Inside the radio broadcasting studio, Iris wore headphones and sat in front of a microphone while conversing with one of the most popular radio hosts in the country, DJ Song.
DJ Song and JJ were friends. As a result, JJ's artists frequently guested in DJ Song's radio show. And now, Iris was experiencing this benefit.
The previous Iris Long guested in countless radio shows, but was never invited to DJ Song's radio show before. Aside from being a DJ, he was also known as a harsh music critic. He shared the same high standards as his friend, JJ.
With the previous Iris Long's shallow songs, how could she expect to be invited by DJ Song? She would just be asking him to shred her to pieces with his criticisms.
Now, however, was different. Although she could sense DJ Song's reservations about her, he was polite because she was now one of JJ's artists.
The show was being broadcast live on air on radio. In addition, there were also video cameras mounted in different locations within the studio and a cameraman moving around inside to livestream online.
Iris was very calm and eloquent, surprising DJ Song and the staff working on the other side of the studio's glass partition.
At the start of the interview, they talked about general things and her abrupt retirement. She briefly shared about the accident and her coma, basically repeating what she said at her "MusicFest Tonight" interview the night before.
DJ Song made some sympathetic noises but quickly moved on from the topic. He and JJ had an agreement that more focus should be placed on her upcoming album.
DJ Song: "How did you come to work with Old J? I know what he's like. He won't accept just anyone."
Iris laughed lightly and everyone thought that her laughter sounded lovely.
Iris: "Indeed. Mr. JJ has extremely high standards, but that's also why I was determined to work with him. Who doesn't want to work with the best, right? I sent him a couple of demo tapes. And then I got a call from him and that's how everything started."
DJ Song: "That's it? He accepted you just like that?"
Iris: "Of course not. How could it be that easy? Let's just say that he liked the songs I sent him but was doubtful about me because my previous musical style was very different. In the end, we ended up meeting for lunch and he dared me to perform live at the restaurant. I accepted the challenge and as they say, the rest is history."
DJ Song: "In other words, he made you audition."
Iris: "Now that I think about it, yes, maybe that was my audition. It's one of my most memorable experiences, the first time that I performed with this new musical style in front of a live audience."
DJ Song: "Were you nervous?"
Iris: "Of course. I think that anyone who is dared by Mr. JJ to perform on the spot will feel nervous."
DJ Song: "Ahahaha! That's true. But not me. I'm not afraid of that old man."
Everyone laughed.
DJ Song: "What's it like working personally with Old J? I hope he didn't make you cry. He has a reputation of reducing his artists to tears with his extremely high standards and demands. Difficult guy to work with, right?"
Iris: "No, he didn't make me cry."
DJ Song: "Really? Congratulations! How rare."
She chuckled.
Iris: "As for being difficult…I don't see him that way. We all know that he has extremely high standards. And that's why I wanted to work with him in the first place. Instead of saying he's difficult, I think it's more appropriate to say that he's adept in giving out constructive criticisms."
DJ Song: "That's a nice way to put it, but you're right. He has difficult demands from his artists because he wants to draw out their full potentials. Hearing you say all these about him, it seems that your experience working with him was harmonious?"
Iris: "Absolutely not. We actually fought a lot while recording."
DJ Song: "What? You fought with Old J and you're still alive and sane?"
Everyone laughed.
DJ Song: "What did you fight about?"
Iris: "Differences in our ideas. He had all sorts of ideas on how to perfect my songs for their final versions, but I didn't always agree with him. I composed all the songs in the album myself, so I feel…hmm, protective of them, I guess. As the composer, I have a vision in my head on how I want each of my songs to sound like. Mr. JJ and I fought a lot because our visions differed from one another."
DJ Song: "Oh, I see. So what happened? How did you resolve these differences in your visions?"
Iris: "A lot of fighting…I mean, debating. But in the end, we were able to reach a compromise that made both of us satisfied with the final results."
DJ Song: "Wow. Let me just say that I'm impressed with you for being able to stand up against Old J. I know what he's like. He's very stubborn and likes to get what he wants, especially when it comes to music."
Iris: "Yes, but I'm also very stubborn and like to get what I want when it comes to music. Especially now. Back then, I always let others decide the music I sang. I followed others' lead. I don't want to be like that anymore. I want the freedom to choose my own music. I want to feel comfortable whenever I sing and perform. I want to be myself."
DJ Song: "I see. Makes sense. Very inspiring."
Iris: "Thank you."
DJ Song: "And now do you feel that you're being yourself? Will this be your musical style from now on?"
Iris: "Yes, I feel very much like myself now so I'm very happy and grateful to Mr. JJ for giving me this opportunity. As for this musical style, I'm not going to say anything definite. Like I said, I want freedom when it comes to music. That means that I'm going to do my best to sing songs from the heart. My emotions change, so I think that it's only natural that my music will also change based on my life experiences. Also, I want to develop my composing skills so exploring different kinds of styles might prove useful to me."
DJ Song: "That sounds exciting. It looks like this is only the start of us seeing the new Iris Long, folks! It seems that she has more in store for all of us!"
