--- KAT ---
The last six weeks had passed in a whirl of songwriting, recording tracks and discovering the sights and sounds of London with her new bandmates. Even so, there was a constant niggle in the back of Kat's mind about her sister, Dani, and her brothers, but Dani kept reassuring her that all was well back home. Papa was keeping his temper under control, helping out with chores and had even managed to get a part time job on a local building site. It was only temporary but they might keep him on if he kept up the good work. So Kat did her best to leave her worries about home behind her.
Even so, it had been a struggle at first. The other girls had already had time to bond before Kat appeared on the scene, but gradually, and for the first time in her life, Kat felt like she was slowly fitting in. And the great thing was, she didn't have to change herself. The girls liked her exactly as she was - quirky, quiet and quintessentially Kat.
Well, almost all the girls.
Kat got the feeling Amy wasn't too sure about her. She was always polite, but they hadn't bonded in the way she had with the other girls. In fact one day Rhian let slip Amy hadn't wanted her in the band. Jadine and Molly were furious with Rhian, but admitted Amy had wanted to choose someone else.
Kat was grateful Amy's parents were letting them all crash at their place for free, so the girls could concentrate full time on the band; and despite what Amy said about her parents pressuring her to ditch the band and take on the family business, they were incredibly accommodating. Amy's mum had already turned her exercise room into a dance studio when Kat first arrived, but Amy's dad had initiated another change.
The girls had been travelling up to London to record their tracks at Lyric's flat, which was costing them a fortune in rail fares and Kat's savings were running out fast. Plus, Amy had to pay Rhian's fares after her sleazy ex-boyfriend stole all her money. So, Maurice had turned the 'granny flat' above his garage into a makeshift recording studio and bedroom for Lyric. That way the girls could save money and spend more time working on their music. Apparently Lyric had taken some convincing, but it seemed that he and Jadine were pretty close and he'd been living above the garage for the past couple of weeks.
Lyric seemed like a nice guy and he seriously knew his stuff about music production. Kat was learning tons from him and he in turn he embraced her suggestions. He'd even checked out her Katya K YouTube page and added a few techniques she'd used on her tracks on a reworked version of the song she'd performed at her audition - Water Harmony. The girls had recorded it and renamed it Same Star. Kat had to admit, that input from the girls and Lyric's production, had turned it from an okay sentimental song into a molten white-hot ballad with heart-punching vocals and echoing electronics and melancholic crescendos. Lena had been gobsmacked when they'd played it to her at their band meeting that afternoon in Lyric's makeshift studio.
"I love love LOVE it!" enthused Lena, in her Californian lilt. "It contrasts perfectly with Melody Vibe,"
"You don't think it's too...moody?" queried Amy.
"No. It shows you're not just about the fun and the beats. You've got depth and versatility. Yet, it's still intrinsically a Melody 5 track. It's got to be your second or third release after Melody Vibe."
"So what are the plans for getting our music 'out there'" asked Jadine.
"Well, it's going to be easier to get a great record deal if you've got a following so now it's time to upload your tracks online and unleash them on the big wide world."
Kat shuddered with excitement.
"Where will we upload them?" asked Molly.
"Well, obviously YouTube, MySpace, Soundcloud," said Lena.
"Isn't that what everyone's doing?" asked Lyric, who had also joined the meeting, as he was essentially their producer now.
"There are other outlets that Sherri thought were too 'niche' but are exactly where music fans are getting tracks from up and coming artists," gushed Lena. "Plus, I'm gonna convince some music bloggers to listen to your stuff. Again, Sherri thought they were a waste of time, but trust me, if those guys and girls get behind your sound, you'll be online sensations in no time."
"Really?" said Lyric with a raised eyebrow.
"Really," said Lena, with utter conviction. "I know you guys are taking a leap of faith in me, but I'm doing the same for you. You've gotta trust me."
"And we do," said Molly, clearly trying to cover for Lyric.
"So what about live gigs?" said Lyric.
"Lyric!" said Jadine. "Lena knows what she's doing."
"I could get you a gig at The Granite Rooms," said Lyric. "And Kino's."
"And where else exactly?" asked Lena.
