299 Catharsis

Joshua Cranston, who had just arrived at Columbia University last week, became a student at this top American institution. It was his first time stepping onto the streets of New York City, experiencing the charm of the city. Although everything in the city seemed fresh and lively, Joshua felt somewhat disappointed. The surging crowds almost engulfed all the scenery within his line of sight, and the uniqueness between streets disappeared. The uniformity of the crowds made the city dull.

Arriving at the famous Times Square, this young man from Butler, a small town in Alabama, was disappointed. Joshua's hometown was a small town with a population of less than twenty thousand. He yearned for the prosperity and bustle of big cities, but after entering this world, he was disappointed within less than a week. He missed the tranquility and comfort of his small town even more.

Joshua sighed and prepared to return to his dormitory. He left Times Square and walked along the street, not knowing where he was going. However, after walking less than a hundred yards, he stopped when he saw a band performing on the roadside. If there was one thing in New York City that could truly interest Joshua, it was the music flowing in the city's veins. Street performers could be seen everywhere, and they piqued Joshua's interest. Unfortunately, he didn't find a rock band performing today, and he was a genuine rock music enthusiast.

This so-called "band" in front of him couldn't really be considered a "band" because it only consisted of two people, a drummer and a guitarist. There wasn't even a lead singer, and the bass was nowhere to be seen. Such a broken combination would probably be more suitable for comic sketches. However, surprisingly, the collaboration between these two individuals gave Joshua the intense and exhilarating feeling that only top bands like Nirvana and Guns N' Roses could bring.

Simple drum beats, simple guitar melodies, they didn't sound complicated, but when seen up close, one could directly witness the flurry of hand movements between the two performers. The meticulous tension was conveyed through their hands as they interacted with their instruments. Wave after wave of impact rushed forth, firmly rooting Joshua to the spot: this was the true charm of New York!

One person, two people... unconsciously, at least twenty onlookers gathered around Hugo and Eugene. Everyone was filled with interest, watching this peculiar duo. They couldn't help but applaud and cheer for the fantastic melody produced by the two. The sense of competition that was subtly tugging in the melody grew increasingly tense. However, since the guitarist had more room to showcase his skills, onlookers believed that the guitarist had a slight upper hand. But true experts could sense the drummer's powerful control and that he was not falling behind.

When Hugo reached the halfway point of his melody, the lyrics in his mind burst forth like sunlight piercing through thin clouds. They surged out. In fact, composing had become Hugo's instinct. He always subconsciously wanted to combine melody with lyrics. Originally, Hugo hadn't planned to create this particular section; he was just playing the guitar in harmony with Eugene's drum beats. But unexpectedly, the sparks ignited by the two turned the competition into a special resonance. The mutual constraints made the melody even more chemically reactive, and the lyrics bloomed in Hugo's mind like fireworks.

So, Hugo looked up at Eugene and raised an eyebrow, but Eugene and Hugo weren't familiar with each other. Eugene couldn't understand Hugo's gaze, but as a drummer, Eugene had extraordinary control over the band. He also felt the cathartic release within the melody. It seemed that Hugo's gaze meant a transition to the next phase of collaboration. Subconsciously, Eugene slowed down the intense drum beats and returned to the steady rhythm of the cymbals, just like when they started.

Then Eugene saw a big smile appear on Hugo's lips. It was a confident smile that only a true lead singer could possess!

"I'm so happy, 'cause today I found my friends. They're in my head..." Hugo sang out loud. In the absence of a microphone, Hugo's voice was easily drowned out by the instruments and the surrounding noise. But both Hugo and Eugene instinctively adjusted the intensity of their fingers, reducing the influence of the instruments. Hugo's powerful voice, full of vitality, pierced through the obstacles in the melody like a sharp sword.

As a singer, Hugo's technique wasn't particularly outstanding, but he knew the correct way to project his voice. With accumulated experience over time, Hugo became more skilled at live performances. Perhaps in the recording studio, his weaknesses would be exposed, as was the case when he recorded the theme song for "A Few Good Men" before. But during live performances, Hugo's infectious energy compensated for many shortcomings, allowing him to interpret the essence of the song.

When Eugene heard the lyrics sung by Hugo, he couldn't help but smile. The lyrics seemed to be about him, and before he even realized it, Eugene unintentionally revealed his inner joy as the protagonist. It was indeed a happy thing to be able to interact with a talented and gifted musician like Hugo. However, Hugo's next words froze the smile on Eugene's lips.

