Little did I know this trip to LA would be my last time being the Zaiden I used to be. I flew into LA, and already Shay and CJ were texting and calling asking where I went. I guess they had gone by my house after seeing I turned off my location, when they went to my house my parents answered. See the thing is I said i was gonna spend the week with a couple friends at the beach and they bought it. Until those said friends showed up at the front door asking where I was. I checked my phone while in the Uber to the hotel my manager Abby had booked for my stay. My parents were blowing up my phone, I had made the choice to call them back and explain the situation I'm in. And that i wanted this, and this is an opportunity for me to grow and be myself. They were concerned about me at first but after telling them I would be back home after everything was finished cleared their heads a little bit.
Once the Uber had pulled up to the hotel my eyes were in awe at my surroundings. I had only seen LA through the comfort of my own phone, but seeing it in person was even more crazy. It felt like a movie set, everyone that was walking by was well put together, wearing designer clothes that made my sweatpants and tank top look like I was just coming back from being on a ten day bender. I got to my hotel room and immediately called Abby to tell her I was here.
"Hey Abby I just got to the hotel", I said looking at the nude painting Infront of my eyes , quite a weird painting to be above the bed by the way
"Great, I'm so glad to hear that! if you want to I would love to grab lunch and go over your days here" Abby said seeming thrilled I had made it in one piece
"Of course I would love to", I said still looking at this mans bussom just hanging on the wall
"Yay, meet me at joe's Café at around 2", Abby said hanging up the phone
It was 11 so I had plenty of time to get ready. I decided on wearing black baggy jeans and a white baby tee with my beat up converse that I've had since probably 9th grade. I'm still getting used to having to dress like I'm in LA and my wardrobe doesn't really fit that. Most of my clothes are thrifted or hand me downs from Shay or CJ. I'm definitely going to go shopping here and broaden my horizons clothes wise.
Weirdly enough I didn't have the urge to call CJ, But even if I did he was posting on Instagram his new skating montages. So I'm sure he's not as concerned as he seemed to be when he showed up at my house.
I arrived at the cafe where I saw Abby already sitting in a freshly pressed suit and a coffee in hand. I don't know how she does it, its literally 90 degrees out and she's wearing a whole ass suit.
"Hey Abby!!" I said to her causing her to get up from her seat and hugging me
"Hey Zaiden its so nice to see you face to face, and may I say you are so beautiful", She said scanning my body. I guess to be in LA or in the industry you have to look the part both of those I felt like I didn't fit the criteria
"Thank you, Your suit is giving off girl boss in the best possible way", I say awkwardly sitting in my chair
"Ah just the vibes I was going for, So I wanted to meet today to go over what we have planned for these upcoming weeks." She said taking a sip from her coffee
"Of course there's no need to rush things, but I would love to have this single out as soon as possible. I feel like everyone wants it now and I don't want it to become irrelevant", I said explaining how I feel
"Oh I agree one hundred percent on that i like the way you think Z, I feel like we have to rush the song coming out, but I wanted to talk to you about your presence and get to know you a little bit'" Abby said
"Of course what do you want to know", I asked eager to just get this meeting over
"So I know your from North Carolina but what do you do for fun, And what audience do you want to target with your career with Indie Records", Abby said leaning forward onto the small table that lies beneath both of us
"Well North Carolina is North Carolina so really just finding parties and having fun. But as for audience, I went with you guys in particular because you guys have signed some of the most iconic indie singers and I would love to target that same audience", I said fidgeting with my hands, I have always done this in situations I don't feel comfortable in. Maybe its from me not doing my daily dose of happy medicine or just the nerves of thinking this is my future now
"So from what I'm hearing your kinda a bad girl", Abby said smirking
"You could say that", I said laughing
"Well good because we need more of those and you definitely fit the box, next thing I want to talk to you about is your presence. As everyone knows your just a girl in a dark room, No one knows who Zaiden is, And I think we should show them the Zaiden you are. Would you be willing to uncover this mysterious vibe you got going", Abby asked almost looking into my soul hoping I would say yes
"Yes of course, I had already planned on it.", I said making Abby's expression happier then I could imagine
"Great! that's what I wanted to hear. So about this week, Tomorrow your going to be in the studio and recording "sweet nothings", And then the next day we are going to do interviews, I have one lined up with genius and then little magazine articles one being our own magazine showing light to new artists. After that we are going to promote the fuck out of the song, I mean posting it everywhere, Tiktok, Instagram, even Facebook. This song is going to be #1 on the indie charts by the end of the week Zaiden. Your a star and everyone will know that by Thursday" Abby said just reading this all off the top of her head
"that's a lot but I like the sound of it, as for social media I don't have that many followers you know because uh I am a nobody", I said taking a big breathe of air
"Oh girl we got you covered on that. we can post something tomorrow of you recording in the studio and you will be at 100k followers in an hour", She said waving it off like its no problem
Its so crazy that this is all moving so fast. I mean I want it too, but literally in four days everyone will know Zaiden Jones. The fear was already there but now its even deeper, what if the song flops and I'm a laughing joke. What if I spent all this time in LA for nothing. I guess we will find out.
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Desiderium
RomanceDesiderium- an ardent desire or longing Zaiden never imagined her life would change when she uploaded one song on SoundCloud but here she is on tour, going to after parties, and falling into the rock star lifestyle.
