Topist Entertainment, A&R Team General Manager Jung So-hyun.
She was calmly flipping through a magazine featuring interviews with the members of Seven.
[…A rookie girl group sweeping the rookie award at the Golden Disc. We met Seven. “I didn’t even know there was an interview. What should we do?” They seemed even more nervous than during the tumultuous ‘Bold 3’. Once the interview started, the rookies were nowhere to be seen as the members confidently displayed their vibrant selves.]
Taking a sip of her coffee from a mug, she exhaled her thoughts.
“It’s good.”
In her mind, she was picturing the new landscape of the 4th generation girl groups set to debut.
Although there were numerous dark horses in the 4th generation, there was only one front-runner.
Like ‘Coral Blue’ from the 3rd generation, the top representative of a generation was still unknown.
‘Lepro has launched a pure girl group…’
ZY, JS, Haru.
The remaining four major entertainment agencies had delayed their girl group launches, so it was only natural.
And then there was Seven, the newly emerged front-runner of the current 4th generation girl groups.
But in a year, Seven was destined to disband anyway.
The important part was the moment after that, when each company launched new girl groups centered around the members of Seven.
Jung So-hyun’s hand stopped flipping through the magazine.
What caught her eye was a page filled with a photo of Do-hee.
Do-hee was sporting a playful smile.
Jung So-hyun suddenly recalled the day she first met Do-hee.
The casting team leader Kim Jin-woo had made a fuss about a girl who immediately convinced her at first sight.
One of the top visuals in the entertainment industry, with a tiny face and fair skin.
Moreover, she was growing taller by the day.
“I didn’t expect her to grow this tall.”
Of course, her height was welcomed as it fit the concept of the girl group she envisioned.
The debut team members were also tall.
168 cm Na-eun.
169 cm Chiyo.
And Woo-ah, who had just surpassed 170 cm.
As for Seo-yoon… well, styling would solve that issue.
Jung So-hyun resumed skimming through the magazine interview.
[Q: You played the piano extremely well. How did you end up giving it up and getting interested in becoming an idol?]
[A: I originally had a personality that enjoyed the stage. I guess I was a bit hungry for attention (laughter). At the time, I felt like the piano competition stage was quite static, and then I happened to get cast by the casting team leader at Topist. While I was wondering what it would feel like to be on the idol stage, um… this might sound a bit embarrassing. I felt a strong desire from the agency that they wanted me. So I just went for it on a whim? (laughter)]
I was feeling something, and just then, I received a casting call from the current agency’s Team Leader, Topist. While I was lost in thought, wondering what it feels like to be on an idol stage, um… it’s a bit embarrassing to say this, but I strongly felt that the agency wanted me. So, I just acted on impulse? (laughs)
Recruiting Do-hee was a stroke of luck.
[Q: Do-hee is known as a high-spec idol. Besides her impressive competition records, I heard she got 100s on all her tests from elementary to middle school.]
[A: (cutely laughing) I think I studied quite diligently. I enjoyed learning something new every day rather than just playing.]
She was different right from the start.
But sometimes, Do-hee’s high-spec image also cultivated numerous anti-fans.
In fact, Do-hee was one of the members who received the most negative comments in Seven.
‘We definitely need to respond to this.’
Of course, that was a matter for the management department, so it wasn’t something she would handle herself.
All she could do was hope that Seo-yoon would take good care of Do-hee as an older sister.
[Q: I’ve heard various testimonies from the members about Do-hee’s usual personality. (laughs) They say she has a surprisingly clumsy and naïve side.]
[A: (flustered) Who? Who said that?]
[Identity protected for privacy.]
“Whoa…”
Still, seeing that side of her makes me realize worrying is a waste.
Rather, it’s more concerning to worry about her unpredictability.
[Q: By the way, I heard there’s a story that follows Do-hee when you search her name. (laughs) It’s about how she took a picture on her phone instead of a fan’s phone.]
[A: I was a bit flustered at that time…]
[Q: (laughs) And the notebook was filled with practicing signatures?]
[A: That was because my classmates asked for my autograph in advance. (looking innocent) It’s true!]
[The interviewer felt that Do-hee was definitely a cute youngest member with a clumsy side.]
Well, at least this clumsiness means fewer anti-fans, so perhaps that’s a blessing.
“Right.”
Having a not-so-perfect image is actually better.
Do-hee’s charm lies in those points.
“Team Leader! I got a call from the artist who’s working on the topline.”
Jung So-hyun snapped out of her thoughts at the report from her subordinate. She put down the magazine for the trainees debuting next year and began her work.
