Chapter 253
Kang Si-yoon, who read the contents on the tablet, tilted his head with a slightly questioning expression.
"I expected that another idol's comeback would overlap with another, but I didn't think it would be a rookie. It's a bit unusual to debut a rookie without pushing Connex."
When Seleste was first active, it overlapped with Haillight, who was considered the best in the second-tier lineup, and when they were second active, it overlapped with solo artists who were strong in the music charts.
So I expected that this activity would overlap with someone else.
I honestly didn't know that a rookie idol group would be the target.
"I thought we would have a head-on confrontation with Connex someday, but it's not Connex, but a rookie from Connex's agency."
"That's why the manager said it's neither very good nor very bad."
While Song Hyung-bin agreed with Kang Si-yoon, Chae Eun-gyu looked at the planning manager, tapping fingers on the table.
"They are from a verified agency, but no matter where you go, rookies are rookies."
"It's exactly as Mr. Eun-gyu said. Even though both are rookies, Seleste debuted with the recognition they gained through a survival program, while rookie groups that debut directly from regular agencies don't have that advantage. So I don't think there will be much pressure, but aren't there so many variables?"
I nodded after hearing the planning manager's words.
There are many variables everywhere in the world, but this is especially true in the entertainment industry.
Even if you're a rookie, there are definitely cases where you can blow up all at once.
If you're from a company with a good name and power, the possibility of that happening is even greater.
It's definitely not good news for Seleste, who wants to go higher.
Having a competitor means that there will be more checks and balances.
The planning manager adjusted his glasses and smiled.
"It's unexpected news, but as I said earlier, I don't think it will be a big problem for us. Of course, it's important to know which members the competing group consists of and what quality song they debut with, but we won't fall behind either."
Confidence in a relaxed atmosphere.
Sigma Entertainment has high expectations for the best resources they have.
Seleste, who has proven it with their successive successes and has brought valuable results at award ceremonies after beating out numerous competitors.
Also, all preparations for the current comeback are proceeding smoothly without any problems.
The quality of the album is excellent, needless to say, and the members are following along well.
"So, we should keep that in mind, but I think we should just focus on our work."
"That's right. Since we're talking about 'work', I have something to tell you!"
Yoo Min-ha waved his hand with sparkling eyes.
Then he slapped Heo Yu-bin on the back, who was sitting next to him.
"Yubin, hurry up and tell them! Hurry up!"
"No, no, I'm not ready yet."
"There's no need to be timid now, Yubin."
"Ugh."
When I said a word, Heo Yubin bit his lips and agonized.
When he confirmed that everyone's eyes in the conference room were on him, his worries seemed to deepen, but soon he raised one hand, trembling as if he had made a big decision.
"Uh, uh....... I have something to tell you."
"You can speak slowly, Yubin."
When Heo Yubin's voice cracked slightly, the planning manager smiled kindly and encouraged him.
Yoo Minha continued to rub his arm and smiled brightly.
"I, I made one song......."
"There's still room for the songs. And we can always increase the number of tracks."
"Ho, how!"
When the content he wanted to say came out right away, Heo Yu-bin was surprised.
One of the A&R team members next to the planning manager raised the corners of his mouth with a meaningful look in his eyes.
"I heard a witness story that he's always stuck in the studio until late, so of course I know that much."
"W-was I rude?"
"Oh, not at all. Rather, the manager was happy that there was someone who actively used the studio."
"Hu....."
It seems that the A&R team members knew that Heo Yu-bin was composing in the studio until late.
Of course, it's rare for idols to go to the office building outside of their regular practice schedules.
Even if they were secretly composing songs, it would be difficult to hide the fact.
"So, Yu-bin, how much of the song is done?"
"It's almost done if I just do a little more final mastering."
"What's the genre?"
"Medium Urban Pop! Oh, I brought the file just in case...... !"
Ordinary people can't tell what kind of song it is just by hearing the words.
As if he had expected that, Heo Yu-bin took out a USB from his pocket and handed it to the planning manager.
"Then, let's listen to it."
The planning manager must have said it lightly, but Heo Yu-bin's expression was more tense than ever.
The expression I saw during
'That makes sense.'
Heo Yu-bin had said that composing was very fun even before his debut.
He didn't have much confidence, but he seemed happier than ever when he was composing and editing songs.
Even after achieving his dream of debuting as Seleste, Heo Yu-bin continued to say.
One day, he will fill our album with songs he composed.
The first step toward that bold goal.
As this is the moment when he will decide whether his first leap was sufficient, Heo Yu-bin must be very nervous.
The planning manager clicked on the file on the USB, and Heo Yu-bin's self-composed song began to play through the speakers in the conference room.
