Little Pink Starfish

Especially, the friend who made this song is amazing.

At first, I thought it might be a co-composition or heavily reliant on sampling, but it wasn’t.

It was 100% sequencing, and he did the lyrics, composition, and arrangement all by himself.

At just nineteen years old.

Truly unbelievable.

If he had written a bold melody in a flash of inspiration, I could understand it, but this wasn’t that.

It’s a song that mixes various genres and was precisely calculated.

‘He must be a genius.’

Paul thought as he approached Han Siwon, who was leading the staff greetings.

“I enjoyed the performance. I’m Chief Manager Paul.”

“Thank you for the opportunity. I’m Han Siwon from Sedalbaekil. You can just call me Zion if it’s easier.”

“Zion? Is that your baptismal name?”

“Not exactly, but I suppose it’s not entirely meaningless.”

Han Siwon’s name had nothing to do with ZION, which holds important meaning in Christianity.

But he knew well that in the Western world, centered around Christian culture, it was better to keep silent.

Paul continued chatting with Han Siwon.

And was quite surprised.

It wasn’t just that Han Siwon spoke excellent English; he had a complete understanding of Western culture.

Even his thoughts and vision regarding the Color Show were impressive.

What was supposed to be a light greeting turned into a rather lengthy conversation.

“So what’s your next goal? Any plans to work in America?”

“No. Not particularly. The next U.S. activity will probably be shooting A Colors Encore.”

Paul burst into laughter at Han Siwon’s words.

A Colors Encore.

As the word encore suggests, it introduces another song from artists who previously appeared on the Color Show.

Since it represents the “back side” of the Color Show, the point is to use shadows instead of light in the video production.

But not just anyone can appear on the Color Show Encore.

First, the Color Show video needs to be successful.

There isn’t a specific view count required, but at least it needs to exceed the average.

Also, there needs to be potential for creating additional buzz through further activities.

If the Color Show introduces musicians, Colors Encore showcases their activities.

Sedalbaekil’s talent was undeniable, but it didn’t quite fit the feel of Encore.

Yet Han Siwon was confident.

“When our EP comes out, Colors Media will likely approach us first.”

“Really?”

“So please keep an eye on us. Before someone else snatches us up.”

Easterners don’t usually speak this way. It’s interesting.

Finally, Paul asked about Han Siwon’s personal taste.

“Is there any musician you’d like to see on the Color Show? Just for fun.”

“Billie Eilish.”

“Ah, that genius girl? Interscope snatched her up recently, right?”

“Yes. I don’t think they’ll regret it.”

From what Han Siwon knew, Billie Eilish was the artist with the highest view count on the Color Show.

---

While visiting LA, they went to Six Flags Magic Mountain with the members.

The members wanted to go to Disneyland, but well.

Personally, if you’re going to Disneyland, Universal Hollywood or Six Flags is better.

Because it’s filled with truly hardcore rides.

I thought Lee Ion and Choi Jaesung would be good with rides, while Gu Taehwan and On Saemiro wouldn’t be.

But surprisingly, it was the opposite.

On Saemiro and Gu Taehwan handled the rides excellently.

Especially On Saemiro’s nerves were impressive.

“……?”

Watching him ride Goliath without blinking even once left me bewildered.

Even I, who had ridden Goliath multiple times, felt nervous.

I wondered if he fainted with his eyes open, but that wasn’t it.

“How are you so calm?”

“Compared to the rollercoaster of life, this is nothing….”

What is he talking about?

Gu Taehwan wasn’t as extreme as On Saemiro, but stayed calm.

“You?”

“If you read the signs well, you can predict the next section.”

What is he saying again.

Goliath’s top speed reaches around 150 km/h, with a G-force of 4 or 5.

You don’t predict the next course just by watching with your eyes open.

If that’s truly possible, Sedalbaekil has stolen talent from the F1 racing world.

Now that I think about it, I’ve had similar thoughts before.

“Ah.”

I once thought Choi Jaesung’s absurdly long breath meant we’d stolen talent from the swimming world.

So Lee Ion belongs in early childhood education, and Gu Taehwan in culinary arts.

Gu Taehwan cooks well.

For someone like me who’s experienced all kinds of fine cuisine to praise his cooking means he’s really good.

He’s perfect, except for the flaw of only knowing a limited number of non-mushroom dishes.

I thought about these things while experiencing the amusement park.

Honestly, I used to hate coming to LA and revisiting places filled with memories.

LA has many Koreans and relatively few Asian prejudices.

So in my early regression days, it was always my starting point for U.S. activities, and if I didn’t have specific plans, I came to LA.

Even GOTM started their first activities here.

Just think how many people I met and how much time I spent here.

It’s countless.

No, indescribable fits better.

So when my mental state was bad, memories would blend together.

