Cadence smiled at his responses, specifically when he said “our collaboration” (she was going to steal that terminology), and with a flick of her eyes she saw a smile on Mars’ face as well. Mars wouldn’t have invited him if she hadn’t thought he was a good fit. She had done her research on Ezvin, and was likely unsurprised at what she had heard. It was likely Mars had made some assumptions, but she was a good judge of people. Cadence pulled out her wallet, telling Casey they were ready to go again. She had a little more to say, but it should be done before she got back.
She turned back to Ezvin, her smile bright. ”No, I think we’re clear on everything at this point.” She stood and shook his hand, noticing that she hadn’t had stop spinning the rings on her fingers. Sometime during Ezvin’s talk, she had unconsciously stopped doing it. ”Welcome to ‘Embrace You,” our collaboration.” she continued after dropping his hand. ”There is more I think you will need to know - about my past - so you can understand the driving force behind this project. That will have to come another time. Not because I’m ashamed, but because,” she sighed. ”My childhood was not a great one, and it takes preparation on my part to go back into that darkness. Assume of that what you will for now, but I think it’s important you hear it, from my lips.”
The band came in and headed directly to their spots, ready to work. Cadence turned towards them, including everyone in the next part of the conversation. ”alright - let’s make some music. Same song, this time it is for real. Warm-up is over. Let’s get to work!”
The mood of the group shifted at her words. The excitement was still there, but instead of boiling, it was reduced to a simmer. Cadence was sure every band had their rituals. Cadence, not understanding why, had done this at her first recording session, and it had continued since then.
First she went to Mars and took her hands, leaning in to whisper in her ear, so only she could hear. The words she would speak to each individual was for them alone. ”You believed in me, and cultivated me. Your leaving will not diminish that. Whether with us in the studio, on tour, and just listening to our album as you drive, you will always be with us.”
Cadence moved towards Cara, who put her drumsticks down on her snare before standing. Cadence took her face in her hands and leaned in to press her forehead to Cara’s. Her method of approaching each band member was different, based on their comfort levels. ”You are more than a metronome. You are our heart, our breath, and our life. Never underestimate your value.” she whispered.
Barry also stood as she approached and she took his hands into hers. ”You are our soul - not just a background instrument to fill sound. Your contributions are just as important as anyone else’s - including my own.”
Cadence turned towards Matt, feeling different as she did. Usually she spoke encouragement to them, and it was always appreciated, but as she approached Matt, she felt a stirring she didn’t understand. . He didn’t like to be touched much and so Cadence placed a hand on his shoulder before whispering into his ear. ”I know doubt yourself and your abilities. Do not give in to it. You were chosen for a reason, and soon, you will see it.” she followed her instinct, pressing her hand over his heart, hoping it did not make him uncomfortable. He didn’t flinch. ”Trust your instincts, for they are strong.” Cadence felt the slight shift in his posture as he straightened, and his hand came up to meet the one on his chest, not to brush it away, but as a gesture of gratitude. Cadence knew that somehow, even without her magic, she had lit a spark in him.
Cadence turned towards Casey, who set down her bass and and walked to wrap Cadence in a hug which Cadence returned. ”They do not follow you because they fear you. They follow because they trust you. You’re a gifted leader. Never doubt that.” words of gratitude were spoken before they released each other.
Cadence then turned towards Ezvin and she took his hands into hers and whispered. ”The newest member of our collaboration. You are welcome here, and your contributions are as well. I think you know this, but also believe it’s important for you to hear it: you’re just as important to this as anyone here, be they musician or singer.”
Cadence moved back to her spot at the microphone. ”Same song - and I need the same energy as we had before. Got it?”
They spoke their understanding and the song began again, but this time, Cadence listened for Matt, the recording needed little adjustment this time through, and she picked up Matt easily in the mix. Although not anymore proficient, there was a change to his sound. It breathed more; it flowed better; it had more life. There were subtle nuances she hadn’t heard before.
Yes!!! Push it farther!! Embrace it! she thought, silently cheering him on.
Hearing this, she wasn’t surprise when after the second chorus, he went into an unplanned guitar solo. The band, surprised, still didn’t waver, continuing through as if it were planned, backing up and letting the solo happen, even if they didn’t understand the gravity of what just happened. The song ended and for a moment silence existed. Then everything seemed to move at once.
The band began to speak over one another. Frustration abounded, not because his playing had been bad. He had gone off routine, it could have ruined the recording. Cadence didn’t catch the words. The words were unimportant. They didn’t get it. Not yet. But they would.
Cadence turned towards Ezvin, a grin still on her face, wondering if he had understood what had happened. She quietly spoke an approximation of the words he had said during their conversation, knowing they were unlikely to be heard over the group’s bickering. ”This is where the magic happens.”
Cadence faced the band, and bringing her fingers to her lips, she let out a loud whistle. Stunned silence followed as the band turned to face her. Cadence didn’t speak, realizing she didn’t have to. She moved her gaze towards Cara, who had gotten out from behind her kit to join in the arguing. Her gaze held no anger, nor admonishment. But it commanded, and that unspoken command was obeyed as Cara went back and took a seat behind her drums. Cadence’s gaze went then to Barry, who took several steps back. They skipped over Matt to look at Casey, who like Matt took steps back to go to her position.
Cadence’s gaze, unchanged turned to Matt, who surprisingly met her gaze. Silence reigned for a moment, but Cadence’s look demanded an explanation, not to her or anyone else. This explanation for for himself - a time to recognize the growth that had just happened.
”I didn’t plan it,” Matt finally broke the silence. ”It just felt right.”
Cadence’s smiled beamed as he said it. He had listened. He had understood, and in moments, Cadence could see the light bulbs going on in the group as it hit them. The solo hadn’t been his ego. Matt had allowed the music to flow through him, and by not resisting, a magical moment had happened.
