Unlikely Harmony || DaouOffroad AU

CH15. The Starry Night

The sun was barely peeking over the skyline as Offroad and Daou made their way through the quiet hallways of Blackroom Studios. The recording studio had a cozy warmth to it, with dimmed lights and walls lined with signed records and snapshots of legendary artists. It was as if every corner was filled with whispered secrets and rhythms from those who had recorded there before them. As they stepped inside, the scent of freshly brewed coffee wafted from the corner, and a sense of anticipation filled the air. He and Daou had spent the rest of the evening the other day working on their cover, splitting parts and making sure they knew how to get the mood across with their instruments as well.

Offroad scanned the room, catching sight of the band, Leo tuning his bass, Mia setting up the drum kit, while Alex adjusted his synth settings in front of the grand piano. Each of them greeted Offroad and Daou with a quick nod and a smile, knowing that today was going to be intense but rewarding. Their goal: to get three songs recorded, each capturing a different side of their sound. For Offroad and Daou, it was another chance to bring their ideas to life—and perhaps, if they were honest, to revel in each other's presence.

The plan was to record Die With a Smile and the festival medley together with everyone involved to get a feel for the arrangement and use it for rehearsals. For their original song though, Mark, the producer intended a more polished, multi-layered approach. Recording each part separately, carefully mixing and balancing each layer to make sure it was release-ready and crisp for the radio.

As they settled in, Offroad noticed their managers, Somchai and Aim, lingering nearby. Somchai had been easygoing that morning, but Offroad felt a twinge of relief when he saw Daou lean over and quietly ask him to head down to the café for a break, who pulled Aim with him as well.

Offroad couldn't help but smile at the thought; it meant some precious time alone with Daou.

"Thanks for sending P'Aim too," Offroad said glancing over at his manager as she stood with arms crossed, looking less than thrilled about being pulled away from the action. Her warning look shot straight at him, a clear reminder of their last discussion about keeping things professional.

Mark was already behind the mixing console, adjusting levels and positioning microphones with the sharp precision of a seasoned professional. He looked up from his work and smiled at the two of them as they settled in with their instruments ready.

"Alright, gents, let's get started. 'Die With a Smile' is up first. Let's see if we can nail that harmonized chorus. We really want to capture the energy and emotion of the song."

Daou looked over at Offroad, catching his eye. "You ready?"

Offroad gave him a half-smile, tapping his guitar gently. "Always."

Offroad began with the intro, his fingers dancing over the strings, creating a melodic backdrop. Daou joined in with his fingers on the piano keys and his vocals, the opening lines flowing effortlessly. As they sang together, the sounds of the other instruments slowly blended in, creating a jumble of music that enveloped the room.

"Let's take it from the top again," Mark called out after their first take, raising his hand. "We need to tighten up the chorus and work on the transitions. Offroad, your guitar sounded great, but let's give Daou more space in that section."

"Understood," Offroad replied, feeling the thrill of performing in tandem with Daou. They reset, and Daou flashed Offroad a reassuring smile, which settled his nerves.

They took a moment to refocus, and as the other musicians chatted among themselves, Daou leaned closer to Offroad. "You're nailing that intro. I swear, you make it look too easy."

Offroad's grin turned cocky at Daou's compliment, his hand adjusting the strap of his guitar with a nonchalant shrug. "Yeah, well, some of us make it look effortless," he quipped, his tone edged with a playful arrogance. "Guess I'm just setting the bar high for you."