Devil’s Music - Chapter 71: Serendipity

In the studio, Carlos arrived and spoke upon seeing Sharon.

“That student. Can they sing? Do they have the talent worth my time? Honestly, if it weren’t for Sharon’s words, I wouldn’t bother with the student’s audition.”

Sharon inflated her cheeks, looking at Carlos.

“Am I trying to waste your time? Seems like you’ve forgotten who I am, Mr. Santana. I’m Sharon Isbin.”

Carlos raised both hands.

“No, no. Of course, I trust Sharon. But the thing is, a student, right? Even though our band mainly uses guest vocals, using an unknown vocalist is quite an adventure. And if it’s a student who isn’t established yet, it’s natural to be skeptical, right?”

Sharon gestured, smiling.

“Don’t worry, set up your guitar. We’ve separately called in students for drums and bass. They’ve had a session with Geon Kim before, so they’ll do well.”

Carlos raised an eyebrow.

“Huh? Set up what? It’s just an audition, isn’t it enough to play along with an MR?”

Sharon revealed a grin.

“Yeah, starting like that is fine, but wouldn’t it be good to set up the guitar? It’s a suggestion for Mr. Santana.”

Carlos stared at Sharon for a moment, then shrugged, taking out his guitar and connecting it to the amp.

From his bag emerged his symbolic guitar, the PRS Santana Signature. The custom 25-inch scale model, adorned in gold, perfectly complemented the passion of Latin rock, oozing a sense of completeness.

Soon after, Tindra and Samuel, called by Sharon, arrived and froze in their tracks upon seeing Carlos Santana. While the two cheered and got his autograph, Geon was sprinting from the library, printing out scores of Santana’s classic tunes.

As Geon ran, he glanced at the music sheets, thinking.

“Rob Thomas’ vocals might be tough to replicate. If it’s the 48th-anniversary best album, he’ll surely participate. So, ‘Smooth’ and ‘Maria, Maria,’ the most famous songs, wouldn’t be worth trying. Among the songs I like, ‘You Are My Kind’ might be doable for recording, considering Seal contributed to the vocals. But it might be hard as he’s living in Paris now.”

Geon swiftly entered the studio where Samuel and Tindra were already settling their instruments. Samuel nodded with a bright face upon meeting Geon, and Tindra waved her hand with drumsticks. Geon exchanged a glance with the two before eyeing Carlos Santana.

He was setting up his guitar while seated. The amp was off, so one couldn’t hear what he was going to play, but just witnessing his presence exuded an immense pressure on Geon.

Sharon, noticing Geon’s tension, pointed to the microphone stand she had set up.

“You’re here. You can sing from that stand over there.”

Before going to the stand, Geon handed the printed scores to Tindra and Samuel. Familiar with the songs, the two nodded casually and glanced at the scores again. With one stack of music left, Geon stood in front of the microphone stand, and Carlos Santana smiled.

“So, what song shall we try? Just an audition, no need to stress. Usually, we’d use MR, but Sharon wanted live music, even calling in the students. Quite pressuring for auditionees, right?”

Geon seemed oblivious to Carlos Santana’s words, busy flipping through the music sheets. It was a sudden situation, catching him off guard.

“All the musical notes on the sheets are highlighted in purple. Chagall called it the ‘color of fervent love.’ It must be the emotions of a man ardently seeking love. How should I sing it? How can I infuse the emotions into it?”

As Sharon noticed Geon engrossed in his world, she tapped his back.

“Hey, Kim?”

Startled, Geon looked back and forth between Sharon and Carlos Santana. Carlos chuckled, seeing Geon’s reaction.

“Ahaha, this student. Seems nervous. We should give some time to relax. But wait, your name is Kim? Geon? The pronunciation’s a bit tricky. How about giving you a nickname since Geon sounds a bit stern?”

With a somewhat awkward expression, Geon nodded, and Carlos Santana laughed.

“Alright then. Since K is the initial in Kim, how about Kay? There’s a name like that in reality.”

Sharon smiled in approval.

“Oh, that’s nice. Kay! How do you feel about it, Geon?”