"I'm so ugly, that's okay, 'cause so are you. Broke our mirrors" Hugo's lyrics were filled with self-deprecating humor and cathartic release, causing a ridiculous smile to involuntarily appear on people's faces. But underneath the surface, negative emotions silently vented out under the guidance of the guitar and drums. However, Eugene, who believed he was the protagonist, instantly turned serious at these lyrics: a facepalm moment.

[

Sunday mornin' is every day for all I care

And I'm not scared

Light my candles in a daze 'cause I've found God

]

Hugo's voice was deeper than usual, giving his naturally rich voice a rougher edge. It was as if a hand were ruthlessly disturbing the smooth velvet, causing the beautiful fabric to momentarily become chaotic. Yet, under the light, the high-quality velvet reflected an even brighter shine.

At this moment, Hugo looked up and glanced at Eugene. Eugene felt a sting from Hugo's lyrics, but his focus heightened. After receiving Hugo's gaze, he knew the eruption point was coming. It was like when Eugene suddenly accelerated the drumbeat earlier, and as the bass drum hit, the entire melody instantly entered the rhythm of an untamed wild horse. Then Eugene saw Hugo seemingly jump in place, suddenly unleashing the breath from deep within his core. Veins bulged on his neck, and a voice full of a brutal and destructive aura burst forth from the melody, akin to a demon emerging from the soil.

"Yeah yeah yeah! Yeah yeah yeah!" Hugo simply used the most basic exclamation to interpret the melody, but the moment of explosive eruption felt so magical. It was like a skyscraper going from zero to a hundred in an instant, then collapsing into powder. This direct ascent and explosion pushed the ferocity within the music to its extreme. The emotions felt as if they were being sprayed by a machine gun, creating countless holes in an instant.

Not only Eugene, but all the onlookers around were dumbfounded in an instant. They watched Hugo's bulging veins, and Joshua felt as if his own blood vessels were about to explode. The explosive sound released in Hugo's voice made Joshua's emotions immediately surge to the point of erupting. His entire face turned red as he breathed heavily, from tightly clenched fists to the tense muscles throughout his body. Joshua felt like his body had turned into a battlefield, becoming a mess within Hugo's ravaging vocals. Yet, accompanying it was not pain but the exhilaration and magnanimity of released emotions, causing adrenaline to surge through Joshua's body, turning his eyes bloodshot.

But after the brief eight-beat segment, the melody suddenly calmed down, creating an extreme contrast that was as striking as the difference between fire and ice, leaving people speechless in its sheer satisfaction.

[

I'm so lonely, that's okay, I shaved my head

And I'm not sad

And just maybe, I'm to blame for all I've hurt

But I'm not sure

I'm so excited, I can't wait to meet you there

And I don't care

I'm so horny, that's okay, my will is good

]

Eugene finally understood Hugo's lyrics at this moment. Hugo was describing his own breakdown, but it also depicted Eugene's collapse, using personal breakdowns as a metaphor for the immense societal pressures. The entire song immersed itself in a sense of loss and fear, where no one in society was exempted. However, through this song, they sought to find a personal sanctuary within their hearts.

These mixed emotions, resembling release, confusion, and rebirth, were vividly expressed through the melody constructed by Hugo and Eugene. Eugene couldn't help but marvel and admire. Although from an outsider's perspective, Eugene and Hugo seemed evenly matched, Eugene knew that the initiative was originally in his hands. However, now they were sharing the spotlight, indicating that Hugo, while perhaps not the best in terms of technique, surpassed Eugene in his understanding of melody and control over composition, causing Eugene to inadvertently lose his dominance.

Of course, this was a good thing, and it was normal. If the drummer were to steal the show, it wouldn't be beneficial for the band. Even though Eugene knew this, he couldn't help but look at Hugo's abilities in a new light. If Hugo was impressive during the last rock night, then today he was absolutely stunning.

In the midst of contemplation, Eugene's drumbeat suddenly accelerated once again, and Hugo's voice once again erupted with astonishing energy. "Yeah yeah yeah!" The energy that tore through the fog and darkness reached its pinnacle within the melody, bursting with an explosive effect comparable to a bomb.