sparks; gracie abrams

chapter six- take the moment

The door jingled as Ember stepped through the studio's glass doors, her heart pounding with anticipation. Despite her many conversations with the other artist, she was still nervous at the prospect of sharing her music with Gracie. Though Gracie has been nothing but supportive, Ember can't help but feel like she is going to disappoint her. The journey from performing at small bars and dreaming about a music career to signing with Interscope had been a whirlwind, and now she found herself in the heart of the creative process with a set goal, ready to bring her vision to life. Gracie had told her about a producer she had been working with that she thought Ember would love, so the three of them were meeting at Electric Lady Studios. It had been decided between Interscope and both of their managers, that Ember would be releasing 'Afraid of Heights' as her first single and then together, her and Gracie would release 'Feels Like' as a collaboration and go from there. There was already a large buzz around the new artist 'Ember Gray' because of her viral videos and celebrity attention, and people were already anticipating officially released music from the girl. Her following had nearly tripled over the past few weeks and her new manager, Thea, wanted to capitalize on the attention and get the single out within the next month.

Ember made her way back to the studio, knocking as she stood in the doorway. Gracie stood near the mixing console, waving enthusiastically as Ember approached. "Ember, you made it!" Gracie exclaimed, pulling her into a warm hug. "I'm so excited for you to meet Aaron, he's a genius." Ember smiled nervously, the weight of her guitar slung across her back. Gracie led her further into the studio, where a middle-aged man with disheveled hair and an easy smile awaited them. "Ember, this is Aaron Dessner," Gracie introduced, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Aaron, this is Ember Gray, the incredible new artist I've been telling you about." Aaron extended his hand, and Ember shook it, feeling a little shy at her praise. "Nice to meet you sir," Ember says and Aaron scoffs playfully, "Call me Aaron, please." "Miss Ember Gray still has that southern belle charm," Gracie says playful exaggerating a southern accent, wrapping her arms around Ember's shoulders. Ember laughs a little blushing, and Aaron just shakes his head. "Gracie's been raving about you and I love what you guys wrote already. I can't wait to hear what you've got."

The trio settled into the cozy recording room, the energy light. Ember settled with her guitar, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves. Gracie sat beside her, offering a reassuring smile. "Let's start with 'Feels Like,' Gracie already showed me the lyrics but said you had a solid melody," Aaron suggested, his fingers dancing across the mixing console. "I've been brainstorming some ideas to make it really stand out." As Ember began to strum the opening chords, the room filled with a hushed anticipation. Aarons's eyes lit up as he listened, his mind already working on ideas for the production. Gracie nodded in approval, humming along and jotting some ideas down. After she had run through the chorus, she stopped, waiting to hear some feedback. "That was incredible, Ember," Aaron said, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "The melody has so much potential. I'm thinking we can start with a stripped-down piano feel and gradually build percussion up to a powerful crescendo and then add in the guitar. What do you think?" Gracie nodded and Ember ran through the song in her mind, thinking about the elements he recommended. "I love that idea. Let's go for it."

The trio delved into the creative process, with Aaron seamlessly translating Ember and Gracie's vision into a sonic masterpiece. Gracie, with her keen insights, contributed ideas that enhanced the emotional depth of the song. As they experimented with different arrangements, Ember marveled at how easy it was to work with both Aaron and Gracie. The three of them built off each other, experimenting with different sounds and overlapping harmonies. Hours passed like minutes, and the song evolved into something beyond Ember's wildest dreams. The studio walls echoed with the harmonies of 'Feels Like,' the synergy between the artists evident in their music.

"Ember, you're a natural. Your voice is so authentic, and the emotion you put into your music is palpable, you guys blend together so well." Aaron praised. Gracie beamed, "See, I told you he'd get it. This is going to be a favorite for sure." Her phone buzzed suddenly, and Gracie excused herself to take it. "Do you have a producer you're working with yet?" Aaron suddenly asks after a few minutes of silence. Ember shakes her head, "Not yet, I've been doing it myself until now but Interscope has some options I think." He hums, "I really like your work so far, it's amazing what you've done at such a young age. If you ever want to work together, I can give you my contact and you and your manager can contact me whenever." Ember felt her heart jump to her throat in disbelief. Aaron Dessner was an amazing and highly sought after producer and he wanted to work with her? "Yes, I loved your input and how you enhanced the song, I'd be absolutely honored to work with you." The new artist choked out, eyes wide. Aaron just smiled and handed her a card with his information, "I have a feeling you'll be the next big thing." She took the card at the same time Gracie returned. "I'm so sorry guys, I have something I have to handle, I need to go. We had to studio until 4pm, so feel free to stay." Gracie says hurriedly, gathering her stuff as she goes. The other two wave her apologies off and Ember wishes the older girl luck with whatever's going on. After Gracie leaves in a rush, Ember takes out her notebooks at Aaron's recommendation. He immediately latches onto 'Afraid of Heights' and they talk through her vision for the song and fall into a rhythm.

When the clock hit 4pm, they gathered their stuff to leave, the time feeling like it passed in seconds. Thanking him again, Ember walks out of the studio happier than ever. Not only had Aaron Dessner liked her and Gracie's song, but he also liked her music and now she had a solid production for her own song. As she finally made it back to her apartment, she laid down on her couch, letting out a deep sigh. Spoon jumped up right next to her, headbutting her gently in search of attention. The girl giggled at his antics but scratched his ears anyway. "Spoon, we're really getting somewhere with this." The soft glow of the evening sun painted her living room in warm hues, casting a tranquil ambiance. Ember marveled at the events of the day, the melodies of 'Feels Like' still echoing in her mind. The journey from the nervous anticipation of stepping into Electric Lady Studios to the satisfaction of leaving with a promising masterpiece had been surreal.

After taking a few minutes with her cat, Ember sat up to text Thea. She gave her Aaron's contact and told her about the successful session. Her manager responded almost immediately, congratulating her and promising to get in contact with him as soon as possible. The evening passed in relative peace, and Ember reflected on the progress so far. The studio sessions had not only shaped her songs but had also become a catalyst for her growth as an artist. With the promise of 'Afraid of Heights' and the magic of 'Feels Like,' she was hopeful for the first time in a long time. With Spoon nestled beside her, Ember gazed out of the window, a silent prayer for everything to work out echoing in her mind. 

Author's Note: so much is going on right now, gracie's collab with another one of my favs NOAH KAHAN came out, the new taylor lore, finals in the next few weeks. i wanted to get this out before i'm really in the thick of exams, so i hope you enjoyed! please vote and comment, i love feedback!

stream everywhere, everything ft. gracie and you're losing me, 

ella