A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 130

Hoya *hyung* [older brother or close male friend] pinched my cheek.

The painful sensation vividly conveyed that I had been nominated for a Grammy Award.

“Wow. I was just planning to go and enjoy the performances of great singers…”

“Now that it’s come to this, shouldn’t you aim for the award? Your song with Adion did well, and the songs you released afterward have been successful on charts worldwide. It’s quite exceptional, especially for a Korean male solo artist.”

“That’s right. Usually, it ends with just being popular in East Asia, but it feels like I’ve been recognized in America, the ultimate place for pop culture… *Hyung*, I’m so dazed.”

Mom and Dad also smiled, looking at me and hugging me.

“Mom, Dad. Now that it’s come to this, I’ll come back with an award. I’ll get a trophy with Na Do-hyun’s name on it and come back.”

Mom hugged me and patted me.

“Our son, don’t be nervous and do well. Okay? Mom believes in you.”

“Dad too. I believe in our Do-hyun, so I trust you’ll bring good news.”

And so, the short dinner with my parents ended…

I headed to the company instead of the house I shared with Hoya *hyung*.

There was only one person I could talk to at times like this.

That was PD [Producer] Lee Jun-hyuk.

Perhaps because I had contacted him in advance, PD Lee had not left work.

“PD-nim [term of respect for the producer], aren’t you tired?”

I asked, handing him an energy drink.

PD Lee shook his head and replied.

“No, I’m not tired. I’m just amazed that Do-hyun has broken into the major American market that our company has been trying so hard to enter… and I’ve had many thoughts. I also remembered when I pushed for the contract when Do-hyun was doing guide vocals.”

“I suddenly thought of that time too. It’s become now after going through that time… I never imagined that I would be nominated for a Grammy either. I thought the company was just putting me out there. I even thought, ‘Aren’t I just embarrassing myself?'”

At that, PD Lee tilted his head back and laughed.

“To that extent? We submitted it because you had the results to be nominated. Huent wouldn’t have done it for no reason. The response has always been good, and you’ve been creating popular music that doesn’t divide opinions. Some called it a clumsy Oasis, but… Na Do-hyun is writing a new syndrome right now. Do you know how many inquiries the company is getting?”

I figured the PR team’s phones must be ringing off the hook.

Although Korean groups have been nominated for Grammys, it was the first time for a solo artist.

I thought there would be various requests, starting with press conferences.

“I can only imagine how much they’re burning the midnight oil. But… we don’t know the final result, so I’d like to have a press conference after I come back.”

“Scheduling that is a matter for the management team and the PR team to coordinate… Now, even more places will be looking for Do-hyun. Is there anything you want to do?”

“Hmm…”

At PD Lee’s question, I thought about something I wanted to do.

I had already seen some success in discovering the talents of junior artists who were experiencing obscurity like me through collaborations…

What else could there be?

As I pondered, one thing came to mind.

“A music talk show with my name on it. Like ‘Na Do-hyun’s Love Letter.’ I came up with the program name myself… Is it too strange?”

At that, PD Lee replied that it was a good idea.

“Let’s try it first. Once you go to the Grammys… just being nominated is a career boost, right? Then the broadcasting stations… especially KBC, will try to cast Do-hyun in a hurry. According to the rumors these days, the person who has been hosting the existing music talk show is going down to Jeju Island and has expressed his intention to quit.”

“Ah, really?”

This was news to me.

The person currently hosting KBC’s main music talk show is a singer named Jung Yoon-hyun, a senior artist with over 20 years of music experience.

Since Senior Jung Yoon-hyun might go down to Jeju Island and the MC [Master of Ceremonies] of the music talk show might change, I suddenly started to have pleasant imaginations.

If I were to record a program called ‘Na Do-hyun’s Love Letter’… wouldn’t I be able to soothe the disappointment of having to leave the radio DJ job early?

In addition to that, wouldn’t it be a good experience to promote friendship with various singers?

“Do-hyun, you’re sometimes slow to get news.”

“Hmm… I guess so. Still, I feel good thinking that I might be included in the possibility of ‘what if.’ It’s becoming a flagship program with my name on it.”

“Right? If Do-hyun does it… actually, I’ve already put in a push. They seem to be urgently looking for a new MC. They’re planning to have a program reorganization period, and they need to find an MC within that time, but they need to find an MC with considerable skills and good speaking ability… Huent has suggested Do-hyun.”

“…Ah?”

The pleasant imagination was about to become a reality.

“How about it, Do-hyun? Are you thinking of doing it? I was thinking of pushing a little more after hearing Do-hyun’s opinion. Since there are many singers under Huent, if Do-hyun becomes the MC of that program, it seems like it would be a good opportunity to showcase the skills of Huent singers.”

