was poked again by Lee ChaHee on his side .

After telling them everything he needed to, KangYoon left the practice room . But then, Lee HyunAh followed him out .

Do you have something to talk about?

No . Just thank you .

For what?

Just . For letting us all do music together . If this was some other place, it would have been unimaginable .

Rock Festival as well as going mainstream .

Lee HyunAh found all of this unrealistic when KangYoon said this to her . She felt excited as each of his words were being fulfilled .

Regardless, KangYoon just shrugged his shoulders .

Sheesh . It was a promise, wasnt it? Also, you dont have to thank me just yet . Just earn me a lot of money before you thank me .

Fufu, okay then .

Lee HyunAh made a blissful smile while looking at KangYoon turning around .

***

Company work in the day, and arrangement during the night .

KangYoon was spending a very busy life . These days, or nights, he was working on Kim JaeHoons song that HeeYoon had sent him .

Should I add some percussion here?

He switched out the drum sounds with another percussion, but the light was still weak . No matter how great it was when played by the piano alone, there was no meaning if it wasnt any good after the arrangement . Just like how it was now .

Thats strange . It didnt feel like this when HeeYoon gave it to me . Did I do something wrong?

KangYoon listened to the sounds and tilted his head . He felt as though the light had become weaker since the start . Although a series of musical notes was in his vision, it was not to his satisfaction .

Hyung . Oh, youre working .

Kim JaeHoon entered his room, but turned back to leave seeing that he was working . But then, KangYoon told him to stay .

Oh, its fine . Wait a sec .

You need me?

Yeah . JaeHoon . What do you think of when you sing a song about breaking up?

Breaking up? Hmm . It doesnt make me sad even if I think of my ex-girlfriend . Instead, I think about my mom .

Mom?

I just want to see her when I think about her . Breaking up is like not being able to see even though you want to see her . Thats why I think about my mom .

Oooh, thats right . Im trying to bring that kind of feeling out from the melody, but Im getting nowhere right now .

Really? Should I have a look then?

KangYoon played back the bits that he had arranged until now . This was the introductory bit and a part of the first verse . Kim JaeHoon stepped according to the rhythm but then tilted his head after a while .

Im not sure since theres no lyrics right now, but it doesnt give me the right feeling . I think adding an explosive feeling at the beginning would be good .

An explosive feeling?

Yeah . It starts out very calm with the piano, doesnt it? I think that will make people sleepy . What about you just burst it all out in the beginning? That will make the song less boring .

Hm .

KangYoon started editing the song again . He played back the melody and combined various synthesizer sounds as well . The keyboard sounds and the synths loudly rung out in the room .

A while later .

Lets do this again .

KangYoon played back the song . As Kim JaeHoon had said, the bursting feeling at the beginning was quite strong .

Grey .

However, he shook his head . However, Kim JaeHoon behind him had sparkly eyes saying that it was good .

This is it .

What?

KangYoon was shocked . Grey was good? Something seemed to be wrong here .

This kind of feeling . Very explosive and good .

R really?

Yes . I think we should go with this .

Kim JaeHoon seemed to have taken a liking to the changed beginning and drowned himself in the melody .

This isnt good .

KangYoon started pondering about what to do with the song .