A somewhat dreamy yet sophisticated synthesizer.
The combination of the colorful melody lines and the dreamy synthesizer made it feel like exploring a dream.
The word mysterious seemed the most appropriate.
It felt completely different from the intense and majestic title songs that had come out so far.
One of the A&R team members, who had been listening to the song with his eyes closed, muttered his impressions to himself.
"It's like a dream......."
The song that Heo Yu-bin prepared for about 2 minutes finished playing.
Those who had their eyes tightly shut slowly opened them.
Immediately after the song ended, several A&R team members nodded their heads in admiration.
It felt like everyone in the conference room was concentrating on Heo Yu-bin's self-composed song.
"The atmosphere is really good."
A word from the planning manager broke the silence.
He continued talking while caressing the USB plugged into the laptop port.
"As you all know, the title song
"It doesn't have a bright feeling, but it doesn't seem to be far from the album concept - right?"
We worked on the overall atmosphere of the album, targeting a comeback during the spring season.
The songs that were included seem to have been prepared to match the title song, which contains a message of a new beginning.
Certainly, spring is not just about bright and cheerful feelings.
It's somewhat hazy and dreamlike.
The dreamy atmosphere of the song also seemed to strangely fit well with the spring season.
"It's so sophisticated and good, even though it's the first time I've heard it?"
"Hey, why haven't you ever let us hear it?"
"Aish, hyung! Stop it! It was a surprise!"
"No matter what, I was curious!"
Kang Si-yoon playfully pinched Heo Yu-bin's cheek and then laughed loudly.
"You made it well. It was nice to listen to."
"Really?"
"Of course. If only the lyrics were good, it would be perfect."
Thanks to the members' praise, Heo Yu-bin finally escaped from his nervous state.
In
The person who gave the most important help to Song Hyung-bin, who was confused in his position as the leader, was Heo Yu-bin.
While utilizing the tremendous talent that can be seen even at this moment.
I recalled Heo Yu-bin's confident smile that I saw for the first time at that time.
"I had no doubt that you would have done well, Yu-bin."
"I was so nervous because it was the first time I was officially showing a song I composed by myself."
"It's natural to feel that way. But didn't you overcome that burden and prove it wonderfully?"
Heo Yu-bin's self-composed song that received good reviews from everyone.
The planning manager said that he would contact the producers right after the meeting and work on registering the song.
And he said that he plans to finish mastering the song and writing the lyrics as quickly as possible before moving on to recording.
"Even though it seems like there's still some time left, time passes in the blink of an eye. We'll have to pick up the pace from here, so everyone, please follow along."
"Yes!"
The members all responded loudly with energetic voices.
Then, the meeting ended with announcing the schedule for the promotional video and concept photo shoot.
"Yubin, tell me a little bit more about the song you're making. I wanted to write lyrics too."
"Let's start from the beginning for the next album together."
"That's great! Oh, will there ever be a day when we can make the title song?"
"Siyoon, what are we going to eat for dinner tonight?"
"Well, I don't have much grocery shopping, so I might have to order it."
"...Hyung, you'll gain weight if you do that."
"You just have to exercise as much as you gain."
While watching the members leaving the conference room while chatting with each other, I was the last one to leave the conference room.
The topic changed to Heo Yu-bin's self-composed song, so it was less than before, but there was still a lingering uneasy feeling somewhere in my heart.
News about a new idol debuting under COC Entertainment.
What on earth makes me feel this strange?
If I had to define it, it wasn't a bad or unpleasant feeling.... or something ominous.
For some reason, all the muscles in my body seemed to instinctively tense up.
And a few days later.
Why I felt that way, the reason was revealed.
"Hey, Karis. Did you see that?"
"What are you talking about?"
"A new idol from COC. They started releasing individual teasers."
After finishing the choreography practice for the title song
Kang Si-yoon waved his phone at me after I stopped by the bathroom to wash my hands.
"Where?"
"I was looking at the COC Bluebird account, and it just showed up."
I sat down on the sofa and quickly looked down at Kang Si-yoon's phone.
The new idol group Jerene, officially debuting under COC Entertainment.
After reading the brief description, it seems to be a combination of 'Generation' and 'Next'.
Below the promotional message, there were individual videos of each member.
Among them, there was one thumbnail that caught my eye.
"...."
"Oh, you have similar eyes. He's handsome. He's even a foreigner, similar to you? He doesn't seem to be from Estonia, though."
I froze for a moment when I saw the face in the video.
The flowing golden hair, the chin that fell in a smooth curve, the skin as white as snow, the high nose.
Looking at the gray eyes that could not be found in a Korean, I could only think of one thing.
How on earth.
Is this guy here?
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