Chapter 102: Nightclub Scenes and Record Deals (1)
[Chapter 102: Nightclub Scenes and Record Deals (1)]
London, Victoria Park.
The All Points East music festival organized by AEG was taking place in the park. Ryan hadn't known until now that across the Atlantic, there was a sister festival to All Points West, which was actually created first in London. The festival in New York only lasted two days, whereas this one spanned a full ten days, attracting a much larger crowd.
[T/N: All Points East music festival was created here in 2008 instead of actual 2018.]
Today marked the final day of this year's All Points East festival.
"The next act is the mystery guest of this year's All Points East festival. Let's hear you shout out his name..." The host held the microphone out to the audience.
"Ray and Leona Lewis!" A chorus of thousands of fans erupted.
Ryan had already arrived in England a few days prior, participating in various events with Leona. Now, as he and Leona appeared on stage, the crowd cheered even louder.
This was Ryan and Leona's first major performance together. Leona wore a stunning black dress with her hair flowing freely, while Ryan stood at the DJ booth nearby, ready to drop the beats.
Leona was on full vocals, effortlessly showcasing her impressive vocal techniques, and her unique voice led the entire crowd to join in singing along. Throughout the performance, Ryan and Leona exchanged glances, their chemistry palpable.
Ryan transitioned smoothly between songs, and Leona began performing Wake Me Up. Even though it was her first time singing it, she left a deep impression on the audience. Ryan had to admit that singing wasn't exactly his forte.
As the set continued with Harlem Shake and Tremor, Leona danced in sync with the rhythm, waving her arms gracefully.
After nearly half an hour on stage, Ryan and Leona concluded the performance perfectly, bringing the festival to an exhilarating close.
...
"This is my first time trying this style... it's really refreshing," Leona said, showing her surprise as they returned backstage.
She had been quite shy when they first met, but as they got more comfortable, their conversations began to flow more freely.
"R&B is out of fashion; electronic music is where it's at now," Ryan replied.
In reality, Ryan needed a Black female singer to join his record label, as their presence in pop music had a solid market in the U.S. Leona Lewis was undoubtedly the best option; however, he felt she was out of his league. This year, she was even more popular than Taylor Swift, and getting Simon Cowell to let her go would likely cost more than acquiring Big Machine -- an obstacle given Simon had plenty of money to throw around and could be tougher to deal with than Scooter Braun. Plus, she was signed with Sony, putting this in the midst of a competition with Universal Music, making things complex.
Leona smiled, but she actually held a different opinion.
...
At that moment, an AEG executive approached them for a chat. Ryan had been collaborating with AEG and Spinnin' Records; this was also a sort of backdoor opportunity, getting himself and Leona booked for the performance. Ryan was in need of cash, and this chance to rake in money couldn't be missed.
After exchanging pleasantries with the European affairs executive, they were able to head out.
...
"Do you need a ride back? I can drop you off since it's on my way," Ryan offered.
"Oh... sure, then I won't bother getting Lou to come pick me up," Leona nodded.
Ryan had Daddario drive.
During the ride, Ryan and Leona discussed their experiences before entering the music industry. She mentioned her mother had Welsh, Irish, and Italian roots, while her father was from Guyana, making her a mixed-race Black woman.
"I didn't go to college; I dropped out to pursue music. I worked as a waitress at Pizza Hut and later as a receptionist at a law firm. I was really close to my dream once, recording during breaks in theater performances, but that album never got released. It was then that I basically gave up on my music dream until 2006 when Lou encouraged me to audition for The X Factor. I was really insecure at first, but Simon pushed me, and I ended up winning. You know the rest."
"That advice from Lou seems really important to you."
"Lou's my boyfriend, but he's changed. When I first met him, he was an electrician. After I got famous, he was out of work, so I recommended him to Sony, and he became a scout. Looking back, it was a huge mistake. You know how some girls will do anything to get a record deal? It's just ridiculous!" Leona expressed her frustration.
She then recounted how she caught Lou cheating, and it happened more than once.
"Sounds like Lou could learn a thing or two from you, Ryan," joked Daddario, who was driving.
Ryan was definitely a pro when it came to avoiding those situations.
Leona seemed to miss the point and asked about Ryan's connection with Taylor. "She was looking for a music video lead at the time, but the budget got slashed, so I was cut. Then just by chance, I ran into her car accident and helped her."
Ryan shared the story, and both Leona and Daddario were really engaged.
"So romantic! Honestly, I think it was fate. You two are a match made in heaven. I stayed up until three in the morning reading about you two," Leona exclaimed, revealing herself to be a fan of their relationship.
'Please!' Daddario thought to himself.
"Compared to you two, my relationship history seems like a joke," she added, self-deprecatingly.
"Maybe you should find a new guy," Ryan shrugged.
Leona was loyal, but changing partners wasn't really her style.
Lost in thought, she said, "We're almost there; just around the corner."
"This place looks pretty rough," Daddario remarked, surprised to find it wasn't a luxury apartment but rather a rundown little place.
"See you if there's a chance," Leona said to Ryan, then hurried out of the car.
...
After saying their goodbyes, Ryan had Daddario take him to the Ministry of Sound nightclub.
This club in the London NA district had once been an abandoned bus garage and had been operating since '91. It drew inspiration from New York's legendary Paradise Garage. The founders had thought of a number of silly names before realizing the perfect name while passing by the Ministry of Defence buildings.
In recent years, it had seen the world's top DJs showcased within its legendary walls.
"Ryan! We've been waiting for you!" A middle-aged man in a leather jacket and bald head approached Ryan and pulled him in for a hug.
It was only mid-afternoon, and Ryan was the first nominated DJ to arrive. The man introduced himself as Justin Berkman, the founder of the club. After visiting Paradise Garage two decades ago, he'd been inspired to create something similar in London. He'd spent a whole year just scouting locations, rallying friends and family until they finally established this iconic nightclub.
"I have a feeling you'll be top three this year or at least in the top five. You're practically a legend in the electronic music field!" Justin exclaimed, declaring Ryan a rising star.
"I'll show you around and point out all the awards we've received. We won 'Best Sound System in the World' at the International Dance Music Awards for four consecutive years, beating out many competitors from Ibiza!" He proudly gestured to the accolades displayed on the walls.
The International Dance Music Awards and the Ultra Music Festival occurred at the same time, in the same location, each part of the winter music conference.
"What about clubs in America?" Ryan inquired, eager to gather insights as he considered opening his own venue in Florida.
"America... well, maybe two or three decades ago, the club scene was thriving there, but recently it's become outdated -- that was a choice made by Americans themselves," Berkman explained, ushering Ryan into the main hall.
It was still afternoon, and the hall was empty except for a few staff members.
"This place can hold about 600 people. We don't have VIP sections, just a few private booths, and the largest booth has been booked until March next year," Berkman casually mentioned, the sound of his shoes echoing on the wooden floor.
"It's smaller than I thought," Ryan admitted sincerely.
The expensive club in LA had an interior almost twice as large.
The decor here didn't exactly impress Ryan either.
"Due to city planning restrictions, we can't expand. But we already have three other locations in London, and two more will open next year. But to me, no club in the world compares to this one. Want to know why?" Berkman snapped his fingers at a staff member nearby.
"Play music!"
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.