𝐹𝐴𝑁𝑇𝐴𝑆𝐼𝑍𝐸

𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄

I woke up the next morning unaware of the time, place, hell even the year. I slept so good my bonnet was on the other side of the bed. I checked the time and my heart fell deep to my ass.

"Oh shit," I said rushing out of my bed to the bathroom. It was 9:30... and I had to be at the studio with Javon by 10. This wasn't gonna be a good first impression.

I quickly brushed my teeth and lips and moisturized. I did the basics as I didn't have time to do the rest. I checked the time and it was 9:50. Time isn't on my side today. I rushed to my closet and picked out a camo shirt and black cargo pants. I grabbed my keys and rushed out the door to my vehicle.

It was 10:10 and I was speeding while Erykah Badu played in the back. What a day already.

I finally made it to the studio and it was 10:30 at this point.

I saw Javon standing outside.

I got out of my car and walked over to him.

"Sorry I'm late" I apologized and he smiled.

"It's fine. Cmon."

We stayed silent as we walked in together. He was wearing all black and a hoodie which I assumed was to somewhat hide his identity and avoid people making headlines about me "seeing someone." It was unnecessary but whatever floats his boat.

We made our way to my booth and he looked around and found his way to the front desk where all the techy stuff was. I don't know what any of it is I haven't produced a song since my debut album.

He opened the computer and looked at my files of unreleased songs I had. Honestly, I wanted to snatch the computer away so he wouldn't see 'Fantasize' because at the moment I'm embarrassed by the song but whatever.

"Most of them are acapella that I haven't found a beat to. Nothing my old producer suggested fit the vibe of the song." I said while he was scrolling and listening to some.

"I like this one." He said referring to a song I hated called "True Story"

"Really? It's not much I mean the lyrics are pretty dry. Not my best writing." I said

"The lyrics are actually pretty good, you just need good production to go with it. Here, listen to this." He opened his Macbook and played an instrumental. It sounded like something you would hear from Aaliyah or Britney Spears almost.

"Do you like it?" He said looking at me anticipating my answer.

"Actually yeah. You made this?" I said.

"Yeah, I was just messing around with some old sounds and came up with this."

"Let me try something." He said. He sent the 'True Story' file to himself and placed the two sounds together.

He played the song fully through and honestly, I liked it a whole bunch more than I did before.

"What do you think?" He said with a straight face.

I was in genuine shock, I mean he basically took a song I was close to deleting and made it song Grammy nomination-worthy.

"I-it's amazing. But maybe I could re-record some vocals?" I replied.

He smiled and motioned to the recording booth where the recording happened and I stepped up to the mic ready to record.

"Ready when you are," I told him and he started the track.

I got closer to the microphone and sang harmonies and different adlibs. I noticed him looking at me like a mesmerized child who found the one person they have deep idolization for.

"That sounds amazing.." He said.

"Are you okay?" He said and I laughed.

"Like seriously those notes were a little .. high." He said looking genuinely concerned.

"I'm fine." I giggled.

"Bring me back to the first verse." I requested and he did. He played the track and I re-recorded the entire verse.

I kept glancing at him — it's like when I look at him it gives me this spark to just sing more. Hard to explain.

"Wait stop." He said and I looked at him.

He started erasing the paper I had with the lyrics to the song.

"Come get this." He demanded and I did dutifully.

I looked at the new verse and hard to admit the fact that I actually liked it. I wasn't fond of the idea of ghostwriters as it takes away from creativity and originality. Writing also helps me actually connect to a song. What do I look like singing about being a side chick when I ... never have been?

Though I do hate the fact that he wrote part of the song for me, I could still relate to it and it met the goals that I wanted it to. It's like he took the original part I wrote, correctly interpreted it, and made it his own that I could still enjoy.

I walked back into the recording booth and he gave me a thumbs up indicating for me to start. I sang the verse and I could see him from my peripheral vision smiling hard.

I laughed and he paused the track.

"What's funny?" He asked genuinely.

"You." I chuckled.

"What I do?"

"You're smiling so hard."

"Because you sound..." He paused to think of a word to describe my voice.

"Like a seashell." He said and I looked at him confused. Very .. ambiguous.

"Or like a siren. You have a voice that .." He paused again to gather his thoughts.

"It's like a hug, a subtle invitation into a deep hug."

"But." He said and I got a little scared.

"For this verse specifically I want you to sing with more emotion." He explained. I took his words to heart and told him to start the track again.

I recorded the verse with his words in my mind. After about 5 minutes of recording, I told him to stop the track so we could listen to it. It sounded ... out of this world.

He looked at me in amazement and I returned the look.

"What do you think?" He asked.

"Words can't describe it," I said and he smiled. Ole white boy can actually make some music I see.

"Is that good..?" He said which was cute.

"It's everlastingly euphoric." I started.

"I didn't expect you to .. have the ability to do this," I said.

"Do what?"

"You made me enamored with a song I hate," I told him.

I replayed the verse again in similar amazement. I was enraptured by the way he made this sound.

"Yeah..." I said as the track ended.

"You're going to be a great help," I said thinking about how he could make this album sound. He has a true talent that makes me fervid.

He stood up and pulled me into an unexpected hug. It took me a second to return it as I was a little shocked by the action but ended up returning.

"Okay let's do some more." He said exuberantly.

I nodded and he continued to scroll through the files I had.

He is way better at this than I expected.