The coffee shop performance lingered in Jason's mind for days after he discovered it. Anna Reed's voice, raw and unpolished, struck a chord in him that he hadn't felt in a long time. There was something about her music that spoke directly to the soul, a kind of honesty that was rare in the industry. He knew they needed to bring her into the fold.
Jason sat in the studio, headphones resting around his neck as he watched the grainy video for what felt like the hundredth time. He had sent it to Max, and now they were both on the same page—finding Anna Reed had become their top priority. But she wasn't an easy person to track down. The video had been posted anonymously, with no links to social media or any other details. For all Jason knew, she could be one of those artists who preferred to keep a low profile, avoiding the spotlight entirely.
Max walked into the room, a cup of coffee in hand, as usual. "Still watching that video, huh?"
Jason smiled faintly. "Yeah. There's something about it. Something I can't shake."
Max nodded, sitting down across from him. "I get it. Her voice is unreal. But the girl's like a ghost—no trace of her online. I've been searching for days, but nothing. No Instagram, no Twitter, no YouTube channel. It's like she doesn't want to be found."
"That's what's bothering me," Jason said, leaning back in his chair. "What if she doesn't? What if she's one of those artists who's happy playing in coffee shops and never wants to get out of the underground scene?"
Max raised an eyebrow. "You think that's the case?"
Jason shrugged. "I don't know. But the way she sings... it doesn't feel like someone looking for fame. It feels like someone who's just trying to get something off her chest."
Max sipped his coffee, thinking. "Well, if that's true, it's going to be hard to convince her to sign with us. But then again, maybe that's exactly why she should. She could use the platform without all the industry nonsense we're avoiding."
Jason nodded slowly. "We just have to find her first."
For the next few days, Jason and Max split their time between the studio and trying to track down Anna Reed. It was a slow, frustrating process. Max reached out to the local music scene, calling friends and contacts, but no one seemed to know much about her.
Jason decided to take a different approach. He went to the source—the coffee shop where the video had been filmed. It was a small place downtown, one of those artsy spots where open mic nights were a staple. He arrived late in the afternoon, the smell of coffee and freshly baked pastries filling the air as he stepped inside. A few customers were scattered around, quietly typing on laptops or chatting in hushed tones.
Jason approached the barista, a young guy with tattoos on his arms and a beanie pulled low over his forehead.
"Hey," Jason said, offering a friendly smile. "I'm looking for someone. I saw a video of a performance here a while back—this girl, Anna Reed. Do you know her?"
The barista looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I remember her. She used to come by pretty often for open mic nights. Killer voice, right?"
Jason's pulse quickened. "Yeah, that's the one. Do you know if she still comes around? Or how I might be able to get in touch with her?"
The barista shrugged. "Not really, man. She kind of disappeared a few months ago. She'd show up, play a few songs, and leave. Didn't talk much to anyone. I don't even think she's from around here—always seemed like she was just passing through."
Jason frowned. "No idea where she went?"
"Sorry, no clue. Last time I saw her was, like, two months ago. She sang a couple of new songs and then took off. Haven't seen her since."
Jason thanked the barista and left the coffee shop, feeling a little discouraged. Anna Reed was slipping through his fingers. If she had already left town, finding her would be even harder.
A few days later, Jason was sitting at his desk, scrolling through music blogs and forums, when something caught his eye. It was a post on a local musician's forum, titled "Spotted at a House Show: Anna Reed."
His heart skipped a beat as he clicked on the post. The details were sparse—just a short message from someone who had seen her perform at a small house show in a neighboring city. The post described her voice, mentioning the same haunting quality that had captivated Jason in the video.
Jason immediately forwarded the post to Max.
Jason: "Looks like she's still performing, just not in the usual places. Let's track down this house show scene."
Max: "On it."
With renewed energy, Jason and Max started reaching out to people in the underground house show circuit. It took some time, but eventually, they got a lead on where Anna might be performing next—a private house concert that weekend, hosted by a local artist known for supporting indie musicians.
The plan was set. They would go to the show and finally meet Anna Reed face-to-face.
