The drop

Higher Stakes

    Chapter 3

The weeks following the festival were a whirlwind. Kai's performance had sparked a wave of attention he wasn't used to—his social media was flooded with messages, his tracks were getting more plays than ever, and, most surreal of all, Nova Records had officially offered him a contract. It was everything he'd dreamed of. Yet, as the excitement built around him, so did the pressure.

One late afternoon, Kai sat in his cluttered apartment, staring at the contract on his screen. The words blurred as his mind raced. Nova wanted him to produce an EP within three months, something fresh, something that would prove he wasn't just a one-set wonder.

Three months. The timeline felt like a weight hanging over him.

His phone buzzed—Jordan. Kai answered, hoping for a distraction.

"Yo, Kai! How's it going? Have you looked over the contract?" Jordan's voice was casual, but there was an underlying current of expectation.

"Yeah, just going over the details," Kai replied, trying to sound upbeat.

"Good, good. Listen, I wanted to let you know, Echo's been asking about you."

Kai froze. "Echo?"

"Yeah, man. He liked your set at the festival and wants to collaborate on a track. He's got a project coming up, and he thinks your sound could be a good fit. Huge opportunity. It'd be crazy exposure for you."

A collaboration with Echo? Kai's mind raced. He'd gone from barely getting noticed to working with the person who had inspired him to start DJing in the first place. It was everything he'd ever wanted.

"Dude, that's... I don't even know what to say."

"Say yes. He's got some studio time in the city next week. I'll set it up."

"Yeah, for sure. I'm in," Kai said, the weight of the moment pressing down on him.

As soon as he hung up, the excitement morphed into anxiety. This was Echo. A legend. If he didn't deliver something special, it could all fall apart just as quickly as it had come together.

Kai stood up, pacing the small space of his apartment. His controller, laptop, and keyboard sat in the corner, ready, but for the first time in months, he hesitated to use them. Could he really make something good enough to impress Echo?

He sat down at his setup, fingers resting on the keys. Nothing came. For hours, he tried, but every sound felt wrong, forced. The ideas that had once flowed so freely now felt suffocated by the pressure of expectation.

     One Week Later

The studio was nothing like Kai's cramped apartment setup. This place was massive—sleek, modern, and intimidating. Echo had spared no expense. Kai sat at the edge of the leather couch, fidgeting with his phone as he waited.

The door opened, and in walked Echo, cool and collected as ever, dressed in his signature black jacket with silver accents. He nodded at Kai, his face showing nothing but calm professionalism.

"Sup, man. Good to finally meet," Echo said, offering his hand.

Kai shook it, trying to steady his nerves. "Yeah, man. I've been a fan forever. Thanks for this opportunity."

Echo smiled. "You earned it. That set at the festival was fire. You've got something different. That's what I like."

Kai felt a flicker of pride, but it was quickly swallowed by the pressure of what came next. Echo sat down at the mixing console, flipping a few switches and bringing the studio to life.

"So," Echo said, "I've got this idea for a track. Something dark, heavy. I'll lay down the beat and bassline, and you can build the melody, bring that atmospheric vibe I heard in your stuff."

Kai nodded, heart pounding. This was it. No more doubts, no more second-guessing. He plugged in his controller and pulled up his DAW. Echo started playing a deep, gritty bassline, and Kai closed his eyes, letting the sound sink in. He'd always worked best when he didn't overthink.

Minutes passed, and the pressure began to melt away. Kai layered in a haunting, airy melody, weaving it through the heavy bass. The sound was hypnotic, otherworldly. The two worked in near silence, Echo occasionally giving a nod of approval or making minor adjustments.

After hours of tweaking and perfecting, they had something. Kai leaned back, sweat beading on his forehead, exhausted but satisfied. The track was a fusion of both their styles—Echo's aggressive, earth-shaking beats with Kai's ethereal, atmospheric touch. It was raw, powerful.

Echo sat back, arms crossed, listening to the final playthrough. When it ended, he turned to Kai, a rare grin breaking through his usual serious demeanor.

"That's it. This is going to blow people away."

Kai felt a rush of relief wash over him, the validation from his idol like nothing he'd ever experienced. He was about to say something when Echo's phone buzzed. He glanced at it, frowned, and stood up.

"Listen, I've got to run," Echo said, grabbing his jacket. "But I'll send this to the label. They're gonna eat it up. I'll be in touch about the release."

"Yeah, for sure. Thanks again, man," Kai replied, still processing the last few hours.

Echo gave him a nod and walked out, leaving Kai alone in the studio, the hum of the equipment the only sound in the room.

Kai sat there for a moment, staring at the screen. He'd done it. The track was finished, and Echo liked it. But as the adrenaline faded, a new kind of pressure crept in.

This was just the beginning. The collaboration would get his name out there, but he couldn't rely on Echo forever. He needed to keep proving himself, to keep creating, to stay ahead of the game. The music industry was ruthless, and success could vanish as quickly as it came.

As Kai packed up his gear and left the studio, the weight of what came next settled on his shoulders. The climb wasn't over. It was getting steeper.

And now, the stakes were higher than ever.