The band got up again, giving Matt hugs and congratulated his break through. Cadence went and gave Matt a hug before getting back to business. ”Alright, let’s listen.”
She turned back to Ezvin, her smile bright. ”No, I think we’re clear on everything at this point.” She stood and shook his hand, noticing that she hadn’t had stop spinning the rings on her fingers. Sometime during Ezvin’s talk, she had unconsciously stopped doing it. ”Welcome to ‘Embrace You,” our collaboration.” she continued after dropping his hand. ”There is more I think you will need to know - about my past - so you can understand the driving force behind this project. That will have to come another time. Not because I’m ashamed, but because,” she sighed. ”My childhood was not a great one, and it takes preparation on my part to go back into that darkness. Assume of that what you will for now, but I think it’s important you hear it, from my lips.”
The band came in and headed directly to their spots, ready to work. Cadence turned towards them, including everyone in the next part of the conversation. ”alright - let’s make some music. Same song, this time it is for real. Warm-up is over. Let’s get to work!”
The mood of the group shifted at her words. The excitement was still there, but instead of boiling, it was reduced to a simmer. Cadence was sure every band had their rituals. Cadence, not understanding why, had done this at her first recording session, and it had continued since then.
First she went to Mars and took her hands, leaning in to whisper in her ear, so only she could hear. The words she would speak to each individual was for them alone. ”You believed in me, and cultivated me. Your leaving will not diminish that. Whether with us in the studio, on tour, and just listening to our album as you drive, you will always be with us.”
Cadence moved towards Cara, who put her drumsticks down on her snare before standing. Cadence took her face in her hands and leaned in to press her forehead to Cara’s. Her method of approaching each band member was different, based on their comfort levels. ”You are more than a metronome. You are our heart, our breath, and our life. Never underestimate your value.” she whispered.
Barry also stood as she approached and she took his hands into hers. ”You are our soul - not just a background instrument to fill sound. Your contributions are just as important as anyone else’s - including my own.”
Cadence turned towards Matt, feeling different as she did. Usually she spoke encouragement to them, and it was always appreciated, but as she approached Matt, she felt a stirring she didn’t understand. . He didn’t like to be touched much and so Cadence placed a hand on his shoulder before whispering into his ear. ”I know doubt yourself and your abilities. Do not give in to it. You were chosen for a reason, and soon, you will see it.” she followed her instinct, pressing her hand over his heart, hoping it did not make him uncomfortable. He didn’t flinch. ”Trust your instincts, for they are strong.” Cadence felt the slight shift in his posture as he straightened, and his hand came up to meet the one on his chest, not to brush it away, but as a gesture of gratitude. Cadence knew that somehow, even without her magic, she had lit a spark in him.
Cadence turned towards Casey, who set down her bass and and walked to wrap Cadence in a hug which Cadence returned. ”They do not follow you because they fear you. They follow because they trust you. You’re a gifted leader. Never doubt that.” words of gratitude were spoken before they released each other.
Cadence then turned towards Ezvin and she took his hands into hers and whispered. ”The newest member of our collaboration. You are welcome here, and your contributions are as well. I think you know this, but also believe it’s important for you to hear it: you’re just as important to this as anyone here, be they musician or singer.”
Cadence moved back to her spot at the microphone. ”Same song - and I need the same energy as we had before. Got it?”
They spoke their understanding and the song began again, but this time, Cadence listened for Matt, the recording needed little adjustment this time through, and she picked up Matt easily in the mix. Although not anymore proficient, there was a change to his sound. It breathed more; it flowed better; it had more life. There were subtle nuances she hadn’t heard before.
Yes!!! Push it farther!! Embrace it! she thought, silently cheering him on.
Hearing this, she wasn’t surprise when after the second chorus, he went into an unplanned guitar solo. The band, surprised, still didn’t waver, continuing through as if it were planned, backing up and letting the solo happen, even if they didn’t understand the gravity of what just happened. The song ended and for a moment silence existed. Then everything seemed to move at once.
The band began to speak over one another. Frustration abounded, not because his playing had been bad. He had gone off routine, it could have ruined the recording. Cadence didn’t catch the words. The words were unimportant. They didn’t get it. Not yet. But they would.
Cadence turned towards Ezvin, a grin still on her face, wondering if he had understood what had happened. She quietly spoke an approximation of the words he had said during their conversation, knowing they were unlikely to be heard over the group’s bickering. ”This is where the magic happens.”
Cadence faced the band, and bringing her fingers to her lips, she let out a loud whistle. Stunned silence followed as the band turned to face her. Cadence didn’t speak, realizing she didn’t have to. She moved her gaze towards Cara, who had gotten out from behind her kit to join in the arguing. Her gaze held no anger, nor admonishment. But it commanded, and that unspoken command was obeyed as Cara went back and took a seat behind her drums. Cadence’s gaze went then to Barry, who took several steps back. They skipped over Matt to look at Casey, who like Matt took steps back to go to her position.
Cadence’s gaze, unchanged turned to Matt, who surprisingly met her gaze. Silence reigned for a moment, but Cadence’s look demanded an explanation, not to her or anyone else. This explanation for for himself - a time to recognize the growth that had just happened.
”I didn’t plan it,” Matt finally broke the silence. ”It just felt right.”
Cadence’s smiled beamed as he said it. He had listened. He had understood, and in moments, Cadence could see the light bulbs going on in the group as it hit them. The solo hadn’t been his ego. Matt had allowed the music to flow through him, and by not resisting, a magical moment had happened.
The band got up again, giving Matt hugs and congratulated his break through. Cadence went and gave Matt a hug before getting back to business. ”Alright, let’s listen.”
Sometimes - People Are The Monsters