Chapter 60: What Really Matters

There was one major thing Niall had ensured to do before he left for New York.

Upping the effects of his Gift of Vitality a bit more on Camille, her grandmother and his own parents.

Considering he would be away for the next couple weeks, he didn’t want to take any chances with any of them--especially Camille, despite knowing fully well that they’d all be fine.

Afterall, there was no harm in being cautious.

Owing to that though, all of them looked very lively at the moment as he waved them goodbye.

Then, starting up the engine afterwards, he drove out of the area and zoomed off into the distance.

...

...

...

Cleaning down the tables of their café, fulfilled smiles on their faces, Lucas hummed the tune of [Tightrope] while Archie muttered the lyrics.

Soon, Sam walked into the dining area and placed a tray of steaming chamomile teas on a table with a smile;

"Gentlemen. For our hard work."

"Ah. Just the perfect drink to round up the day," Lucas slung his towel over his shoulder as he grabbed one of the cups.

"Thanks, Sam." Archie nodded in his direction as he grabbed his.

Reciprocating with a nod of his own, Sam also grabbed his and sat by one of the stools by the counter that offered a view bustling evening street.

Similarly, Lucas and Archie slipped into the stools on his sides, all three sharing a comfortable silence as they took in the view.

Despite the general dimness that time of the day offered, it did nothing to detract from the blanket of white practically covering everywhere as the snowflakes incessantly fell from the sky, cementing winter season in full bloom.

Yet, that didn’t stop the hustle and bustle of New York denizens as they walked past in muted chatters and convos while the cars blared their horns from time to time.

"So, we heading over to the studio tomorrow?" Archie broke the silence with a knowing question.

"What’s stopping us?" Sam sipped from his tea, a thin smile tugging on his lips as he glanced over to his buddies who bobbed their heads in kind.

Ever since they’d returned to New York three months ago without the noose of debts on their neck, the trio saw no reason not to return to their passion... more so, when their time with Niall on the set of [Silver Comets] had proven to them that it was what they were meant for.

However, in an effort not to find themselves in the original ditch they had prior to paying off their debts, they chose to go fully independent.

Sure, it would limit their reach... but in the grand scheme of things, they really couldn’t care less.

Afterall, they were doing it solely for their own fulfilments. Anything extra that came out of it, would just be a bonus.

Besides, they already had an audience in the form of the kindly folks who always came for the open-mic sessions they had restarted. Small, maybe. But still an audience nonetheless.

"Wonder what Niall’s up to though?" Lucas casually remarked a moment after, a thoughtful expression on his features.

"Probably off to another project, I’d bet." Sam let out in genuine admiration.

"Yeah. He’s something else that man. Makes me wonder if he even has time for anything else asides his work--"

Archie hadn’t completed that statement when the doors to the restaurant gently opened.

Turning over to check whom it was, especially since they’d closed for the day, the trio soon shared a stunned expression as Niall walked in, hands in his pocket as he remarked with a warm smile;

"Evening guys,"

"Now I know you’re closed, but could I get some hot chocolate? It’s freezing out there." he added to which he then said;

"By the way, I have this song I’m workin--"

Niall himself hadn’t completed that statement before all three walked up to him, beaming smiles on their faces as they exchanged greetings, hugs and handshakes.

They also didn’t need to hear the latter half of his statement to know that they’d be down for it.

*

Breaking into mainstream is incredibly difficult.

Staying there and keeping the relevance that came with it?

Now that was arguably harder.

Afterall, unless an artist had built enough star power to command attention on their name alone, they needed a steady stream of successful releases to stay in the spotlight.

To that effect, most mainstream artists knew better than to be complacent, hence why they felt incentivized to put out new songs and albums every now and then.

One half of it was because fame in the music industry was fleeting, and audiences were always looking for the next big thing... one the artists themselves could capitalize on if they were smart or fast enough.

The other half, was often because they were signed to record labels that more or less, owned the rights to their music and also got the largest percentages of the profits they made.

To that effect, unless they kept releasing fresh new songs, there was usually no shot that their label would promote them... at least until they’d built enough star power that could sway things in their favor.

