Chapter Three
Jeremy- Nashville TN.
“JEREMY, THE WINNER OF THE recording session is coming in at Noon today.” Donovan said as he walked into the sound booth.
“Another one? How much longer are we going to do this?” I hate doing these, it’s just a waste of time.
“We will do them until we find someone that is going to be the next big star. Now finish the mix from Carrie yesterday and then hopefully the winner will be here soon.”
Great, just fucking great. I should have taken the job at Big Machine when they offered it to me, at least I would be working and not playing these games. I put the headphones on and got to work on the recordings that Carrie worked on yesterday, trying not to think about the fact that I would be wasting a couple of hours when Donovan brings in his next prize. I mean seriously, this is a joke. I finish the mix and look up. There on the other side of the glass was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life, standing in the doorway to the studio. I just sat there. I couldn’t make my body move. She had long wavy blonde hair, freckles, and kissable lips. I just stared at her, watching her lips move while she talked to Donovan. There was another girl with her that looked like her, but she didn’t have the same maturity about her. I finally got my legs to move and walked out of my booth to introduce myself.
“Oh, there he is, Kennedy and Stacy, this is Jeremy. He does all of the magic with the sound.” I smiled and extended my hand.
“Kennedy, is it? So nice to meet you.” As she placed her hand in mine, I felt a jolt of electricity. What was that? Did I drag my feet? Man, I need to snap out of it.
“Yes and this is my sister Stacy. This was her big idea.” She said and rolled her eyes.
“Why don’t we get started. Stacy why don’t you sit in the booth with Jeremy and myself and your sister can go into the recording booth. Do you have a song in mind that you want to sing?” Donovan asks as I watch her contemplate the question.
“No, maybe we should go. I’m not prepared for this.” She said as she looked around.
I saw some hurt in her eyes, well we can’t have that.
“Do you know any of Carrie Underwood’s songs? She was just in here yesterday recording. I have some of her tracks, how about Something in the Water and then we can do a fast song of your choice.” She looked uncomfortable, but she nodded. I showed her into the booth and helped her with the headphones. I never do this but most of our clients have worked in the industry, and she didn’t look like she had done this before.
“I will talk to you through the headphones, and I can hear you if you need anything, all right?”
“I guess.” She didn’t really want to be here, I can see it in her eyes, but it seems like she is doing this for her sister. “It’s going to be fun. If you can think of any other songs, just let me know, I am sure we have the tracks on file.” I walked back into the booth and cued the music as the music filled the booth I saw pain in her eyes. I stopped the music and hit the speaker,
“Take a deep breath and if you have to, close your eyes and just sing.” She nodded. I started the music again and watched as she closed her eyes and started to sing. I was instantly blown away. I have never heard a voice like hers. In all the years that I have been in this business no one has sounded like her . I sat mesmerized as she sang the song with such meaning and emotion. Once the song was finished she took the headphones off and just looked at us. I hit the speaker.
“That was amazing. Want to do it again?”
“Can we do a faster song? Do you have Cowboy Casanova?” She bit her lip, damn. No woman has ever affected me like this. Ever. I shifted in my seat since her sister is sitting next to me, and I cued the track.
“Let me know when you’re ready.” She put the headphones back on her head and nodded. I started the music and she started to sing. She was really getting into the song. I sat there and just stared at her. Well damn, he did it, he finally found the voice that could very well be the next big star.
When the music stopped she took off the headphones, placed them on the mic and walked out of the room. I set up the machines to make her the CD and I watched Donovan as he got ready to pounce. She stood in the doorway and shook hands with Donovan and gestured for her sister.
“I would like to speak with you about the possibility of recording a real demo. I think you could be the next big star in Nashville.” Donovan said.
“No thank you, I did this to make my sister happy, I breed and raise horses. I’m not a singer.”
“But you are a singer. A very good singer, and I think you could make it big. Like Carrie and Kelsey.” Donovan said.
I stood up and interrupted the conversation. I could tell that she was starting to feel uncomfortable being bullied into this. “Why don’t you come back later and pick up your CD, maybe take a few days to think about it. There is no reason to decide now.”
“Ok, I’ll come back later and get the CD, but it won’t change my mind. I don’t sing anymore.”
“Just go out to the receptionist and fill out the papers and come back in a few hours.” I smiled softly hoping she would. She nodded, took ahold of her sister’s arm, and headed down the hall.
“Jeremy, why the hell did you do that? You’re letting her get away.”
“I’m not letting her get away but if you were watching her you would have seen that she didn’t want to be here, and she didn’t appreciate being pushed into doing this. Give her some time, if this is what she wants then she will be back.”
If not then I might just have to track her down and see what I can do to change her mind.