A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 112

“Of course, I’d love to! There’s no reason for me to meet with reporters individually. It would be better to greet them all together! I have fond memories of greeting reporters individually during the last press conference, though.”

The PR team leader smiled, relieved.

“That’s a relief. You’ll probably have to follow a schedule from 8 AM, when reporters arrive, to 6 PM, when they leave, so you’ll be out all day. Is that okay? Your condition is the priority, Do-hyun.”

“Of course. This kind of opportunity won’t come twice. Meeting them in person and greeting them… it’s important to make a good impression on the reporters when I have the chance.”

“Great! Then I’ll set up that schedule!”

Do-hyun acknowledged the PR team leader’s words and headed to his studio.

Inside, Do-hyun replayed the conversation about planning a new US tour in his mind.

He wondered if it would be with the same concert agency as before, and decided to consult his tarot cards.

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle—

After shuffling, Do-hyun carefully selected a single card.

Finally, a single card rested in his hand.

Do-hyun slowly turned it over.

[Nine of Cups]

A merchant sitting comfortably in front of nine full cups.

“This means success. Oh… seeing this card so often lately, it seems luck is definitely on my side!”

Do-hyun was pleased, feeling confident about the US tour.

Ding-dong—

The bell rang, and Do-hyun opened the studio door.

Kang-ho was standing there.

“Oh? Hyung [older brother/male friend]! Is something urgent?”

“Well, not exactly… I have something important to tell you.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“We’ve received an offer from another music program.”

“Oh? Which program?”

“It’s a new program launching on KBC [Korean Broadcasting Corporation] where you cover songs by established artists in your own style. The program is called ‘Your Life Singer.’”

“So, shortened, it would be ‘YourLifeSinger’?”

“You could say that. Anyway, we got an offer for that program. Do you want to do it? It’s a regular program, not just a pilot episode.”

Do-hyun, who had successfully navigated the ‘YouChoeGa’ [likely a singing competition] preliminaries by covering songs of senior artists, thought appearing on ‘YourLifeSinger’ would be a good move.

Moreover, if it was a regular program and not just a one-off pilot, it would be a platform where he could further showcase his skills.

“I’ll do it, this program. I’m really looking forward to it, hyung.”

“KBC is already trying to promote you, the winner of season 1, after ‘YouChoeGa’ season 2 did well… I think it’s a good opportunity. I’m glad you decided to do it.”

“I have to. I’m grateful that the broadcasting station is inviting me.”

“Ah, and the second piece of news is….”

* * *

[Honeys, come quickly and check this out]

The first lineup for Lollapalooza, one of the US music festivals, has been released, and do you see the name Na Do-hyun written there?

└Huh? Hyunie [term of endearment] suddenly?

└What the heck? ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ [Korean abbreviation for trembling/shock] What is this unexpected 떡밥 [tteokbokki, slang for ‘news/gossip’]?

└Is Do-hyun really going to that festival?

└Without a single word?

└Wow… no, when was the schedule fixed? Can Do-hyun even handle this?

└Lollapalooza, seriously, I didn’t even imagine this 떡밥?

└I’m 고민중 [considering] whether to book a flight right now ㅠㅠ Hyunie’s 떡밥 is pouring out

└└There’s more Hyunie’s 떡밥 coming out ㄷㄷㄷㄷ I work at KBC, and Do-hyun has confirmed his appearance on a program that will be launched soon……

└We don’t believe anything without proof, you know?

└└The press release will be out tomorrow, so check it out

* * *

Singer Na Do-hyun has confirmed his appearance on ‘Your Life Singer.’

According to a KBC broadcasting official, Na Do-hyun has been named as the first guest on the KBC music program ‘Your Life Singer,’ which will launch in May.

‘Your Life Singer’ is a program where artists cover songs by senior artists who have influenced their music career and sing them in their own style……

(Omitted)

Meanwhile, Na Do-hyun is scheduled to showcase his unique charm at Lollapalooza, a large-scale American festival held in August.

* * *

[Na Do-hyun’s skills will be exposed lololol]

I’m really worried about him going to Lollapalooza. I think there will be a lot of posts criticizing K-pop levels? And what’s with covering songs by senior artists? lololol Na Do-hyun’s skills aren’t that great, so what’s he going to do?

└You know more than I do, and I’m a fan lololol There are always people like you. Why do you live like that? Do you want others to fail, or what?

└The program hasn’t even been recorded yet, so what are you talking about?

└└Isn’t it a given that Na Do-hyun isn’t that good at singing? It’s famous that he pre-records his songs and then goes on stage

└? I’ve never heard that story before. Why don’t you go watch the MR [music recorded] removed videos on YouTube?

└Nothing has been confirmed yet, but you’re already ruining the mood?

└└Is that ruining the mood lololol Look at your oppa’s [term of endearment for older brother/male celebrity] skills~ Isn’t it true that he had plastic surgery on his face? He looks so different from when he was young?

└If this isn’t 악플 [akpeul, malicious comment], then what is? Ruining the mood and 악플, it’s all there

└Honeys, don’t increase the comments here and just ignore them. We can just take a PDF and send it to the agency. We’ve seen one or two of these people. 성형설 [seonghyeongseol, plastic surgery rumors] is constantly circulating… I’m speechless because it’s so funny that they’re jealous of my oppa’s success because he can’t sing

* * *

A few days later.

