Chapter 289: New Song Demo

Chapter 289: Chapter 289: New Song Demo

Vera, who was beside her, saw that she had no intention of looking at her phone again, and said softly,

"Boss, many young writers you asked for before have submitted their resumes. We have screened out a batch of qualified candidates, and interviews can be arranged tomorrow."

"Tomorrow at 3 PM. I need to go to Britney’s place tomorrow morning," Irene nodded with her eyes closed, her voice carrying a hint of fatigue.

"Just in the studio’s meeting room. Let Robert also participate in the interview; he understands better what kind of people the project needs."

She needed to build a younger, more dynamic team that could both assist in the advancement of existing projects and reserve talent for future new IPs. The plan to acquire a distribution company was still in preparation, and building a core team in advance was crucial.

"Do you need me to send you the interviewees’ information in advance for you to review?"

"No need," Irene waved her hand.

"The ones you’ve screened should be fine. During the interview, focus on their sensitivity to text and their understanding of film. Education and qualifications are secondary." She always valued a person’s potential and insight more than a rigid resume.

The car drove smoothly through the night in Los Angeles, and the light and shadow from the streetlights quickly swept across Irene’s face.

The pressure of the Oscar race, the preparation for acquiring a company, the establishment of a new team, and the advancement of multiple films—countless matters intertwined, forming her current life.

Perhaps it was tiring, but every step was moving towards the film empire in her heart.

"Boss, do you need me to send you home to rest first?" Vera asked softly, seeing her tired expression.

"No, let’s go directly to the studio." Irene opened her eyes, her gaze once again firm. "I want to review the promotional materials for the Million Dollar Baby sneak preview again. There are a few details I want to adjust."

She couldn’t stop.

In this Hollywood, where talent abounds and competition is fierce, only by working harder and more precisely than others can one firmly grasp their own opportunities.

Oscar trophies, independent distribution channels, her own film empire—these once distant dreams were gradually becoming clear and visible with her step-by-step efforts.

The morning sun in Los Angeles was just right on the second day. Even though it was the middle of winter, there were few people wearing padded jackets on the street.

Irene changed into a comfortable white coat and jeans. When she parked her car downstairs at Britney’s independent studio, Britney was already excitedly waiting at the door, wearing bright sports shoes.

"Irene! You’re finally here!" Britney quickly stepped forward and hugged her, her tone filled with undisguised anticipation.

"I can’t wait for you to hear the new demos, especially those two you wrote. I absolutely love them!"

Irene smiled and hugged her back: "Seeing your state, I know the recording is going smoothly."

The two walked side by side into the recording studio. The moment the soundproof door closed, the outside noise was completely cut off, leaving only the faint hum of equipment running.

Britney’s producer was already waiting in front of the control console. Seeing them enter, he immediately smiled and nodded, skillfully calling up the saved audio files.

"Let’s listen to ’Buttons’ first!" Britney pulled Irene to sit in front of the monitoring headphones, her eyes sparkling.

"I changed the rhythm a bit based on your original framework and added some breathy processing. Listen and tell me if it fits my vocal style better?"

The familiar drumbeat came through the headphones, with a slightly more delicate and granular feel than Irene remembered.

The melody of the chorus was elongated, and Britney’s signature sweet voice intertwined with lazy breathy sounds, perfectly interpreting the playfulness and tension in the lyrics.

The original arrangement, which leaned towards an exotic style, was also adjusted to be more popular, yet it did not lose the seductive core of the original version.

Irene closed her eyes and listened carefully, her fingertips gently tapping the table in rhythm.

When the song ended, she took off her headphones, her eyes full of admiration: "What a surprise! The rhythm you changed is so suitable for you. The addition of breathy vocals makes the whole song more vivid, like telling a story in your ear. It has more soul than my original version."

"Really?" Britney’s eyes lit up, her voice filled with excitement.

"I was worried that changing too much would lose the original flavor, especially since the melody you wrote was already catchy enough."

"Good works should be like this," Irene explained with a smile. "The melody is the skeleton, but the singer’s interpretation is the flesh and blood. You’ve transformed it into a ’Britney-esque’ ’Buttons,’ and that’s the most successful adaptation."

The producer also chimed in, "Ms. Coppola is right. Britney’s adjustments have greatly increased the song’s popularity and made it highly recognizable. You know it’s her song as soon as you hear it."

Immediately after, the melody of "SexyBack" played in the headphones.

Compared to the original’s toughness and aggressiveness, Britney’s version weakened the heaviness of the electronic sound effects and enhanced the sense of jumping of the rhythm.

Her voice carried a hint of sweet dominance, interpreting the theme of "sexy back" as both playful and flamboyant. The vocal run at the end was even more stunning, adding an unexpected touch of agility.

After listening, Irene couldn’t help but applaud: "This one is even more amazing! You completely broke out of the original framework, transforming ’sexy’ from a ’powerful declaration’ into ’confident playfulness.’ This contrast is so captivating. Especially the vocal run at the end, that hint of laziness is a stroke of genius."

Britney’s cheeks were slightly flushed from the praise, but she couldn’t hide her pride:

"I knew you’d like it! Actually, I was very nervous at first. The style of these two songs is very different from my previous works, but the more I sang them during recording, the more I got into it. It felt like I had found a new direction."

The two sat in the recording studio, chatting about the song details.

From the perspective of film narration, Irene offered Britney some suggestions regarding the MV plot:

"’SexyBack’ could follow a story-driven approach, using cinematic language to build tension; ’Buttons’ could be more free and uninhibited, emphasizing stage presence, and perhaps even spark a dance imitation craze."

Britney nodded frequently as she listened, "That’s a brilliant idea! It’s a pity you’re so busy, otherwise, it would be great if you could direct another MV for me!"

"That’s not a big problem. How long does it take to shoot an MV? I’ll shoot ’SexyBack.’ You adapted this song exceptionally well; I really like it."

This song was originally taken from the scumbag Justin Timberlake, so Irene was happy to think that if she helped shoot the MV, the song would probably become even more popular.

As the two chatted and laughed, time quietly slipped away.

As noon approached, Britney led Irene into the studio’s lounge area.

A simple lunch of vegetable salad, sandwiches, and freshly squeezed juice was already laid out on the long dining table. Sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting mottled light and shadow on the tablecloth, creating a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

The two sat opposite each other, eating and casually chatting about their recent situations.