“Is that Ho-yeon? He’s more accustomed to receiving tracks first and then working on the topline, so have him pick about five of our demos that fit the concept well and come to me for confirmation.”
“Come get it confirmed.”
*
Morning sunlight streamed through the window.
The ceiling of the dorm came into view.
I was already starting to miss home and Do-ah’s head.
Three days off felt way too short.
Time flew by while I spent cozy moments with the Topist members, school friends, and family.
“Ha…”
Checking my phone, it was already 8 AM.
I felt a swell of pride at having woken up like a ghost right on schedule.
“Yeah, even if it’s a hassle, I need to stick to my routine.”
The first step back to normal life was stretching.
As I was loosening my stiff body with stretches, I heard the diligent Hana Unni’s voice from the kitchen.
“Ah, who drank my gut health yogurt again!”
Was it the loud noise that made Chan-rin Unni groggily get up, her messy hair in disarray?
“Ha…”
“Good morning.”
“Seriously… why is that Unni like this so early…?”
Meanwhile, Sara Unni was soundly asleep, hugging a teddy bear.
I thought about wanting to swipe that bear away.
Just then, from outside came Ha-rang Unni’s treacherous voice, in the service of Hana Unni.
“The youngest ate it!”
Heavy footsteps approached the room, and the door swung open.
Hana Unni was holding an empty bottle of gut health yogurt.
“Do-hee, did you drink it?”
“Good morning~”
It was tasty.
At sixteen, I was finally at the age to care about gut health.
“Ugh, fill it up if you’re going to drink it!”
But I wasn’t the only one at fault.
“But Chan-rin Unni drank some too.”
Now that we were used to dorm life and had grown closer as members, sharing food from the fridge had become a routine.
Even Chan-rin Unni, who was sensitive about her personal space, was actively participating in this culture.
“I only drank it because Unni told me to!”
…?
“You drank it first, though!”
Chan-rin Unni had really become bold.
We agreed that Hana Unni and I would buy a box of drinks together.
*
After the morning fiasco,
“What’s with the leafy breakfast?”
“Stick to the diet. Oh, and Do-hee, you kept posting food pics all vacation?”
“Salads suddenly taste so good.”
After waking the members and enjoying a delicious breakfast, we dressed comfortably and headed to the Shock Entertainment building.
The comeback preparations were officially starting.
At the end of February, we were scheduled to make a comeback with a single album.
And today, we gathered in the meeting room of Shock Entertainment’s A&R team.
This was because we received the news from our manager that the title track for the single album had been confirmed.
The A&R team leader, with a confident face, played the song for us.
The song flowed out in a guide version.
The members gasped in awe.
“Oh…”
“Wow…”
“It’s great.”
A rhythmic groove was felt, combining a disco-based funky rhythm and a drum pattern frequently used in Black music.
Within the groove, a sophisticated synth sound.
Especially, the synth pop highlighted the synthesized sound of the bass’s final note processed in the chorus.
Above all, it felt like something was tickling inside as we listened.
“Isn’t it good?”
“Yes! It’s amazing.”
‘I liked the debut song, but somehow this one is more my style.’
It brought forth a refreshing feeling of a boy or a girl’s youth, evoking nostalgia.
“This song is a masterpiece of ours.”
The excited team leader, perhaps having many things to say, began a rapid-fire explanation.
“First of all, the album name is Daydream. The working title of the title song is ‘Thirst.'”
The previous album was called Aurora Dawn. This time, it’s Daydream. Talking about the day.
“And the concept? In the debut song, you were rebellious girls who wouldn’t be tied down by the world, right? But this time, it’s the story of those girls who can’t help but be bound and yearn for love.”
Indeed, the rebellious mood from the debut song had disappeared.
Only the refreshing essence of a girl remained.
Maybe that’s why the guide vocal had a somewhat husky voice, giving a sense of appeal.
I felt like a husky-voiced part would really suit me.
“Moreover, there’s a Y2K wave in the fashion world these days, right? The music industry is showing similar movements lately; it’s becoming common to borrow rhythms from the 2000s.”
Just recently, my outfit for the year-end stage was Y2K too. The Y2K retro boom isn’t limited to any particular field; it’s a trend showing up everywhere.
“You might have felt it while listening, but our song takes the rhythm from the pop king of the 2000s, Michael Jackson, and stylishly transforms it. A polished rhythm that teens and twenties, not to mention thirty-somethings, will feel nostalgia for and love, right?”
Thirties… huh…
Looking back, maybe I liked the debut song better?
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