Dual Recording
Around 10:30 AM on December 18th, there was finally a new update on TMY's Weibo account. And not just one, but two new updates.
[Hello, everyone. It's TMY. Please pay attention to your new single previews. As of today, my latest singles 'Paradise' and 'Seve' will be complete. I'm currently in the recording studio, and in about two days, the new singles will be fully available to all fans.]
[Additionally, there's something else. It's about the dances for 'Paradise' and 'Seve.' You can follow my Bilibili account: @TMY. The one with verification is me. At that time, both dance routines will be released on this platform. I made a promise, and I'll stick to it, <3 lots of love!]
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Just as mentioned in the update, she was currently in the recording studio rather than at home, specifically at the old location - Song Ziyin's Dream Painting Recording Studio where "Closer" was recorded initially. They were still in Studio 03, with several graceful figures huddled around a table. Miaoyi, Qiuying, and Song Ziyin were all present, and on the table lay stacks of documents.
Upon closer inspection, these documents were handwritten music scores with Romanized* lyrics from foreign languages.
(A/N: *"Romanization" is the process of representing different pronunciations in Roman/Latin characters.)
"Why did you include Japanese and North African language lyrics this time?" Song Ziyin quirked an eyebrow at the sheet filled with foreign characters, her expression a mix of bemusement and curiosity. "Aren't you supposed to write songs in English, like you've always done?"
"Every kind of music has a unique way of expression and a language that suits it best for singing. Because that's what its elements entail. Music is inherently borderless. There's no need to change this aspect deliberately. Just perform it in the most suitable way," Miaoyi's response was simple, she didn't even hesitate as she calmly added, "Actually, many electronic music producers' songs are not in their native language."
"I can't understand the mindset of you creative types..." Song Ziyin muttered, clearly baffled.
Miaoyi merely shrugged at this and turned to continue discussing the lyrics with Qiuying. For some of the trickier Romanized notations, Miaoyi had to demonstrate carefully, ensuring that Qiuying had a thorough understanding.
However, what Miaoyi had said earlier was indeed true. In the realm of electronic music, this was the case. Music was a universal art, transcending borders. If not, how come the Netherlands, in the previous world, had so many world-class DJs and producers, and yet none of their mainstream tracks were in Dutch? They were all in English.
Even the upcoming track "Seve" was a prime example. The original composer was French, not remotely connected to North Africa, yet the song featured North African language snippets. Language and music were like ingredients – it was the chef's skill that mattered, not the origin of the spices.
Therefore, the language used didn't define the music. Could Miaoyi writing a song in English, once released, suddenly make it music belonging to North America or Europe?
That's not how it worked.
Even when using another language, it was still Miaoyi's music because it originated from her, a Chinese artist!
In the previous world, the Netherlands, known as the kingdom of electronic music, had so many world-class producers, yet their works were referred to as "Dutch Signatures." Language didn't define the music; the heart and soul of the artist did.
So, that's the logic, Miaoyi thought. Some individuals within the Chinese music industry who were so hung up on language were probably not much different from fools.
Meanwhile, in Studio 03, preparations were still ongoing.
Miaoyi and Qiuying's verification work was nearly complete. "Here, see, this section, right here. For this kind of phrase, be aware. The vocalization in this language is different from Chinese. You'll need to use a guttural sound here."
"OK, no problem," Qiuying sang it once to try, signaling she understood.
"Great, let's get ready for recording." Miaoyi's focus sharpened, her eyes gleaming with determination.
And so, the recording began.
Much like last time, there was no need for a sound engineer. Miaoyi took charge of the entire process, guiding Qiuying through each note and lyric. Qiuying's voice soared and dipped, breathing life into the songs as if they were old friends catching up.
As for why Song Ziyin was there... well, Miaoyi didn't really question it. She knew Song Ziyin's presence was like a good luck charm, bringing an air of joy and camaraderie to the studio. Plus, she was the boss, so a little whimsical involvement was well within her rights.
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The entire process took a good part of the day. When Miaoyi removed her monitoring headphones and Qiuying walked out of the studio, it was already around 7:30 in the evening.
The night was descending.
This recording took quite a bit of time.
"Great job, great job. Have some water," Miaoyi handed a bottle of mineral water to Qiuying, her voice a mix of satisfaction and encouragement. "Today went really well. The completion level is impressive, if I do say so myself."
"Is it really done this time? Can we eat now?" Qiuying took the water but didn't drink immediately. Instead, she wasted no time in asking the question that was on her mind.
Miaoyi: "Oh, of course. After you take a break, we can go out for dinner."
"Phew," Qiuying heaved a sigh of relief, her beautiful eyes tinged with exhaustion.
The recording had taken the entire day. Unlike the last time with "Closer," where everyone sang only half, it was relatively smooth this time. After all, when recording "Closer," each person sang only one language half, and considering Qiuying understood English, progress was swift.
When it came to Japanese, daily exposure to anime helped somewhat, and being Asian countries, there wasn't much of a language barrier for Chinese people speaking Japanese.
So "Paradise" was recorded much faster than "Closer" had been.
However...
The real challenge lay in "Seve"!
During the recording of this song, Qiuying had, more than once, felt like banging her head against the wall. The lyrics were incredibly unfriendly to the Chinese tongue, unparalleled in their complexity, and demanding careful attention to vocal technique and intonation.
Once these hurdles were overcome, there was still a time-consuming task ahead - multiple recordings, utilizing a vocoder to record. This meant the voice produced wasn't Qiuying's natural sound.
However, the good news was that everything was now in place, and all the work was finally done.
After extracting the master tapes, Miaoyi, Qiuying, and Song Ziyin left the recording studio. The three young women had spent the entire day cooped up in this narrow space, almost going stir-crazy.
Next on the agenda; dinner at a nearby spot. Following that, Miaoyi went about addressing the matter of Song Ziyin, which effectively capped off the day.
Navigating Song Ziyin's role was all about setting up shop at East Records, where a small branch of Dream Painting Studio would soon take residence. After a round of negotiations, it seemed that post the release of the new singles, this new studio space would be their creative haven.
And why rope in Song Ziyin in the first place? Well, sure, the recording facilities were one aspect, but the other side of the coin was enlisting someone to choreograph the dance routine for "Paradise."
A whole day had passed like this. The birth of the two once globally-sweeping enchanting singles, "Paradise" and "Seve," had truly taken place in this world...
Miaoyi seemed to foresee that when these two new singles were officially released, they would surely ignite a storm, and the whole world would be in turmoil. Every corner of the realm would come... to dance!
However, the current dilemma was whether she truly had to don a cat girl outfit to perform "Paradise."
This question's answer was reserved for the following day. Miaoyi, with a tremble, retrieved a tightly wrapped package from her mailbox the next day, bearing the sender's address as: [Cangyue Dolls Adult Store]...
"AAAAHHHH! Qiuying!!!"