I don't condone R-A-P-E.
Jin Liwei is a yandere but not a rapist. Iris is innocent but not entirely clueless. She's still exploring her sexuality. If she doesn't like his actions, she has the ability & guts to cut off his pen*s & shove it down his throat. Their currently fast & imbalanced relationship is deliberate for later character development. Also remember that this is a "fiction" novel.
...
Mass release tomorrow, my beloved readers. Thank you for the love!
After the initial interview, Iris performed "Phantom of Your Love" to promote her upcoming album "Rebirth".
DJ Song looked solemn as he watched and listened to her singing opposite him with so much emotion. Some of the staff, especially the female ones, working on the other side of the studio's glass partition were crying as they listened to such a heartbreaking song.
Tang Yiyi and Dom were with the staff. Dom clasped his hands tightly together while looking at his boss like a proud mama. He would wipe tears from his red eyes with a handkerchief now and then.
After the song, DJ Song interviewed her again briefly about "Phantom of Your Love."
Iris: "This is actually the song that I performed when Mr. JJ dared me at the restaurant."
DJ Song: "Oh really? So this is your audition song. Now I see why Old J would sign you up after hearing you sing this song. Wow. Such a beautiful song, Iris. Now I really believe that you have talent as a composer."
Iris: "Thank you very much, DJ Song. I appreciate it. But I know that I still have a long way to go, so I will work harder."
DJ Song: "Good to hear. So what are you going to sing for us next, Iris?"
Iris: "I'm going to sing a cover."
DJ Song: "Oh? Interesting. What is it?"
Iris: "It's an English song. I won't say the title because I think that everyone will recognize it once I start singing."
DJ Song: "Now I'm getting excited. Can you tell us why you chose to sing this cover?"
Iris: "All the songs from my album 'Rebirth' are very emotional, so I thought that I should sing something upbeat for a change of pace. And also the song itself, especially the title when you hear me sing it shortly, is relevant to me…to what happened to me. It is also to show my determination in coming back."
DJ Song: "Alright. Let's hear it, then. Ladies and gentlemen, let's give it up again for Iris Long!"
A familiar piano melody reverberated, then the beat changed and Iris began singing this classic English song.
"At first I was afraid, I was petrified…"
DJ Song's eyebrows rose and his entire face brightened. The staff, Dom and Tang Yiyi began cheering and clapping on the other side of the glass partition. Their bodies started to bounce in time with the beat of the music.
"I've got all my life to live
And I've got all my love to give and I'll survive
I will survive, hey, hey!"
Iris was dancing while singing on her seat. She performed like it was a concert, gesturing and looking at her audience. DJ Song was clearly enjoying himself. She turned and saw her manager and assistant together with the staff on the other side of the glass partition. Dom was busting his best moves, shaking his booty.
Everyone was enjoying themselves. Even the cameraman couldn't help but shake his hips, but had to hold himself back because viewers would complain if the camera view wasn't steady. It was very difficult not to dance with this song.
It was at this moment that the listener and viewer counts skyrocketed.
The musical arrangement was a little different from the original version. Iris personally customized it for herself. She removed the original disco vibe and made it sound more modern. It showcased the power and range of her vocals, even adding a small portion to display some unexpected vocal acrobatics, reaching such high notes that shocked everyone.
DJ Song abruptly stood up from his seat, his eyes and mouth wide open, as he looked in shock at Iris. He felt goosebumps all over his body.
"I will survive!"
When the song ended, everyone stood up, clapping and cheering enthusiastically.
Iris also stood up and bowed to everyone. She waved to the cameraman, to the online viewers watching the livestream.
Iris: "Thank you. Thank you very much!"
Her light laughter tinkled like crystal bells. She also enjoyed herself.
It took almost a minute before DJ song was able to regain his senses.
DJ Song: "Wow. Wow! What was that? What just happened? Iris Long, you are on fire! Amazing!"
Iris: "Thank you, DJ Song."
DJ Song: "You are so full of surprises. I am so shocked. I'm sure everyone is as shocked as everyone of us here in the studio. Wow."
They talked for a few more moments.
For her final song, Iris sang another song from her album. She sang "Black Star". It was currently the most anticipated song from her album, especially after her performance on last night's episode of "MusicFest Tonight".
After singing, Iris and DJ Song talked a bit more before easing to the end of the radio show. Iris said a few words to promote her album before saying her thanks and goodbye to the listeners and the online viewers.
Finally, the radio show ended and everyone stood up and clapped. DJ Song, especially the staff, were all feeling ecstatic because they didn't expect to receive such high listener and viewer counts for this episode.
It may not be a record-breaker, but it was already impressive especially when the guest was not an A-lister.
The anticipation towards Iris Long's upcoming album "Rebirth" exploded almost to fever pitch. Its momentum was unstoppable.
Happy New Year!!!
This is the moment that you've all been waiting for. We just had the Christmas mass release, but because you're all so awesome, I want to show you my gratitude with another mass release!
Yay yay!
Mass release today~
There will be 5 chapters all ready for your enjoyment.
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