Chapter 31: New Song
[Chapter 31: New Song]
"Ladies and gentlemen, let's give a warm welcome to the rising DJ, Dr. Ray, who just delivered an incredible performance at the famous Ultra Music Festival in Florida!" The host, dressed sharply in a tuxedo, announced loudly. Hesitant applause filled the room as the spotlight followed Ryan and Joel, who walked slowly to the center of the stage in matching white suits. They looked like they had stepped out of a 1930s band, a bit out of place considering their DJ roles and the electronic music they were supposed to represent.
Ryan's movements resembled that of a marionette, stiff and awkward.
"That suit is definitely too tight on him," Abigail remarked from her comfortable position, sunk into a plush couch not far from the stage.
Taylor, sitting next to her with a cocktail glass in hand, took a sip and added, "They clearly came to the wrong place."
Compared to the previous nightclub, this venue was a significant upgrade, featuring indoor fountains, art displays, live instrumental performances, and a massive terrace that overlooked the entire Nashville skyline. It was one of the top high-end private clubs in the city.
As it was Ryan's debut after switching management, Abigail naturally chose to come out to support him and, as expected, dragged Taylor along for the ride. As for Ryan's performance, it unsurprisingly garnered little attention; the crowd preferred the sounds of violins, waltzes, and jazz over the antics of two young guys bobbing their heads to electronic beats.
...
"Maybe we could try a blend of classical and modern electronic music to give the audience a timeless experience!" Ryan suggested to Joel while sipping a can of Coke after their set.
"As far as I know, there's only one electronic group that could pull that off -- Daft Punk. They're not just DJs; they're true artists. As for us, I think we should focus on how to hold onto this job," Joel replied, shaking his head and snapping Ryan back to reality.
Thanks to a colleague's introduction, the duo landed a gig at this nightclub with a pay increase that was several times higher than before. Plus, they only needed to perform for thirty minutes.
At first glance, the offer looked much better than their last one, but after the performance, Ryan quickly realized that it wasn't what it appeared to be.
In addition to their musical style clashing with the club's atmosphere, there were strict limitations on the tracks they could play. The nightclub only allowed them to mix electronic music that matched its vibe, which meant Ryan couldn't feature his "signature tracks." Instead, he had to remix classical music like Tiesto, resulting in an awkward blend that left both the audience and himself dissatisfied.
In that moment, he understood that the only reason he was on that stage was because he had appeared at the Ultra Music Festival, and who he was didn't seem to matter at all.
"Why have you been coming up with these strange creative ideas lately? You should keep digging into the big room style; your MySpace fans are still waiting for your new stuff," Joel reminded him.
Ryan pondered this question, troubled since he hadn't felt that spark since he got a track of electronic music about a month ago.
...
They navigated through a corridor, making their way to the nightclub's entrance. From a distance, Ryan spotted Abigail waving at him, and he realized their work was done for the night. They could either go home or entertain friends.
"Hey, Joel," Taylor greeted him casually, only glancing at Ryan.
On the other side, Ryan and Abigail seemed much closer.
"Hey, hey," Taylor forced a laugh.
To lighten the mood, Abigail began sharing some gossip about a cheerleader from school.
"She wears those cute, short skirts every day, and you know how there's no barrier during class; pencils and erasers just seem to fall all over the place..."
"Let me guess what she looks like," Joel chimed in with interest.
"Long black hair, always surrounded by the scent of perfume, touching up her makeup between classes. She tries to put on a California accent, even though she's probably never been to the West Coast," Joel described, prompting both of them to erupt in laughter.
Ryan and Taylor merely chuckled along, entirely uninterested in the conversation.
"Abigail, what did you think of the music we played? I used a brand new kick drum," Ryan attempted to steer the topic back to his music.
"You used a drum up there?" Abigail looked confused.
"Uh... no," Ryan replied, his expression awkward. 'Oh, when aliens are discovered on earth one day, it will probably be the same kind of communication scene, right?' Taylor snickered inwardly, feeling that Ryan and Abigail were on completely different channels.
Just in that moment, Taylor suddenly felt a buzz in her head.
"Hold on, hold on..." She fumbled to open her handbag and, in her eagerness, ended up breaking the zipper, rummaging through her bag in a hurry.
Her bizarre reaction drew the attention of the others. Joel and Ryan looked puzzled, while Abigail was unfazed, saying, "Here it comes!"
What does that mean?
...
Taylor pulled out a small notebook from her bag and a ballpoint pen, quickly jotting down notes on a nearby sheet of paper under the dim nightclub lights.
She held the pen in a peculiar manner, pinching it between her index and middle fingers, clearly lacking proper writing habits from childhood.
After writing a few lines, she scratched them out in dissatisfaction and moved on to the next page. Occasionally, she looked up, humming a tune and tapping the pen rhythmically on the glass table.
"Cool!" Joel got excited, moving along with the beat of the scene.
"That's it," he said to Ryan.
What are they talking about? Ryan remained utterly confused.
Minutes passed as Taylor momentarily set down her pen.
"Although this is just a prototype, it's already taking shape," she read aloud from her notes.
♫
You're on the phone with your girlfriend, she's upset
She's going off about something that you said
'Cause she doesn't get your humor like I do
I'm in my room, it's a typical Tuesday night
I'm listening to the kind of music she doesn't like
And she'll never know your story like I do
'Cause she wears short skirts, I wear T-shirts
She's Cheer Captain and I'm on the bleachers
Dreaming 'bout the day when you wake up and find
That what you're looking for has been here the whole time
If you could see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along, so why can't you see?
You belong with me, you belong with me
♫
As Taylor sang the chorus halfway through, she glanced at one of the three with an intentional gaze.
♫
If you're willing, you will see that I'm the one who truly understands you.
I've been quietly by your side, so why won't you just look back?
You belong to me,
you are mine...
♫
*****
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