126 Song recordings

A week flew by, and the long-awaited day had arrived for Lucas to record at the famed Electric Lady Studios.

Walking towards the studio with Samantha by his side, her excitement was infectious. "I am really excited about this!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.

"Me too," Lucas agreed, his voice filled with a mixture of nerves and excitement as they moved through the hallway. "This is my first official recording session in a established and professional recording studio such as Electric Lady Studios."

Samantha gave him an encouraging nod. "Also, thanks for letting me tag along for your session. It's going to be a huge learning experience for me."

Lucas responded with a warm smile, "No problem at all."

As their conversation continued, they reached the studio entrance. Inside, Studio Manager Lee, whom Lucas knew well, greeted them with a familiar smile.

"Lucas, great to see you back!" Lee exclaimed, offering a firm handshake. "We're all set up for a fantastic session today."

Standing next to Lee was Alex, the sound engineer, who stepped forward with an outstretched hand. "Hi, Lucas, I'm Alex. I'll be handling the mixing and mastering for your tracks today. Excited to work with your sound."

And beside Alex was Jamie, the studio assistant, her enthusiasm evident. "I'm Jamie. If you need anything during your session—snacks, drinks, just let me know."

Lucas felt a wave of gratitude for the warm welcome. "Thanks, everyone. I'm really looking forward to today."

Studio Manager Lee gave a nod, then shared, "We've gone over the musical notation from the sheets you provided and have put together a draft track. Take a listen and see what you think."

Lucas, Samantha, and the studio staff gathered to listen to the draft through the speakers. The song, "Someone You Loved," filled the room. Lucas tapped his foot in time with the music, noting how closely it mirrored what he remembered from his previous life.

However, he could tell something was missing—the track lacked certain nuances he recalled. Given his musical background, Lucas was keen to fine-tune the details. He shared his thoughts with Lee and the team, drawing from his memories to enrich the song's depth.

Alex, the sound engineer, nodded in understanding during their discussion. "Got it," he said. "With a few adjustments, we'll be close to wrapping this up."

Lucas gave a satisfied nod. Fortunately, the studio was well-equipped with all the necessary sound elements to enhance the track, making the process smoother and more efficient.

After meticulous adjustments and Lucas's final nod of approval, the atmosphere in the studio shifted towards the main event: recording the track. Inside the vocal booth, Lucas stood isolated yet visible through the glass, the focus of attention from Samantha, Studio Manager Lee, and the entire studio team, who watched with anticipation.

Equipped with headphones, Lucas peered through the glass, seeking the signal to start. Across the room, he caught Alex's reassuring gesture—a thumbs-up—signaling everything was set.

Lucas adjusted his headphones, securing them in place as the instrumental track softly filled his ears. On the other side, Samantha, Lee, and the rest of the team donned their own headsets, tuning in to hear Lucas's voice intertwined with the music.

As the first chords played, Lucas took a deep breath and began, "I'm going under, and this time I fear there's no one to save me," his voice resonating with raw emotion, filling the studio with the poignant lyrics.

From the first note, Samantha, Lee, and the staff were utterly transfixed by the performance unfolding. Lucas's voice carried the weight of every word, weaving a tapestry of sound and sentiment.

As the song reached its conclusion, a respectful silence hung for a moment before Samantha broke into applause, her hands clapping in genuine admiration. "It was really good!" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of surprise and delight.

Lee, Alex, and Jamie joined in, their applause mingled with nods of approval and murmurs of amazement. "Incredible," someone whispered, while another voice added, "Damn. I think this song will become a success."

Lucas, still in the booth, could hear the cascade of praises through his headphones, each set equipped with a microphone for two-way communication.

Acknowledging their applause with a modest smile, Lucas signaled his desire to hear the playback, his artist's ear critical and attentive. To everyone's astonishment, after listening, Lucas requested another take. He felt something in his performance could be better, his dedication to perfection evident.

The team exchanged surprised looks, a mix of respect and understanding flashing in their eyes. Without hesitation, they prepared for another take, aligning with Lucas's commitment to capturing the song's essence just right.

Then, Lucas repeated the song until he was completely satisfied with the final rendition. After many takes, he finally gave a nod of approval, a clear sign of his satisfaction with the result.

With the recording of "Someone You Loved" successfully wrapped up, Lucas stepped out of the booth, ready to tackle his next challenge: recording "Perfect." He gathered with Studio Manager Lee and Sound Engineer Alex to review the initial draft they had prepared.

After a thorough discussion, Alex adjusted the track to better align with Lucas's vision, infusing the arrangement with a pop sensibility similar to the track of "Someone You Loved."

Lee, no stranger to pop music's nuances, offered Lucas an approving nod. "This track sounds great," he said, offering a supportive pat on the back. Initially, he had pegged Lucas as more inclined towards ballad, country, or folk genres. However, through their work on tracks like "Someone You Loved" and "Perfect," it became evident that Lucas had a broader affinity for pop, a revelation that only increased Lee's respect for him.

Reflecting on the successful recording of "Someone You Loved," Lee felt reassured that the favorable conditions extended to Lucas were well justified. The day's work not only showcased Lucas's versatility but also cemented a mutual respect between the artist and the studio team.