Slightly nervous, Geon scratched his thigh.

“Uh, yes? Oh, I’m, I’m okay with it.”

Seated, Carlos chuckled.

“Great. So, confirmed as Kay. Sharon and other students will call you that now? Alright, Kay. Which song will it be?”

Ignoring Carlos Santana’s words, Geon flipped through the sheets. Carlos seemed surprised.

“Oh, not ‘Smooth’ or ‘Maria, Maria’? Unexpected. Although even if you wanted those songs, I couldn’t allow it. Since Thomas is involved in the album. Alright, let’s give it a shot. Oh, but I’ll need to play the MR. There’s no conga or timbales here.”

Carlos Santana stood up, connected his phone to the amp, and operated it. Soon, the studio reverberated with the sound of a drum hi-hat signaling the start. Carlos settled back in his seat, holding his guitar, looking at Sharon. Sharon, starting with classical guitar, soon introduced the Latin rock vibes with timbales and conga sounds from the MR.

As Carlos Santana’s guitar solo began, bass and drums joined in. Throughout the performance, Geon painted the image of a lady he’d have to observe from afar. Carlos Santana, eyes closed, ears open, continued his guitar solo, awaiting the moment for the vocals.

Finally, the time for the vocals arrived, and Geon’s voice echoed through the mic.

“Stay with it baby, And that’s all I ask of you

And I know that someday, You won’t remember

The way that this moment feels to you”

In due time, this moment may not linger in your memory.

Carlos Santana’s eyes widened as he watched Geon. Catching a glimpse of Sharon playing classical guitar, he turned his gaze away. Sharon, strumming the guitar, glanced at Carlos Santana, smiling with her eyes.

Blinking in surprise, Carlos Santana glanced back at Geon, only to find him already into the chorus.

“Because you are my kind, you’re all that I want,” the lyrics echoed.

Closing his eyes, Geon finished the first verse, and when he reopened them, he beheld Carlos Santana standing up, passionately strumming his guitar.

As Geon looked on, Carlos Santana fervently played the guitar, eyes closed, swaying it up and down. Glancing at Sharon, who seemed to have anticipated this, Geon sang the remaining verses with a newfound confidence.

Carlos Santana remained standing until the song’s end. Persistently playing his guitar, he concluded the performance with an improvised solo, wiping the sweat off his forehead without opening his eyes. All eyes were on Carlos Santana as he did so.

With a nervous heart, Geon waited for his response.

After a moment of silence, deeply immersed in the aftermath of the music, Carlos Santana opened his eyes. He looked at Geon and then back at Sharon, chuckling at her continuing smile.

Tindra and Samuel, who had been watching nervously, cheered as Carlos Santana’s tension seemed to break, and Geon raised both hands in relief.

Sharon smiled at Carlos Santana. “You didn’t disappoint.”

Shoulders shrugging, Carlos Santana admitted, “Honestly, I didn’t expect much. I was pleasantly surprised.”

With a persistent smile, Sharon asked, “So, are we recording together?”

Placing his PRS guitar beside the chair and crossing his legs, Carlos Santana pondered, “Um… what should we do…”

Geon fixed an intense gaze on him, waiting again with a tense expression. After scratching his chin and exchanging a glance with Sharon, Carlos Santana turned to her.

“Sharon, can you give me a few days off from classes? If it’s up to the professor’s discretion, it should be possible, right?”

Curious, Sharon glanced at him, “Possible, but… weren’t we supposed to record in New York?”

Carlos Santana nodded, “Yeah, that’s right. The recording is planned here.”

Puzzled, Sharon asked, “But why skip classes for that?”

Crossing his arms, Carlos Santana explained, “Seems like I might have to go to Chicago with Geon.”

Surprised, Sharon asked, “Chicago? Why there?”

Chuckling, Carlos Santana turned to Geon, “Lollapalooza Festival. Gotta go to Chicago for that, right?”

Momentarily silent, Geon blinked in surprise as Carlos Santana reached out a hand to him.

“Could I ask you for something? No, I beg you. Please join us on stage, K.”

>

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