Brandon leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on Emmy.
"Alright, Emmy. Let's hear what you've got. Why don't you sing something for us?"
Emmy's eyes widened, her hands trembling as she reached for her guitar case. She fumbled with the latches, nearly dropping the instrument as she pulled it out.
"I... I didn't prepare anything specific," she stammered, her fingers ghosting over the strings.
Brandon waved his hand dismissively.
"That's fine. Just sing whatever comes to mind. Something you're comfortable with."
Emmy nodded, taking a deep breath. She strummed a few chords, her voice shaky at first but growing stronger as she began to sing:
"My heart is breaking, like waves on the shore,
Your love's forsaking, I can't take it anymore..."
Brandon's brow furrowed as he listened. The lyrics were painfully cliché, the melody uninspired.
He held up a hand, stopping Emmy mid-verse.
"That's enough..."
Emmy's face fell, her fingers stilling on the guitar strings.
Brandon sighed, massaging his temples. His mind raced with frustration. What kind of world was this, where even the most basic audition songs were so... lacking? It was as if creativity had been drained from the very air they breathed.
'Is this really the best this world has to offer?' he thought, struggling to keep his expression neutral.
'No wonder the music industry is in such a sorry state. They don't even have decent songs for people to audition with.'
He looked at Emmy, seeing the disappointment etched across her face. Despite the lackluster song, there was something in her voice – a raw talent that deserved nurturing.
Brandon leaned forward, his eyes fixed on Emmy. Despite the disappointing audition song, he sensed a glimmer of potential in her voice. He decided to take a different approach.
"Emmy, I want you to try something for me. Just repeat after me, okay?"
Emmy nodded nervously, her fingers still resting on the guitar strings. Brandon cleared his throat and began to sing, his voice taking on the soulful, powerful quality:
"There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch, and it's bringing me out the dark"
As the last note faded, Brandon gestured for Emmy to repeat the lines. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and began to sing.
The transformation was immediate and startling.
Emmy's voice, which had been shaky and uncertain before, now filled the room with a rich, emotive tone that perfectly mimicked Brandon's rendition. Her pitch was flawless, and the raw power behind her vocals was undeniable.
"There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch, and it's bringing me out the dark"
As Emmy sang, Jessie and Izzy exchanged shocked looks. Even from those short two lines, they could see Emmy's potential. Jessie's eyebrows shot up, her mouth slightly agape as she turned to look at Brandon. Izzy's eyes widened, and she leaned forward in her chair, her gaze fixed on Emmy.
The room fell silent as Emmy's voice trailed off. She opened her eyes, looking uncertainly at Brandon and the others.
Brandon's expression shifted to one of satisfaction, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
"Now… Let's test your vocal range," he said, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
He took a deep breath, preparing himself for the challenging vocals ahead. As he began to sing, his voice filled the room with a power and emotion that seemed to vibrate through the very walls.
"We could've had it ALLLL~"
Brandon's voice soared on the last word, a soulful vibrato adding depth and richness to the note. The sound hung in the air, resonating with raw emotion.
"Rolling in the deeeep~"
As he hit "deep," Brandon's voice seamlessly transitioned into a haunting falsetto, the high note crystal clear and unwavering.
"You had my heart inside of your hand"
His vocals climbed even higher at "inside," the intensity building before skillfully transitioning back down to "of your hand" without missing a beat.
"And you played it to the beat"
Brandon's voice lowered expertly, the note dropping smoothly as he finished the phrase, his control evident in every syllable.
Throughout the performance, Brandon's face was a canvas of emotion. His brow furrowed with intensity, eyes closed as he lost himself in the music.
Every line was delivered with a passion that seemed to emanate from his very core, his body tensing and relaxing with each phrase.
Emmy sat transfixed, her eyes wide and unblinking as the last notes of Brandon's voice reverberating through the conference room.
The power and emotion in his performance seemed to wrap around her, drawing her in and making her forget to breathe. She felt the music resonate deep within her chest, stirring something she'd long forgotten.
Emmy remained motionless, lost in the lingering echoes of Brandon's voice.
It wasn't until Brandon spoke directly to her that she snapped out of her daze.
"Emmy? Do your best to sing those four lines... Can you handle it?"
She blinked rapidly, coming back to herself.
Emmy nodded, her insecurity evident in the slight tremor of her hands as she gripped her guitar. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and began to sing.
To everyone's surprise, including her own, Emmy's voice soared through the room, matching Brandon's performance with startling accuracy.
Her rich tone filled every corner, the emotion in her voice palpable as she hit each note perfectly. As she sang, subtle differences emerged – a slight rasp on certain words, a unique inflection that made the song unmistakably hers.
As Emmy finished, silence fell over the room. Brandon nodded approvingly, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
'I knew she had it in her,' Brandon thought, impressed by Emmy's performance.
'She didn't just copy me – she made it her own. That grit in her voice, those little inflections... That's the mark of a true artist.'
He leaned forward, his eyes locked on Emmy's.
"That was incredible, Emmy. You didn't just repeat what I did – you made it your own."
Emmy's cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she lowered her head, but her smile shone brightly despite her attempt to hide it. She glanced up at Brandon through her lashes, her voice soft and filled with wonder.
"I... I didn't know songs could be sung like that. It felt so different, so powerful."
Brandon leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"That's because you've got real talent, Emmy. How would you like to sign with BMG as an artist? If you do, I'll personally write a few songs for you."
Emmy's smile faltered, her insecurity creeping back in. She fidgeted with the hem of her oversized sweater.
"But I'm just a street busker. And... well, look at me. I'm not exactly what people expect a star to look like."
Brandon's expression softened, his voice firm but kind.
"Here at BMG, it's your voice that counts. We're on a mission to revolutionize the music industry, to showcase real talent."
He extended his hand towards her.
"Would you like to join us on this journey, Emmy?"
Emmy glanced around the room, taking in the wide-eyed, impressed expressions of everyone present.
Their faces reflected the awe she'd heard in their gasps during her performance. She took a deep breath, her gaze returning to Brandon's outstretched hand.
With a mixture of nervousness and newfound determination, Emmy reached out and grasped Brandon's hand.
"Thank you for giving me a chance," she said, her voice growing stronger with each word.
"I won't let you down."
As they shook hands, the insecurity in Emmy's eyes began to give way to a spark of determination. For the first time in years, she allowed herself to believe that her dream might not be out of reach after all.