Chapter 102: Swamped

2018’s Coachella had rounded up a couple days back and yet, one singular performance endured like it was just yesterday.

What made it more staggering was that it wasn’t even from any of the headliners.

To say Niall and Midnight Avenue’s performances had absolutely trampled everyone else’s at the prestigious music festival would be a poor caricature of what had really happened.

That was what those whom had been there to witness it live would’ve said. And for those whom had only experienced it through the screens of their phone... even they were completely stupefied.

It was one thing for an artist they’d never actually seen perform live to have vocals that sounded much better in person and that much more stage presence.

It was another for that very same artist to reveal probably his best song yet like it was just another average walk in the park for him without any fanfare asides performing it at Coachella.

More than that, to have the most raved about live performance at the music festival, Coachella themselves had to upload not just he and Midnight Avenue’s entire live performance, but also a separate video for their performance of [Aperture] alone, proved that there were levels to this thing.

Having racked up a staggering view count of 150M+ and 370M+ respectively, and still ticking up by the hour as more and more people found it, it was safe to say it would only be a matter of time before the video hit half a billion views... if not well over a billion views in the coming years.

Which, again, was a monumental achievement to have when one understood that Niall and Midnight Avenue were both independent artists not tied to any music labels.

Artists who weren’t even bothering to make music videos of their own to capitalize on the fame and craze that they had just unleashed on the general public and music lovers around the world as they rewatched the entire live performance over and over again.

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Carmen Rider: I have never been gladder to have ever experienced a moment such as this in person in my whole life. The things I took away from that phenomenal song and performance has changed my entire perspective on life and will stick with me forever.

ViewTube Addict: Even Coachella knew they had to capitalize on this. Niall and Midnight Avenue better return as headliners next year.

Teenage Dirtbag: 80’s kid here. This performance was spiritual in a way no other live performance will ever be able to replicate in our current day and age. I mean people literally stopped recording at some point and simply focused on the actual performance when they began performing [Aperture]! Never did I ever think I’d see that in my life again.

Music Aesthete: How?! Someone explain how a single forty-minute video can change my whole perspective on what live performances should and could be?! The fuck have our mainstream artists been shoving down our throats all this while?!

Paul McCartwheel: I will never, and I mean ever, get tired of watching and rewatching this performance. Coachella struck fucking diamond by having Niall and Midnight Avenue show up. Those little tidbits of information before he performed each song was such a lovely touch too.

SweetSummerChild: No drugs, no sex and not a lick of profanity. Just hundred percent good vibes, talent and powerful themes that anyone can relate too. This, right here, ladies and gentlemen, was what music used to be all about.

Hollywood Insider: The fact that these guys were apparently a last-minute addition and they absolutely stomped everything else at this year’s festival. Man, we really could’ve ended up not getting one of the greatest live performances of all time.

GooGooToys: That [Aperture] performance came straight out of a 90’s movie and I refuse to believe otherwise.

Niall_P Stan: I was here, in the crowd, in that moment. I have never converted faster from a Tyler fan to a Niall fan in my life.

Aura Dynamics: That evening breeze man... that breeze added an insane amount of aura to that solo! Bar none the best live performance I’ve ever witnessed!

Panic!_AtCostco: And I thought the performances from the headliners of this year’s Coachella served. I have never been more pissed at being in an area, but missing out completely on a once-in-a-lifetime experience like this in my life!

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Unsurprisingly, more and more top comments continued to pile in, the comment section practically a stream of one new message after the other every second of the day.

That aside, the streaming numbers for not only Niall’s songs, but also Midnight Avenue’s had gained a new resurgence.

[Aperture] on the other hand, was in a league of its own.

It had crossed well over 500M+ streams, and much like the videos, had no plans of stopping anytime soon as it beelined into the one--if not two--billion streaming club.

One that would ultimately make Niall and Midnight Avenue the first artists to have achieved that milestone this year.

GrooveBox too, hadn’t been dumb enough to simply leave it at the top of the ’Buzzing 100’ charts.

Instead, they’d equally placed it into the ’GrooveList Top 100’, the song currently seating at number five... but was bound to find itself at the top spot soon enough as its exponential stream numbers continued racking up.

And that was just the biggest streaming platform in the world... not to talk about several others where it was getting an equal, if not even better treatment.