Hello, this is Hue Entertainment.

We have previously announced that we will take strict measures against the spread of false information and malicious comments about singer Na Do-hyun.

Currently, some have been sent to the prosecutor’s office, and we would like to inform you that we are constantly updating the materials you send us and proceeding with legal action.

We will continue to take consistent measures regarding the spread of false information and malicious comments about Na Do-hyun in the future. Please keep this in mind.

Thank you.

└Wow, do you guys remember the kid who 악플ed last time that Na Do-hyun’s skills would be exposed? Their 후기 [hugi, review/aftermath] is up lololol They uploaded that they received a call from the prosecutor’s office like they did something well? Then they uploaded a handwritten apology, and it’s quite a sight

└I was getting a little annoyed because I thought Hue Entertainment wasn’t working, but they were quietly taking care of things. I hope the 악플러s [akpeulleo, malicious commenters] go to jail~ I hope they get fined

└The things that 악플 달고 다니는 애들 [akpeul dalgo danineun aedeul, kids who go around leaving malicious comments] do are amazing lololol Now we have to 적당히 [jeokdanghi, moderately] with taking 악플 PDFs. I felt like my mental health was deteriorating while watching it, but the agency is doing a good job. Hue Entertainment ㅍㅇㅌ [fighting, encouragement]

* * *

The recording of ‘Your Life Singer’ proceeded after confirming the appearances of Do-hyun and other guests.

Before long, it was April.

The cold winter had passed, though occasional cold snaps still visited.

The release of Monthly Do-hyun’s project, [Annual Do-hyun], was also just around the corner.

Do-hyun and the A&R [artists and repertoire] team were remastering the songs released as Monthly Do-hyun.

Some songs felt a little rough, so, considering the organic nature of the album, they re-recorded them.

In particular, [Annual Do-hyun] was also scheduled to be released on vinyl.

Since it was announced that it would be released in three formats—cassette tape, vinyl, and CD—they had no choice but to pay even closer attention to the quality of the sound.

In the meantime, Do-hyun had an idea.

The song he composed while thinking of Yeouido’s Yunjung-ro [a famous street for cherry blossoms] had been released as a song for Monthly Do-hyun last March, and the response was quite good.

It was a song written while imagining cherry blossoms fluttering. The song title was [Do You Know the Cherry Blossoms of Spring Days]. After its release, requests for it to be released as an official 음원 [eumwon, digital music file] flooded in, and even though it was released on a free 음원 platform, it was frequently used as cafe background music, highlighting its popularity.

“PD [producer], what do you think of the setlist?”

Do-hyun was planning a surprise busking performance in Yeouido in mid-April, when the cherry blossoms would be in full bloom.

It was a project he was undertaking to showcase his charm to the general public through busking, and he was eager to promote the song even further.

The first part was planned in Yeouido, and the second part was planned in Jeju Island.

“I think the setlist is very good. Especially the Yeouido Hangang Park setlist; it effectively promotes the songs that were released as Monthly Do-hyun before [Annual Do-hyun] is released, and it feels very natural. Considering that the target audience is mainly couples… I really like it.”

Do-hyun, who had created the setlist himself, breathed a sigh of relief.

He was glad that PD Lee Joon-hyuk agreed.

“Then I will focus even more on practicing as it is!”

“Don’t overdo it too much. Don’t forget that a singer’s voice is their life. Sometimes, Do-hyun, when you hit the high notes in a song, you make a sound as if you’re scratching your throat to emphasize it, which puts a strain on your voice. ‘Another Day’ is one of those songs in the setlist.”

“Should I try a different technique to attempt the high notes? The fans say they like the scratched voice… I actually did it knowing that it would put a strain on my voice.”

In response, PD Lee Joon-hyuk repeatedly urged him not to do that.

“A singer’s voice is their life. If you keep making that scratched sound, it will inevitably put a strain on your voice, right? If you get vocal cord nodules, the situation will get worse. So always keep this in mind when practicing. It’s also good to slightly change your singing method.”

“Thank you for the advice! I’ll try!”

Do-hyun left PD Lee’s studio and headed to the practice room.

Inside, Do-hyun picked up his guitar and loosened his fingers.

Afterward, he practiced the chords of the songs on the setlist in order.

The last busking performance had been before the national tour.

This was his first busking in months, and because of the characteristics of the spring season, he wanted to create a fluttering feeling in a gentle atmosphere.

That’s why he was focusing so intently on practicing.

‘Spring is a very good season… busking in Yeouido and Jeju in this season. Just thinking about it makes me happy. I couldn’t have even dreamed of it before. I couldn’t do the Yeouido busking because I was afraid no one would gather, but it’s really great now.’

Do-hyun stroked his guitar while lost in thought.

He was often dazed, but he still couldn’t quite believe his current position.

In particular, he was going to appear on a program where he could cover songs by established artists, and his name was listed as part of the first lineup for the American mega-festival.

“Hmm… should I check the tarot cards to see what it would be like to perform at Lollapalooza?”

There were still 4 months left.

Usually, he only predicted the future up to 3 months out, but Do-hyun still wanted to read his future.

After placing the guitar on the sofa, Do-hyun shuffled the tarot cards.

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle—

And one card in particular caught his eye.

Do-hyun turned it over.