“Of course, I’d love to! Would an opportunity like this ever come again? I definitely think I should seize the opportunity when it comes!”

“Good. That will. What I thought from the first time I signed a contract with Do-hyun was that your will, effort, and diligence were exceptional. I saw potential there. Of course, Do-hyun’s vocal skills were also good, but I focused on the fact that you could have the same passion as the beginning even after living in obscurity for 10 years. Do-hyun is proving that my eyes were not wrong.”

It was touching to hear PD Lee Jun-hyuk, who is famous for being sharp, praise me so much.

“Thank you! You always say such nice things!”

“Why are you making a fuss about this? So, you came here today because you’re nervous, you’re trembling… you have many thoughts in many ways, right?”

PD Lee seemed to see through my heart.

Because it wasn’t wrong.

“Yes, that’s right! Actually, I could have talked it out with my manager *hyung*, but… strangely, I wanted to talk to PD-nim today. I thought PD-nim would have a lot of good things to say. And I came to the right place.”

PD Lee Jun-hyuk is cold when he’s cold, but he also has this warm side. Humans are three-dimensional. It was far from the ruthless appearance when working.

“I’m glad you thought you came to the right place. In the future, countless haters and fans will be born. A Grammy nomination is a huge record, right? There will be people who spread false rumors through reverse viral marketing, and there will be people who can’t stand Do-hyun for no reason.”

I guess so.

It was something I had experienced since ‘NCTGS’ Season 1.

‘NCTGS’ Season 1, when a large number of haters were created and malicious comments started to be posted, which didn’t exist in the days of obscurity that I had never heard of.

I couldn’t forget it even if I tried.

“I guess so? There are various people in the world. There are good people, there are bad people… there are people who hate others for no reason, and there are people who don’t. What I’ve felt since I gained popularity is that people have so many different sides.”

I honestly revealed my thoughts.

PD Lee nodded at my words.

“That’s right. It’s exactly what Do-hyun thinks. Popularity can disappear like a bubble in an instant, or it can last a long time. Also, there may be people who are jealous of popular people, or there may not be. There are truly various people in the world. It’s a bit much to bring up that friend’s name… but look at Sam Malarkey. He was so confident, but he ended up backing down.”

I listened quietly to PD Lee’s words.

While thinking about what I should reflect on at this point.

“Sam Malarkey couldn’t help it in front of popularity either. Do-hyun brilliantly utilized the opportunity he got at Glastonbury, and he showed his skills. As a result, Sam Malarkey’s fans became Do-hyun’s fans. They still criticize Sam Malarkey’s remarks to this day.”

“That’s right. So, I also think that I have to be careful about every single action.”

“That’s right. You have to be careful. Anyway… the story went somewhere else. Congratulations on getting your name on the final nomination. And we will promote ‘Na Do-hyun’s Love Letter.’ You can think of it as A&R [Artists and Repertoire] unusually stepping up.”

“Thank you! PD-nim. Thank you so much for listening to my story today.”

“It’s nothing. Listening to stories isn’t difficult. It’s song work that’s difficult. In the future, you’ll have more worries when you’re working on songs. The organic nature of this album? Is it difficult for the listening public, or is it easy to hear? You’ll even consider these trivial things. Just listening to the story of Na Do-hyun, who has to swim out into the deep sea, is something I can do anytime.”

It was a reassuring story. I felt like I had gained a great army.

I felt like I was being recognized for the first time as a person and as a singer by PD Lee since signing with Huent.

After finishing the conversation with Lee Jun-hyuk PD…

I came into my studio and sat down.

In a slightly dazed state, I turned on YouTube and replayed the moment of the nomination announcement to confirm it again.

Emotions welled up.

The hardships I had gone through flashed through my mind.

The long, long days of obscurity. The helplessness of living only under the name ‘Namumyeong’ [anonymous].

All of that was fading away.

I was recognized as a human ‘Na Do-hyun’ and as a singer ‘Na Do-hyun’.

To the global public.

“…Grandpa. Can I say I’ve succeeded at this point?”

I muttered, looking at the old family photo in the corner of the studio desk.

A photo of my grandfather carrying me on his shoulders. Mom and Dad are smiling on either side.

The image of my grandfather in that photo was so vivid, and the image of him coming to find me with the Grim Reaper even in the face of death and returning me to this world also came to mind, and I missed the old days.

“…It’s Na Do-hyun now, though. I will legally use the name Na Do-hyun. Grandpa. Thank you so much. The life of obscurity is over, and the life of Do-hyun has begun… I couldn’t have done it if it wasn’t for Grandpa. I really miss you. Grandpa.”