That Exclusive Honey

II.

Coco sat in her home studio avoiding the eyes of her team of producers. She leaned forwards, her elbows resting on the desk space and her head in her hands. Her black hoodie was open, showing off a gift from Joe. The company that made the hoodie he gifted her, had a new maxi dress, and the fitted brown material molded to her skin. She knew he went above and beyond when her PA remarked on how the item didn't come out until the fall. Topped with the hoodie and tan sheepskin slippers, Coco was ready for bed more than she was for the studio.

"Alright, what ideas do you have?" Gerrie, her main producetress, asked. "You said, new year, new ideas."

Though she kept to herself in the industry, her team was close and she trusted them, especially Gerrie. She had multiple songs where Gerrie's heavy and soulful vocals were in the layering. It was rare the producer stepped up to the mic, but when she did, Coco was always grateful. There was something about the blend of their voices that always made Coco happy and excited to sing with Gerrie. However, when Gerrie was in her producer mode, she was all about keeping Coco pushing forward with innovation and newness.

"So, if I say I haven't thought about it, would you all yell at me?"

"No, but we're side eyeing you girl." Anniea, another close industry friend snickered. "We give you a damn deadline and you'll drop a project ten minutes after agreeing to our plan."

Coco's head shot up and she pursed her glossed lips. "That was one time and it worked!"

Five years ago, Coco dropped her "self-titled" album, Yayha, on a Wednesday morning, with no promotion. This time she wanted a "self-titled" album, but with her real name attached to it. Everyone knew her as Yayha, when her fans were being funny they used Nashae. However, she hadn't produced any music in her whole career where her real name was listed as the writer or producer.

"I don't want to do what I've already done,' Coco hummed.

Then it hit her.

"I might not have thought about what the next project will be, but, there are some songs I have been creating and thinking about. It's more pop based, though, however, I think I want to do small EP projects through out the year. Maybe four?"

"Are we touring this?" Anniea asked.

"Probably, but the tours would be small. Intimate. I'm not trying to go on a world tour right now."

"So, these four projects?"

Coco opened up a document folder that had different songs saved. "I want to do a show four times. So, each set of songs get it's own show."

"When do you want to start these?" Gerrie asked. She had her own notebook out and had begun jotting notes.

"First show in March? Probably in Atlanta. The band, some dancers...'

"When are you going to drop the EP?"

"Late February, the show is a surprise."

The creative juices began to flow. Ideas for stage, costumes, and all began to fill notebooks. She had already reached out to her choreographers and would bring them in for a meeting in a week. Coco felt her phone buzz and she saw Joe's name and a text flash across her screen.

Can you talk?

Not at the moment, in the studio.

You going to let me hear the new music?

Maybe.

"So you want to put out a new EP every three months?"

"Pretty much,' Coco replied. "After this year, I want to do a world tour and I mean, the world." She put her phone down and faced her team.