The night of the show arrived, and Jason found himself standing outside a modest two-story house in a quiet neighborhood. The music inside was already playing, and he could hear the soft hum of conversation as guests mingled. It wasn't the kind of venue he was used to—it was intimate, personal, with no stage lights or professional sound equipment. But that was part of the charm. It was the kind of place where real music thrived.
Max joined him a few minutes later, a knowing grin on his face. "Ready to make history?"
Jason chuckled. "Let's hope she's actually here."
They walked inside, immediately greeted by the warm, cozy atmosphere. A small group of people sat on couches and floor pillows, sipping drinks and nodding along to the current performer, a folk singer with an acoustic guitar. Jason scanned the room, searching for any sign of Anna.
His heart stopped when he spotted her in the corner, tuning her guitar. She was exactly as she had been in the video—unassuming, lost in her own world, but radiating a quiet intensity that drew people in. She didn't seem to notice the crowd watching her; she was focused solely on her instrument, preparing for the moment when she would pour her heart out through music.
Jason nudged Max. "That's her."
Max followed his gaze and nodded. "Alright, now what? We just walk up to her?"
Jason hesitated. "Let's listen first. See what she's about."
As they settled into the back of the room, Anna took the small makeshift stage. The conversations hushed as she started to play, her fingers moving effortlessly across the strings. The first few notes were soft, delicate, but filled with an aching sadness. And then she sang.
It was even more powerful in person. Her voice was pure and haunting, cutting through the room like a knife, every lyric dripping with emotion. The audience was mesmerized, hanging onto every word as Anna sang about love, loss, and the weight of carrying the world on her shoulders. It was intimate, vulnerable, and utterly captivating.
When the song ended, the room remained silent for a moment before erupting into quiet applause. Anna smiled faintly, thanked the crowd, and stepped down from the stage. She immediately retreated to a corner, avoiding eye contact with anyone, as if she were uncomfortable with the attention.
Jason exchanged a look with Max, then stood up, making his way toward her. His heart pounded in his chest as he approached, unsure of what to say but knowing he couldn't let this moment slip away.
"Anna?" he said softly.
She looked up, startled, her eyes widening slightly as she took him in. "Yeah?"
"I'm Jason Chen. I've been looking for you."
She blinked, confused. "Looking for me? Why?"
Jason smiled gently. "I saw your video. The coffee shop performance. It blew me away."
Anna looked uncomfortable, her gaze shifting away. "That was a long time ago."
"Doesn't matter," Jason said. "Your music... it's something special. I run an independent label, and I think you'd be a perfect fit. I know this is sudden, but I really believe in what you're doing. I'd love to help you take it to the next level—on your terms."
Anna stared at him for a long moment, processing his words. "I don't know," she said finally. "I'm not really looking for a label. I just... play."
"I get that," Jason said, keeping his voice calm and reassuring. "I'm not here to push you into anything. I'm here because I believe in what you're doing. I've been where you are—playing for the sake of the music. And I want to help you stay true to that while giving you the platform to reach more people."
Anna bit her lip, uncertainty flashing across her face. "I've had offers before. Labels that wanted to mold me into something I'm not. I don't want that."
Jason shook his head. "That's not what we're about. I'm not here to change you—I'm here to give you the freedom to create without all the industry pressure. You don't have to decide now, but I'd love for you to come by our studio sometime, meet the team, see what we're working on."
Anna hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Okay. I'll think about it."
Jason smiled, feeling a flicker of hope. "That's all I'm asking."
As Jason and Max left the house show that night, Jason felt a renewed sense of excitement. It wasn't a done deal yet, but Anna had agreed to consider it—and that was more than he could have hoped for.
"She's the real deal," Max said as they walked down the quiet street. "You think she'll sign?"
Jason shrugged. "I don't know. She's guarded. But she's got something special, and I think she knows it."
Max grinned. "Well, we'll just have to convince her that we're the right fit."
Jason nodded, feeling more certain with every step they took. He had seen it in Anna's eyes—the same hesitation he had once felt, the same fear of losing control over something so personal. But he also saw the spark, the desire to share her music with the world.
Now it was up to them to help her do it—on her terms.