Seoul, South Korea
-
"You sound great, don't get me wrong, but it just feels like somethings off." P.K played back the recording for Yedam who politely nods in agreement. The 18 year old trainee wanted nothing more than to nail his debut song Wayo, especially in front of the producing duo, Future Bounce.
Yedam knew the song was special. He sang the guide for Chanhyuk hyung and Seungyoon hyung years ago when it was a more upbeat reggae track. It went through a couple artists only to (by some twist of fate) come back into his lap.
"I'm thinking we slow things down and start there. We'll bring in a pianist tomorrow and maybe try a duet," P.K says through the speaker to Yedam who bowed deeply on the other side of the glass and left the studio to join the other Treasure members for practice.
Dee.P and P.K called their usual piano connections only to find them all unavailable. They're scheduled to shoot the music video in a week so recording had to happen soon.
"Isn't your sister in town for a show? Would she do this as a favor?" Dee.P asks his close friend.
"Yeah, she's playing a small gig at Seo Joon's cafe and then she's taking a break, but you know how she feels about corporate agencies..." P.K looks at his phone and starts dialing her number anyways.
The next day.
YJ looks at herself in the mirror and sighs. It was a humid day so her long hippie waves would win the battle that morning. Summer in Korea was brutal that way.
She quickly threw on a loose white tee with wide legged slacks, her go-to for semi-professional meetings, but also her usual preference since tighter clothes never looked right on her lanky frame.
"I can't believe I'm walking into a concrete factory that spits out kpop stars like Honey Butter chip assembly lines" YJ whispers to herself as she steps into the empty elevator—only to be met by a pair of cautious, but smiley eyes. Okay not an empty elevator.
"You must be from America" smiley eyes says. Not a question. We're both facing the door now, but I quickly bow and switch to Korean.
"I'm from here, but lived outside the country for a while." I say as I look up at him with a curt smile before turning back around.
The elevator finally stops so I step out and head towards the recording studio. I can hear a session in progress so I quietly take a seat on a long table behind my brother and his partner in crime.
"Yedam, I know you're coming from school, but you're 15 minutes late", my brother says to smiley eyes as he walks in and through the door to the recording side, joining what looks like an entire brigade of glowing teenage boys. Oh youth.
Like it was meant to happen yeah
All I can see in the crowd is you
I can make you happy
It's gotta be you girl
Please open up your heart
I just wanna be your boy
At the end of their session, they collectively pile out, bow deeply, and exclaim their thank you's. It's utter chaos until they all pause with questioning looks in my direction.
"Shit YJ! How long have you been sitting there?" My brother's surprised reaction was a little dramatic, but his recovery was smooth. "Guys you haven't met YJ before right? She's here to help us on the keys and sing the guide for Yedam's duet. She's usually touring outside Korea, so we're lucky to have her."
"She's also P.K's younger sister!" Dee.P quickly chimes in as I stand there bearing the weight of everyone's stares. "And she's only 22! We're all very proud of her."
After greetings and bows were exchanged the boys made their way out. There were so many of them I stopped counting after 10.
I pull out the piano sheets I worked on since yesterday and told my brother, "I was thinking about how you wanted to slow it down and thought a more heartfelt rnb song could be interesting."
Oppa looks over my notes and sets me up on their studio keyboard to start warming up. "Looks like we're all on the same page since Yedam had the same idea." My brother says pointing his chin in Yedam's direction through the glass. His attention was on the other producer so I studied his face more carefully. I could now see the remnants of the young boy who once sang and danced like Michael Jackson on tv. Time sure has passed if that cute little kid is now the fully grown man sitting in front of me.
—
Yedam's eyes were focused on YJ as she played alongside his prerecorded vocals. The music sheet was in front of her, but her eyes were closed as she swayed back and forth.
"That was good YJ. Let's try that again with vocals." P.K spoke through the speaker and said to the 6 year trainee next to him, "YJ doesn't usually like to sing, but I trained her since she was little so she owes me this much" he winked.
Dee.P couldn't keep the surprise off of his face when her voice came in through the speakers. "What the hell P.K? Why is this the first time I'm hearing her sing?"
Yedam kept his eyes forward but his focus was on the exchange next to him.
"I obviously tried, but she thinks signing with an agency is 'selling out'. Not to mention she refuses to dance, which no one should ever have to watch." P.K says jokingly, but his face becomes serious again as he turns to Yedam. "Seriously, don't ever ask her to dance."
Trying to be polite, Yedam gives a small nod, but can't stop himself from asking, "Since we've brought the tempo down would it be better if I sang with her?"
[Yedam and YJ]
Why, why, why
Why can't I be fine without you?
Just why, why, why
Just tell me, I can't do this without you
Why can't this work out
Bye, goodbye, bye
Bye, goodbye, bye
Why can't this work out
Bye, goodbye, bye
Bye, goodbye, bye
"Ok that's a wrap for now. Good job both of you. It's not perfect, but should be enough to show the boss and get some approvals." P.K says through the intercom.
Yedam takes a deep breath and wipes his palms on his jeans. He knows he could do better, he's just a little nervous singing with someone he hasn't worked with before.
YJ gives Yedam a small smile. "Good work."
Yedam responds with a deep bow, feeling a little shy. "Thank you for helping us", he says with a wide toothy smile. This might be the first time he's ever seen her smile. The image lingered in his mind as he watched her exit the studio.
Outside YJ answers her phone, "Hey oppa"
"Are you finished recording?"
"Yeah, sorry it went later than expected."
"It's ok, I'm actually nearby so I can give you a ride to the cafe if you want?"
"I need to wash up at home and change—"
A car pulls up in front of her with an opening window revealing Seo Joon's freshly made up face. "I'll take you home then, get in."
Just then, Yedam looks down from a window as YJ gets into a large black van like the ones celebrities use. He barely makes out a young man's face in the window, then turns away with an odd lingering feeling.
YOU ARE READING
Wayo: A Bang Yedam Story
RomanceA song that wasn't written for him, but became his story to tell. No one will ever know that it belongs to her. A look behind Bang Yedam's journey leading up to the release of Wayo.
