Chapter 118 - Lin Lin and the Lyricist

Scarlet took it all back. Working with Lin Lin on a new song had to be more tiring than learning how to play the keyboard.

The young writer had agreed to leave all the song compositions to the musician. Her duty was to create lyrics but it seemed like Lin Lin wanted her opinion on the song arrangements. Currently, the violinist couldn't decide if she wanted the chorus to be at the opening and blast the song open with a terrific guitar solo or weave in a softer approach of dark and mysterious string ensemble before sliding into the first verse.

"What's the song going to be about?" Scarlet finally asked after hearing Lin Lin ramble for half an hour.

Lin Lin looked at Scarlet. "What do you want it to be about? I don't think it's appropriate for children like us to be singing about love. Of course, this is going to be a song about something we've all experienced before. Rock is a genre that allows musicians to vent their frustrations, hopes, dreams and grievances that people could relate to and bond over. I don't think there is truly anyone in this world who truly hates rock."

Scarlet looked clueless and Lin Lin sighed. She borrowed the young writer's laptop and searched for some songs.

"Here," she said. "Listen to these and let me know what you think about them. These are some of my favourite bands. The songs are relatable to me. Maybe you could draw some inspiration from them to come up with lyrics."

The dollish girl paused. "How do I write lyrics? I know there are a chorus and some verses and something called the bridge. They should also rhyme but how long should each verse or chorus be?"

Lin Lin laughed. "Silly sister... it doesn't matter for now. We're only in the drafting stage of collecting ideas and deciding on the emotions we want to bring into making this song. Anything that feels right in your heart is good enough. For all I know, you could write an essay and we could work from there."

Hearing this made Scarlet feel slightly more assured. If it was an essay, Scarlet might be able to do just that.

While Lin Lin went over the arrangements, key and instrument arrangements, Scarlet busied herself with the one thing a writer was usually good at - research. Unlike many people's misconceptions about writers, the thing they do best is not world creation or grammar, it's research. If there was something that Scarlet wanted to know, she would flip every book in the library on the subject, read up every article and research journal she could get her hands on the internet and hang out on forums to search for people who have asked the questions she had in mind to understand different perspectives. If the information still wasn't sufficient, Scarlet usually tried to find an excuse to slide the topic into conversations with friends, family and sometimes strangers. The people-watching habit she had was very useful and Scarlet polished her social skills after hanging out with the socialite mother and daughter.

Lin Lin and Scarlet worked feverishly in the young writer's room. It was a world that not even Jasper and Alex can intrude on. Jenna helped to shift the instruments into the TV lounge that Wilmer decided to make the band's practice room since it was a severely underutilised room.

Jasper took to watching videos and trying different beats on the drums while Alex started memorising the chords for the guitar in her room. The noise that the children made didn't seem to disturb the two girls in Scarlet's room. Their concentration was something worth envying. Tina and Sue excused themselves as soon as they could to escape the horrid screeching and crashing sounds.

"I will prepare some muscle cream and soothing balm," Claire told the butler who agreed. Jasper was using way too much arm strength, it was sure to be sore after today. Alex who wasn't seasoned with the strings would have blisters.

"I will prepare their meals. Don't forget to take some videos for the master and lady of the house."

It was two in the afternoon when Lin Lin finally gave up and caved in from hunger.

"Big sis... let's eat. We can continue after this. I think Jasper and Alex are also exhausted from practising today. We can discuss the song and the band's concept with them over food."

Scarlet agreed. She had long completed her research and was working on some drafts for the lyrics. Based on her understanding of everyone in the band, Scarlet wanted to write about being misfits.

Jenna and Claire were thankful for the silence when the kids ate and discussed the theme and song's meaning. Scarlet showed them her drafts. She had written about six versions about the same thing and explained how she thought it would be better for them to sing about something they've all experienced before.

"I think the memories we share with the E.C. Class is something very special. I wanted to write it in but I can't squeeze so many things into one song... hence these are some ideas we can choose from. Feel free to let me know if there is something else you want to add."

Lin Lin scanned through all six drafts and smiled widely. Already, she could hear the melody for these songs flood in her head. "We don't have to just do one song. We can do more. I like them already. However, I think it would scare the three of you if I said I wanted to make an album right off the bat. Let's vote for the one song that everyone wants to perform and leave the rest for another time?"

It was a tough choice but eventually, the song titled "False Friends" was selected as the first song Britannia wanted to work with. Lin Lin was slightly disappointed because it was voted for by Alex and Jasper. The musician was more excited to work on the song titled "Misfits Belong Too" because of how dark it sounded.

"Alright," Lin Lin sighed in defeat. "We shall work on False Friends. These are the lyrics, once it has been finalised, Scarlet and I will bring it out for discussion again. I'm going home to work on the draft composition for all six songs and leave for the day. Let's continue again on Wednesday!"

Alex agreed. Her fingers were stinging badly from the practice and the Wilde princess wondered if it was a wise decision to practice the guitar today when she had to go for her internship tomorrow. Likewise, Jasper was regretting his decision. Scarlet was secretly excited and wanted to finish the lyrics as soon as possible. Unlike Jasper and Alex, the young writer didn't have much of an opportunity to familiarise herself with the keyboard in the corner of her room.

Lin Lin's mother came about an hour later and the children bade the violinist goodbye. True to her words, Lin Lin was a good teacher. All three children were given a crash course about singing techniques despite Lin Lin'stone-deaf demonstrations. Jasper was able to get the basics about playing the drums and made smooth progress on his own after the girl left. Alex was able to play a simple song, much to the heiress' joy and Scarlet understood how to read music scores.

For the first gathering session of Britannia, Scarlet thought that they were making rather good progress. She couldn't wait to actually perfect the song and practice so that they could perform it for the boys in the E.C. Class or post a video of it to the secret chatroom so everyone from the E.C. and Special Class can enjoy it.