Tyler Kingstone belonged somewhere around the middle of all this.

Proven star power, yes... but just as much infamy to his name.

One could almost say he seemed to be shooting himself in the foot.

After all, despite boasting a level of commercial pull that very few artists his age in the industry could rival, the controversies he routinely found himself embroiled in often forced him to release yet another hit--one successful enough to drown out the headlines and remind his rabid demographic of teenage girls and young ladies why they had fallen in love with his music in the first place.

It was a cycle he had repeated so many times that industry insiders had almost come to expect it.

One month, tabloids would be plastered with stories of drunken escapades, public feuds or another reckless stunt.

The next, he’d release a chart-topping single that dominated the charts long enough for people to forget, or at least care far less about whatever scandal had come before it.

Truly, it was an undeniably effective strategy, one that worked just often enough for both Tyler and his label to keep relying on it.

In any case, he was currently recording a song in a studio booth, his team of producers and sound engineers currently seated in the control room as they their fingers danced over the console from time to time.

Watching as he nailed yet again another high note in the pop song he was singing with such aplomb, they couldn’t help but nod their heads in acknowledgement.

Soon enough, he was done with the song.

Yet, without waiting for the producers to vet his performance, he promptly removed the headset and proceeded to step out.

"Um, Tyler? Though the take was great, you could still do better on some parts," the producer leaned and cautiously said into the talkback mic built into the console.

"I know. We can sort it out tomorrow though, can’t we?" he nonchalantly ’suggested’ as he walked out the booth.

"I’ve got a place I need to be at." he casually said as he picked up his leather jacket draped over the chair and slipped it onto his shoulders.

No sooner they heard that, a couple of the other professionals in the room, including the producer himself subtly rolled their eyes.

A place he needs to be at...

Right.

Whenever he said that, they all knew that he was headed to some lavish club, party or a mindless Hollywood function they’d rather not pry into for the sake of their own peace of minds.

That said, would it have killed him to spare one more take?

Especially since he probably wouldn’t have spent more than five minutes given the song itself wasn’t even over three minutes.

More than that, he hadn’t even spent up to an hour in the recording booth and he was yet again on his way to spend hours upon hours at an event that may as well result in yet another controversy.

Unable to say much to him though, especially since he had the backing of several executives at the record label and they would rather not lose their jobs, they simply watched him leave.

Given how much better the song he had been recording could be, it was such a shame that it wouldn’t reach the heights it was supposed to.

Nonetheless, there wasn’t much they could do.

All they could hope for, was that they could refine it as best as they possibly could before its supposed release date in March.

As that was playing out though, Sam, Archie and Lucas, who were currently gathered in a rather small studio, were busy giving Niall a few pointers for his song.

Having listened to it--and being genuinely impressed by what they’d heard--it didn’t take them long to settle on what they believed could elevate it to the heights he was aiming for.

"Yeah. Given what you’re going for, I think you’re gonna have to lean into a sort of dreamy synth-pop sound." Sam gestured, to which Archie added;

"We could have the backing track feature some warm, hazy synthesizers."

"Yeah. I think it’d really add to that cozy, bedroom feel you’re trying to capture." Lucas snapped his fingers, his head bobbing in agreement.

"Alright, let’s experiment with that." Niall nodded before stepping into the recording booth.

Just as he was slipping the headphones over his head, Sam couldn’t help but ask;

"Say, Niall..."

"When do you plan on releasing the song?"

Mulling it over for a moment, Niall replied;

"Possibly February. March if things end up taking a little longer."

"Woo... March’s risky, man. You know, South by Southwest Festival and all." Lucas leaned back in his chair as he spoke, prompting Archie and Sam to point their thumbs toward their friend.

"He’s right."

"Seriously."

Niall merely chuckled in response;

"Honestly, I’m not all that gung-ho about release dates. I just want to finish the song and be proud of it."

"Besides, as long as the song’s great, isn’t that all that really matters?" he asked the trio, who all nodded in agreement.

Seeing their responses, Niall smiled faintly as he adjusted the headphones properly over his ears;

"Alright, guys... let’s take it from the top."

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/Caer07