Stormy

Chapter 8

About a week later, we all gather up in front of our teachers for an announcement. Mr. de Vries welcomes us and says: "Alright ladies and gentlemen. Mrs. Verholen and I are really glad to see that all of you are making good progress on your records. For today, we want to use the first 30 minutes of our time for you to pitch your first ideas to another pair of students and to listen to their ideas. So basically, you're going to be the A&R team for the other pair. Give them suggestions on how to improve, let them know what is good already. We will do this regularly now. Mrs. Verholen is going to announce the groups in a second, and you're going to stay like this for the course of the project. I don't want to hear any complaints, understood?" I look for Martijn in the crowd of producers to my left and when our eyes meet, he gives me a confident smile. We are going to be alright, no matter which other pair would judge our work. Emma, who is standing next to me, is looking quite stressed instead. "How are you guys getting along?", I ask her. "Oh, it's horrible. I have a few ideas for the song, but Julian and I just can't seem to find a way to combine our different styles of music. He is just all about the beat, aggressive tunes and has no clue how to incorporate a different style. I mean, you know that I just don't fit to an aggressive track. I seriously don't know how we're going to find a solution for this.", she sighs. "Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. Should I maybe ask Martijn to have a word with Julian? They seem to be really close. Maybe that could help?", I suggest. She shrugs and says: "Yeah, maybe. Like I don't know. That project is just not fun at all anymore." "Okay, I'll talk to him. I promise.", I say and give her a smile. Then our conversation is interrupted by Mrs. Verholen, who is announcing the groups. Martijn and I are paired up with a tall blond guy called Daan, who seems quite familiar to me. His partner is Milou, a girl from my class who I have never really talked to before. She's usually friendly when I meet her in the hallways, but just not very talkative. Another pair that doesn't really seem like the perfect fit. We all grab our stuff and head over into one of the studios. As soon as we sit down, Dan already announces that they were going to start presenting their song. Martijn and I shrug and exchange an amused look. It's quite obvious that Martijn isn't really what you would call best friends with Dan. We both lean back in our chairs and listen to their idea. Or let's better say, we listen to Dan presenting us a messy version of what could be a Dubstep track, if worked out properly. Martijn did his best to explain the different genres of house music and everything evolving around it to me, when we were jamming on the boat. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had a clue. As the track finishes, Martijn gets up and tries to give Dan some advice. It's very obvious that Martijn is a better producer than Dan, as he completely shuts down any idea that Martijn offers for improvement. He just couldn't accept Martijn's constructive criticism. While the both of them talk, I turn to Milou. "Have you already got an idea what you are going to write about for the song?", I ask and make an attempt to start a conversation with her. Milou sighs: "I wanted to write like a song with complete lyrics, but Dan only wants me to do like single words and a few sentences. But no, we don't really have any lyrics yet." "Are you happy with it?", I carefully ask, "Cause it doesn't really sound like it." "Well... I envisioned it to be different. But Dan is more experienced than I am, so I guess it's fine...", she says. "Are you sure?", I check on her. "Yeah, I guess.", she replies. Suddenly, Martijn comes over to me: "Hey Julie, I guess we're done. Dan wants us to present now... Are you guys ready as well?" I nod my head and grab my guitar. While I tune it, Mrs. Verholen and Mr. de Vries pop their heads in: "How are you guys getting along? Who's turn is it now?", Mrs. Verholen asks. Martijn explains: "It's our turn now. We just listened to Dan and Milou's track. Julie and I don't have anything electronic down for now, as we started our idea as an acoustic version on our guitars. I hope that is fine as well!" "Of course it is. We're excited to hear what you came up with.", his teacher answers. Martijn gives me a smile and suggests: "On the count of three?" I nod my head and start playing our chord progression as soon as he gives me the cue. Just as if I was back on the boat, I close my eyes and try to feel the music. I remember the beautiful reverb situation under the bridge and push my voice just as I did back there, singing my demo vocals. As we're finished, I explain: "Those are just demo vocals for now, but the vocal melody is probably going to stay the same." Our teachers applaud. "That is beautiful.", Mrs. Verholen says with a smile, "I really like the vocal melody, Julie. Keep pushing your voice like in the chorus, it really suits you well! You're making so much progress this year!" "Same goes for you Martijn. You are finally learning how to properly collaborate with a vocalist. I can really see that you are willing to make her shine on the track – that is a very important quality for you to develop as a producer! Keep working on that, it makes your productions way stronger. I don't really have anything to criticize from my point of view.", Mr. de Vries adds. "Nor do I. We're looking forward to hearing a more detailed production soon!", Mrs Verholen agrees. "Now go back to work, please.", Mr. de Vries says and checks his watch, "You still have about an hour left!" It's soon clear that Dan has no intention to move to another studio cubicle, so Martijn and I exchange a look and quickly pack up our things. As we get to our new studio, he says "Gosh. If there is one thing I hate, it's people who can't work with constructive criticism. He was not open to anything I said, did you see this?" "I know. And they are not even planning on using proper vocals, just like a few sample words here and there.", I reply, "Actually I'm really happy that you let me create real vocals for this, like I really wanna tell a story and not just sing three words total." Martijn rolls his eyes and says: "Of course I will. It's a beautiful asset to the track and also, why would you use just a few words when you get to collaborate with a vocalist? You can get random samples from any sample library out there, why not take the chance of this and actually create something new? But I guess most of us are too much in their own little producer world to actually realize that. I mean, usually I am, too."