**Chapter 166: The Classic Beauty**

"Mr. Becker, are you off work?"

In the afternoon, at Link Music, Link received a call from Graham and was preparing to head to the recording studio when he bumped into a tall, slender girl in the hallway. She stopped and waved at him.

"You're... Lana?"

Link looked at her, unsure.

"Mr. Becker, don't you recognize me?" 

Lana spread her arms and shrugged with a smile.

Dressed in a deep blue skirt, Lana had a slim, delicate figure with a hint of bone structure, and her red-brown long curly hair fell like silk, complementing her fair skin. She exuded a classical beauty.

Link nodded, recognizing this look as the "Thunder Sister" from his memory.

"You've changed a lot. You look great."

"Thank you!"

Lana brushed the ends of her hair off her shoulder and smiled. "I used to dress like this, but I didn't like it."

"Oh? Why not?"

Link asked as they walked together.

"This is a lady's attire, but I'm not a lady and don't want to be defined as one. Being a lady means you have to act like one—no smoking, no swearing, no crossing your legs, and many other restrictions. It feels very awkward. I prefer being a rock girl."

Link nodded, understanding her perspective. This is a country that values freedom, and confining a rock girl to a lady's role can indeed be stifling.

"Are you preparing to be a lady now?"

"This is Eva's suggestion. She thinks this look will attract more fans and help promote me and my new songs. For the sake of music, I decided to temporarily embrace the lady persona."

Lana shrugged.

Link smiled lightly. Lana had signed a six-album contract with Link Music, and the next steps were to release singles, albums, and establish her as a singer.

With her attractive appearance, good figure, solid singing skills, distinctive voice, and decent songwriting ability, it wasn't hard to imagine her becoming a star.

"Lana, you have great talent and a good image. How did your previous album fail?"

"I used to like country music, and my first album was in that style. However, after its release, fans didn't respond well. I switched to rock songs, but it didn't work either. It wasn't until I met you that I realized what kind of music suits me."

Lana fluttered her long lashes as she spoke.

Link couldn't help but smile at her explanation.

Country music is considered blue-collar music—songs for people who work hard and need a break. The themes are usually sweet, positive, and warm, and the performance needs to be sunny and warm, like Taylor Swift's voice.

Lana's voice, however, was quite melancholy. Listening to her sing country music felt increasingly gloomy, and her albums didn't appeal to fans.

As for rock music, she wanted to be a rock girl, but her classical beauty and lack of the raw intensity typical of rock singers made it harder for her to establish herself in the competitive rock scene.

Lana's previous failure was a matter of misdirection and positioning.

Link's song "Young and Beautiful" was more than just a song—it was a path, a direction. In a sense, he was guiding Lana in her musical journey.

As they chatted, they arrived at the recording studio.

In March, after the album royalties came in, Ivaca had used a substantial sum to acquire a recording studio in Metropolis Music City.

The studio had four recording rooms, all equipped with top-notch soundproofing, acoustic design, recording equipment, lighting, and musical instruments. The total cost was over eight million dollars.

Ivaca was a professional when it came to spending money. She had the skill to get the best things at the right price in the shortest time. Link admired this ability.

——

"Good!"

"Lana, lower the volume a bit more. It will make your voice fuller and more dynamic."

In Link Music's second recording studio, Lana stood in front of the microphone, singing "Young and Beautiful."

Graham and producer David Kahn were present.

David Kahn, in his forties, was one of the music producers who had moved from Universal Records last year. He had previously assisted Graham with album arrangements and other issues.

Now, he would be responsible for producing Lana's singles and albums.

David stood outside the soundproof glass, adjusting the mix and frequency on the control panel, occasionally offering feedback through the microphone.

Link listened through his headphones. Lana's voice was deep and lazy, with a hint of melancholy and sadness. While it sounded quite somber, it was indeed very pleasant and unique.

"Graham, Lana has great potential. Discuss with the other producers and come up with a specific development plan."

Link said.

"Sure!"

Graham pondered for a moment. "Link, in your second album, there are two songs that require female vocals. One of them can be given to Lana. She has the capability. We plan to release this single next month and gauge the market response. If the feedback is positive, we'll consider her debut album."

Link nodded thoughtfully. Lana was a newcomer with no significant fame in the entertainment industry. For a new artist to succeed, they needed strong abilities, a good song, an understanding of market trends, and a powerful record label.

Link Music's release capability was average, but Lana's talents and songs were good. The only variable was market trends, which could be seen as luck.

"This song has a retro feel. Before its release, we could contact Hollywood movie companies to see if there's a suitable film for a theme song."

Link thought about how the song was intended for "The Great Gatsby," but that movie wouldn't be out for a few more years. It was impossible to leverage the film for fame at the moment.

However, Hollywood produced period films every year, so there might be a suitable one to match the song.

Having a film to support a single could speed up its breakthrough and save some promotional costs for the company.

Just like "Give Me Reason," once "Transformers 2" was released, the single would likely top multiple charts in various countries.

After chatting for a while, Link and Graham moved to the first recording studio to record "Give Me Reason," practice songs for the second album, and work on MJ's two tracks.

On Monday, Link visited the RIAA's New York office to receive a symbolic platinum album.

According to RIAA rules, in the U.S., albums that sell over 500,000 copies are gold, 1 million is platinum, and 10 million is diamond. Certification also serves as a promotional tool, which Link enjoyed participating in.

After the certification ceremony, he hurried to New York University's Stern School of Business to check in and discuss course arrangements and the upcoming sports event with Dean Ragu Sundaram.

The 25th Summer Universiade would be held in mid-May in Serbia, Eastern Europe, lasting 15 days.

Link said he could participate in all swimming events.

Dean Sundaram welcomed him but stated that, for fairness, he needed to participate in the university's sports event first and achieve a top ranking to represent the school.

Link agreed, though it meant another item would be added to his busy schedule.

(End of Chapter)