Darling, just hold on

8. First time recording

Saturday 12/02/2011

Harry's POV

Zayn explained to me that we were gonna record the piano first, and after, when we would record me singing, I would hear the piano and a metronome through the headphones so I would stay in the same rhythm.

I went to sit at the piano while Louis disappeared in the hallway but directly reappeared behind the glass window in the control room. Zayn plugged a few cables in the piano and in a microphone before going to the control room himself.
I could see Louis pressing a button before starting to talk.

'You can start when you are ready. No pressure, we can always start again if you would mess up.' He said.

I showed a thumbs up and started to play. In the beginning, I was really nervous, but soon after I forgot we were recording and I just played all the emotions while singing the song in my head.
Before I knew it, the piano recording was done.

Louis busted into the room. 'That was great! Where have you learned to play the piano that well?'

'My mom told me the beginning when I was 11 or something but when I went to live with my dad, we didn't have a piano anymore so I stopped after less than a year. A few weeks ago, your stepdad told me I could use the piano in the music room in school so I just started practicing during lunchbreaks.' I told him.

'Why did you go live with your dad? Your mom sounds great.' Louis asked.

Why does he have to ask about my mom? I don't want to start crying in front of him. He will think that I'm weak or something.

'Euh, my mom died when I was 12. She was indeed really great. She had a real musical talent. I guess a lot I write, I write with her in mind' I told them already tearing up.
I looked down, hoping he didn't see it but he did.

'Hey, it is okay to miss her. It was your mom and from how you talk about her, you seemed really close. But luckily, you still have your dad.'

With that, I lost it completely and started bawling. I immediately felt Louis, wrap his arms around me to comfort me. I didn't have my dad at all. Yes, I live with him but I almost never see him.

'I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that,' Louis said, 'I don't know your situation but I know how that your emotions are strong. You show your vulnerability in your tears and in your lyrics and that helps to connect to people in music. If you need someone to talk too, you can always come to me or to my mom or Dan.' Louis continued.

'Thanks, that means a lot to me.'

Zayn came in the room. 'I finished all the settings and put the piano recording as the track so we can start when you are ready.' Zayn said.

'Would you like to record the vocals now?' Louis asked.

'Yes, but could first have a glass of water? My throat is feels really dry.' I said.

'Of course. I will go downstairs to get some water while Zayn shows you where to stand and explains how you have stand best in front of the mic and you can warm up your voice.' Louis says.

'Thanks, but how do you warm up your voice? I'm sure I've heard mom do it but I was really young and I don't really remember how to.'

'Don't worry,' Louis answered, 'Zayn knows a lot about vocal warmups. I will see you guys in a minute.' And with that, Louis went downstairs.

Zayn was being really patient with me. With every warm up we did, he explained why I needed that exercise to warm up. He also explained how the microphone works.

Louis' POV

I went downstairs to get some water, when I saw Niall and Liam in the living room. I told them Zayn and I had convinced Harry to record the song and that we already recorded the piano and that we were about to record the vocals.

'I just came downstairs to get some water for Harry while Zayn gives Harry some vocal warmups.' I told them.

'Oh, that's great. I will get some water from the fridge, and after we will all go upstairs.'

With that said and done, I entered the studio while Niall and Liam went directly to the control room.

'Here is your water, Harry. Niall and Liam are back so when you finished recording the vocals, we can eat.' I said while giving Harry the water.

'Thanks.'

'Zayn and I are going back to the control room. When I give you a thumbs up, you can start.' I tell him.

Zayn and I enter the control room and Zayn settles himself in front of the panelboard. I always get completely lost. I only know where the button is to start recording. I see Zayn press the button and I give Harry a thumbs up.

Harry is singing. It's now the fourth time I hear the song, but now that I know this is probably one of the songs, Harry wrote while thinking about his mom, I can't help but letting a few tears slide down myself.
There is so many emotions in his voice and he is so consistent.
When he is finished, I can't really believe it. It was so perfect, he only needed one take.

I was still trying to be master of my emotions when Niall exclaimed really loud.

'That was great! How aren't you famous already? I don't know about you guys but I'm starving. Let's go downstairs to eat.

Everyone agreed and we started to eat in silence.
When we finished lunch (but it was already 18.00 so maybe we had just skipped lunch and just ate dinner), Harry spoke up. 

'It's getting late, I should be going home.' He said.

'Yeah, me too. I planned a movie night with my family.' I spoke. 'I will drop you of on my way there.'

We said our goodbyes and Harry and I went to my car and drove off.

During the drive, we chatted a lot about the most random things. When I parked in front of his house, we exchanged phone numbers because I really wanted to keep talking to him. He such a nice and funny person. I really liked him.

After a quick hug, he went inside his house and I drove home.