Once, when I was supposed to go to an indie band venue with GOTM, I unconsciously drove to a hip-hop club.

I greeted a familiar bouncer, but he kicked me out.

He thought I was some drugged-out crazy guy.

The GOTM members looked completely baffled.

Worse, I even confused my agencies once.

I was under contract with LA BLUE but sent my recording files to King Kong Music by email.

And I naturally asked King Kong Music to schedule my release.

How absurd LA BLUE must have found it.

They even suspected I’d signed a backdoor contract with another company.

Thanks to that, LA BLUE’s manager pestered me quite a bit, and one day I woke up in the middle of an intersection.

That’s why I hated visiting these places.

Because I’m the only one left to hold onto disappearing memories.

But well, it’s fine.

Better than just coming to LA and heading straight back.

“Han Siwon. Aren’t you coming?”

“I’ll take a break this time. Go ahead.”

“Hyung, are you scared?”

I shrugged off Choi Jaesung’s provocation.

Then I sat on a bench and gathered my thoughts.

The teaser we released for Colors wasn’t filmed by Colors Media.

Sedalbaekil shot it and Colors Media edited it.

When negotiating the appearance contract, we agreed on everything at once, but I inserted one condition.

To create the teaser as soon as possible and release it on the date we want.

Colors Media tilted their heads but agreed since it wasn’t difficult.

So yes, I deliberately uploaded the teaser to snipe Take Scene.

By now, Choi Daeho’s heart must be pounding.

Wondering what I might be plotting next.

But right now, my head wasn’t filled with thoughts of Choi Daeho or Lion Entertainment.

That side is boring now.

What I’m curious about is how much my music has changed.

Music I’d never heard before arrived from Jankos Greenwood.

And just yesterday, Eric Scott sent me a song I’d never heard before.

Two different people sending me new songs means the source I sent has changed.

They really are masters.

I sent them the same song source as always, but they caught subtle changes caused by my shifting psychological state.

Honestly, I’m a bit scared.

Regression requires a precise equation to gain advantage.

You have to believe that putting in X produces Y.

Otherwise, everything becomes uncertain.

With too many unknowns, you fail at self-objectivity and may even show early signs of schizophrenia.

But I’m too mentally stable for that.

So is this change a positive one?

Is my music evolving for the better?

I need to find out.

To do that…

Just as I reached a conclusion in my mind, the members gathered after enjoying the rides.

“What are you doing?”

“Hold on, everyone gather. Ion hyung too.”

“Why?”

“I’ve got about five days of schedule to handle in New Jersey. Meanwhile, you guys have something to do in Korea.”

“What is it?”

“Actually, Choi Jaesung and On Saemiro have bigger roles. The others will support.”

“Huh?”

This plan will open the doors of Korean broadcasting that have been shut to us.

It was a plan I’d been preparing, but I hadn’t told the members.

I don’t know why.

Saying it was to help them focus on the Color Show would be a lie.

By now, the members don’t lose focus over small things.

It’s probably just a habit of this stubborn, solitary regressor who’s been planning alone for a long time.

I know it, but changing is hard.

“First, On Saemiro.”

“Yes.”

I explained what On Saemiro would do.

Simple.

Appear on the masked singing competition show <The Masked Singer> and win.

For at least two weeks.

But the members seemed more curious about whether he could appear rather than whether he could win.

“Is that possible……?”

“Aren’t we banned from TV appearances?”

“Even if your face is covered, they’ll unmask you if you lose. Wouldn’t the producer reject us?”

That’s true, but it’s not impossible to get cast.

“I’ll try to make it happen today.”

“From America? Casting for a Korean show?”

“If it doesn’t work out, we can just cancel the plan, so don’t think too hard.”

This is just an appetizer anyway.

Nice to have, but not essential.

What I’m really preparing is something else.

“Choi Jaesung.”

“Yes?”

“You have to appear on TV too.”

“Where?”

When I mentioned the program, the members’ eyes shook.

“What?”

The reaction was intense.

---

“Huh, really.”

It was Kang Seokwoo, the former producer of Coming Up Next, now on a break, who burst into laughter.

Truly daring.

So daring that he didn’t know what to say.

It was about Han Siwon.

Just yesterday, Kang Seokwoo had received a message and an email from Han Siwon.

The message was simple.

[Can you do me a favor? Let’s clear that debt now.]

A conversation they once had.

“You know, Siwon, debts of the heart only work on people you feel awkward ignoring.”

He was now asking if they had reached that awkward level.

[Didn’t I pay that debt last time?]

[Then you can stack up a new debt.]

Han Siwon’s way of speaking was so skillful.

And intriguing.

There was no pressure, but you couldn’t help wanting to hear the next sentence.

Was it confidence? Or just fascination?

In the end, Kang Seokwoo had to ask.

[What do you want?]