The girls smiled as Lyric was momentarily stumped.
"I know people," bristled Lyric.
"And so do I," said Lena. "Those places sound great, as do a heap of other venues I'm gonna line up for you. But first we need to film some videos. We can upload tracks online without 'em, but eventually we're gonna need some visuals."
"Oooh, I can't wait to film our first pop video," trilled Rhian.
"Well, it's gonna be a low budget affair, seeing as we have 'no budget'," smiled Lena. "But I have found a hot-shot director who's willing to do it for free."
"Who?" asked Kat, certain she wouldn't know who Lena was talking about, but feeling like she should say something in the meeting.
"Derren McKenzie!" announced Lena.
"No way!" said Amy.
"Isn't he the guy you worked with before?" asked Kat.
"Yes," said Molly, turning slightly pale.
"I don't think he's a good idea," said Amy.
"But I liked Derren," said Rhian. "When we wasn't shouting at us."
"And I can't believe I'm about to say this," said Jadine. "But I agree. He was too slick sometimes, but he had vision."
"How does he even know about us?" asked Molly.
"Because I met up with him last week and played him some of your new stuff," said Lena. "He thinks it's sensational and he's already coming up with some killer video ideas."
"But I thought he was a choreographer, not a director," said Molly.
"It's his big dream to direct music videos," said Amy.
"Shouldn't we look around," asked Molly. "Make sure we're not missing out on someone else? I mean, how hard can it be to direct a video?"
"Oh, not hard at all," said Lena. "If you want an average run-of-the-mill video that looks like millions of others online. But as much as the guy can be a total wanker at times, Jadine's right - he's got vision. If he can't make you stand out online, no one will."
"Let's uphold our democratic process," said Jadine, half in jest. "We'll vote. And in the event of a tie, the deciding vote goes to Lena."
The girls nodded, but Kat didn't know what to do.
"All those not in favour of Derren," said Jadine. "Raise your hands."
Amy and Molly lifted their hands.
"Can I abstain?" asked Kat. "I don't know him, so it wouldn't be fair."
"Fine," said Jadine. "All those in favour of Derren, raise your hands."
Jadine and Rhian obliged.
"Over to you, Lena," said Jadine with a small smile and Lena duly raised her hand in support of Derren McKenzie.
"Derren's in," said Jadine.
"Fine," smiled Molly. "As you say, he is talented."
"Just a shame sometimes he's such a dickhead," conceded Amy and the others giggled. Kat didn't know why Molly and Amy had had such a problem with Derren, but it made her all the more nervous about working with him.
As the meeting finished, the girls got up from their seats and Lena came over to Kat.
"So how are finding all this?" asked Lena quietly.
"Good," said Kat softly. "I mean, great."
"Glad to hear it," smiled Lena.
"I never said thank you for inviting me back to audition," added Kat.
"Hey, no worries," said Lena. "I was disappointed you couldn't make it the first time, but your videos stuck in my mind. I'm glad the girls gave you a shot."
"I'm not sure Amy's my biggest fan," whispered Kat.
"Is she making life difficult for you?" asked Lena.
"No," said Kat quickly. "It's just a feeling I get from her sometimes."
"Amy's old school and you're fresh, but that's what works about the band. It's a total mix of styles which merge into something completely new."
Kat nodded and decided not to say any more on the matter. She didn't want Lena to think she was complaining.
"But if you ever need to talk, just give me a call," reassured Lena.
"Hey, what are you two whispering about?" said Rhian, as she bounded over.
"I'm just telling Kat that she's a total superstar," grinned Lena. "As indeed all of you are! Now I need to head back up to town. I gotta make you guys rich and famous!"
"Got to make us all rich and famous," corrected Molly, from the other side of the room. "You're part of the team, Lena."
"Remember, call me," whispered Lena to Kat, as she left the studio.
Kat wished they could have talked some more, not about the band, but about anything. She felt drawn to Lena in a way she didn't to the other girls. It reminded her of the connection she'd felt to Ms Johnson back at College. However, Kat pushed the feeling aside and pulled her attention back into the room.
"Right," said Lyric. "Now that's over with - let's make some more music!"
Excellent. Music - the perfect distraction.