Cadenza [BINI Mikha X OC]

Chapter 3: Melodies

"We should also take a break about now," Martin insisted as they finished recording ten songs.

"You could try OPM songs next time. Bini still has ongoing gigs and concerts in the Philippines."

"Bini? Ah, that P-pop group. What about them?"

"What do you mean 'what about them?'" Martin wondered. "You're supposed to be the lead guitarist in their gigs."

Jon chuckled, "I'll give you an A for the effort. Been a while since I heard you kid around"

Martin stared at Jon for a minute, which made Jon realize that Martin was indeed not joking.

"You're serious, aren't you?"

"Why else would we be hiring musicians out of the blue so suddenly?"

"I don't know. You're part of the production team, so you tell me."

"I already told you that it was for Bini."

Jon was genuinely surprised by the idea. Typically, these events already had designated musicians to cover Bini's concerts. Why would they hire from the outside, especially strangers?

"Don't you already have musicians for these kinds of things?" Jon asked, curious.

"The old members of the music team had to leave."

"Why?"

"Mostly for personal reasons. Others had some disputes with the higher-ups, so they were let go."

"Jesus, do I have to worry about walking on eggshells around here?" Jon asked sarcastically, though there was a hint of caution in his tone, which was understandable given his new, still probationary, job.

"You should be good. I can vouch for you. We've been corresponding for months now, so I guess I can say I know enough about you to be confident."

Jon was somewhat relieved but also slightly uneasy about how much Martin knew about him.

"So Bini, huh? That sounds sort of exciting."

"They've been gaining a lot of fame lately," Martin responded. "It was an explosive growth last year, and now they're going international."

"World tour?"

"It's in the works. And you get to play for them, you lucky dog."

"That sounds more like a hassle than a privilege."

"Dude, really? International stage. You get to travel and stuff."

"Yeah, but I'll be busy working, so it's not exactly a vacation either."

"Dude, just be thankful. I'm expecting a lot from you, so you better be worth it," Martin exclaimed.

Jon sighed. "So, OPM? What do you have in mind?"

Martin put on his thinking cap for a moment and replied, "Probably something the girls can sing to. You know they have individual performances during the concert?"

"I've seen the videos. Most of them have good control of their voices. Some quite unique voices as well."

"Quite rare to hear you compliment others."

"I know you're joking, but I'm not a narcissist, Martin," Jon said, disagreeing firmly.

"Hahaha... I know you're not that vain, Jon."

"Back to Bini, they have great singing voices, but their instrumentals need work."

"How so?"

"For example, look at this clip." Jon pulled out his phone and searched for a particular link on YouTube. After finding it, he showed it to Martin.

"That's Mikha, singing 'That's What You Get' by Paramore."

"The song fits her because she can add her twist to it. She has a relatively deep voice compared to the other girls," Jon explained. "But look at how she plays the electric guitar."

Martin noticed it immediately. "Yeah, that needs work. There isn't much sound being produced."

"The chords aren't sustained, meaning the notes won't be as pronounced when you're doing power chords."

"Nothing escapes your notice, Jon."

"Thank you for acknowledging that."

"And there's the vanity."

Jon turned to Martin with a look of disdain.

"Again, kidding," Martin replied with a slight chuckle.

"Anyway, they can still train for it if they want to improve their showmanship."

"Would you be willing to train them?"

"Does that include extra pay?"

"Probably not."

"Then my answer is probably no."

"Sheesh. You drive a hard bargain."

"Life is hard. I only need to work smarter, not harder."

Martin wasn't fond of Jon's motivations, but he was partially right. Money does pay the bills, after all.

"Why'd you even leave your old job, anyway?" Martin asked.

"I already told you. Because of the quick pay."

"Right, right. So why do you need the quick pay?"

"To cover the quick payments that are coming my way," Jon exclaimed. "We ought to get back to recording anyway. I still have five tracks on that disc."

"Sure, sure. Just remember to relax a little bit, okay?"

"I am relaxed," Jon stated. "You're just too nosy about everything."

"Well, pardon a guy for taking an interest in you."

"You are pardoned," Jon replied. "Now can we go back to recording?"

As they returned to the recording, Jon's mind drifted to his gear setup. He had a deep appreciation for high-quality equipment, knowing that the right gear could make a significant difference in his sound. His main guitar was a Fender Stratocaster, renowned for its versatility and rich tones. For certain tracks, he used a Gibson Les Paul, which offered a heavier sound ideal for rock and punk.

Jon's pedalboard was another crucial element of his setup. It included a mix of effects like overdrive, distortion, delay, and reverb, allowing him to create a wide range of sounds. His favorite pedals were the Ibanez Tube Screamer for its warm overdrive and the Boss DD-7 for its versatile delay options. He also used a looper pedal for layering sounds, adding complexity to his performances.

For amplification, Jon relied on a Marshall DSL40C combo amp. Its powerful output and tonal flexibility made it perfect for both studio recordings and live performances. The amp's classic British sound complemented his playing style, enhancing the nuances of his guitar work.

"That guitar just looks and sounds awesome" Martin uttered while looking at the Fender Stratocaster.

"It's the Maple White. I liked it since it plays easy while sounding really good. The intonation is also top notch"

"Spoken like a true guitarist"

"Though I would always say, practice and skill should be a priority for musicians. Gear comes second"

"Oof harsh but fair"

Jon smiled and said, "Let's get back to work". 

The room was soon filled with melody.