As one might’ve expected, all this cumulatively made it the most listened to song right now in so many regions, not just across the US and UK, but in so many other regions all over the world.

It also had to be noted that people had shared so many clips from the performance itself on the internet, as had several edits with the song begun flooding the space, further driving its popularity.

And with that surge in popularity, came yet again a torrent of calls for Midnight Avenue and most especially, Niall himself.

Record labels were once again making offers, the likes of which only mainstream artists in the industry were afforded.

VineWood records, shamelessly even tried to sign on their former artists yet again... a proposition that was naturally met with a resounding rejection from the trio.

But even that, paled in comparison to the invites and interview propositions from podcasts, talk shows, variety shows and so many others that Niall was receiving.

At some point, it almost felt endless to say the least. That said, Niall was not the least bit overwhelmed by it. In typical fashion, he politely rejected them all.

Well, except for one. There was one magazine he’d agreed to do an interview with.

That said, once he realized that most of the outlets remained persistent nonetheless, he ended up going offline and buying an old flip phone... allowing for only the closest people in his life, alongside the necessary individuals to have access to him.

Even then, it didn’t stop the paparazzi on the other hand from following him everywhere whenever they got the chance.

At the same time, Niall had now reached a level of fame that people were practically walking up to him at the literal airport to have him sign an autograph back when he had returned to LA.

Thankfully, everyone whom had come up to him happened to be very civilized people, hence making his interactions with them all that more genuine.

That said, that was all a week ago.

Currently, Niall was standing before his old home, arms akimbo as he watched the moving company bring down the last of his stuff.

"Pretty interesting that the first time I get to see your old place, also happens to be the last time I’ll be seeing it," Victor whom was standing next to him casually remarked, hands tucked into his pockets.

To that, Niall chuckled a bit. Then he tilted his head slightly and said;

"Well, I intend to keep paying for the place for a while so uh, feel free to let me know if you’d ever want a tour."

This time, Victor turned over to face him, a curious expression on his features. Before he could bother asking why though, one of the movers walked over to the young star and said;

"That’s all. We’re ready to move whenever you are."

"Alright then. Let’s head over now." Niall replied and promptly made his way over to his vehicle.

Victor followed after, the agent making his way over to his own car--a 2015 Ford Mustang.

As he did, he couldn’t help but glance over to the paparazzi on the opposite end of the street whom had been shamelessly taking pictures all along.

Now the entire internet was bound to find out that Niall Parker was moving homes.

Thankfully, considering Niall’s new home was in a gated neighborhood, they would only know where in LA he moved to, but not exactly where he was living, hence affording the young star the privacy he needed.

Such was the lengths one had to go to keep themselves out of the spotlight when they were touching on a level of fame that could no longer be ignored... even if said person wasn’t all gung-ho about it.

Roughly forty minutes later though, Niall, Victor and the moving company finally arrived at his new home in Silverlake.

About an hour later, they’d packed all the boxes in and were soon on their merry way as both men saw them off.

As they proceeded to head back in, Victor then remarked;

"Hectic week ahead, hmm?"

"Yep." Niall simply replied to which the agent then said, his tone slightly concerned;

"You know, I think its high time you get a PA or a manager. You seem to be handling things fairly alright on your own right now, but its only bound to be more of a hassle the more famous you get."

"Eventually you’ll need a team... but for now, one of the two could really do you some good." Victor explained with a gestured palm.

Victor was right.

Niall was in fact starting to get swamped.

Pre-production for [A Maddened Wonderland] and having to write the last book in the Fate series in the coming months aside, next week alone, he was set to have an interview with Starlight Magazine, not just over the smash-hit that was [Aperture] but his career in general.

Then the week after, he was to begin promotions with his fellow cast members regarding [Rink].

Set to release on several streaming platforms, it was also planned to have a cinematic release on the smaller screens for those looking for a more theatrical experience.

Such was the renown that Murray had, that people often wanted to watch his movies in cinemas despite the fact that he often made them for cable first and rarely for the big screens.

In any case...

"You’re right. I’ll work towards it." Niall acknowledged to which he then said;

"If you have anyone you can recommend, kindly forward their details to me. I’d appreciate it."

"Sure. No problem." Victor nodded in the affirmative.

Advance Chapters are available on Patreon!

/Caer07