#ktroyalcontest

[rkevent]

would the new trainees have been informed of their contracts on the day they performed for the contest, or were the results announced in the 30th when they were posted?

all results came on the 30th!

[rkevent]

how did you guys decide who to sign? i remember reading that it was mostly decided through points but the winners don't really reflect that...? i could name a few muses with better points but i'd rather not... uhm anyway, just genuinely curious! thanks guys!

points are always important and come as one of the tie-breaker factors in most, if not all events, but we’ll never decide things based on points alone! we do our best to consider as many viable things as possible to make sure everyone can have a fair chance, from one angle or another. you also need to keep in mind that your companies are looking for specific people at different times, and that involves more than just total points or skill percentage.

it probably sounds like a broken record by now, but we promise you we have only everyone’s best interests in mind. if your muse wasn’t picked this time around, maybe your CEOs didn’t think they were ready despite holding themselves up skill-wise, or perhaps they feel like they couldn’t help you become the best you can be under their guidance (though katie lee might not admit to this out loud haha). we do take OOC matters in mind when doing castings as well -- we don’t want muns who are sworn enemies with their muses under the same roof!

essentially, there are a bazillion things to consider, and they change up a little each time. rest assured, though -- more casting opportunities will come sooner than you think, and hopefully this time around your muse will be ready!

(p.s: kris and rose beat everybody else in their own categories skill-wise, which is why they were ultimately crowned winners!)

[rkevent]

KT&ROYAL CONTEST

First of all, thank you so much to everyone that has participated in this event! We’ve had a little over 40 entries, which is about twice what we’d expected! For that reason, we’ve decided to offer contracts to 10 lucky contestants. Congratulations!

If your muse wasn’t picked this time around, remember that this is definitely not the end of the line. Use this as an opportunity to learn and grow, so that next time you’ll come back stronger than ever!

Without further ado, here are your winners for both weekends, and the runner-ups that have been invited to join the companies. Once again, congratulations!

KEY: { ♥ } were offered contracts to KT { ♢ } were offered contracts to Royal

WINNERS { ♢ } Park Chaeyoung (1st weekend) { ♥ } Wu Yifan (2nd weekend)

RUNNER-UPS (in no particular order) { ♥ } Kang Heegun { ♢ } Lee Chaerin { ♥ } Park Jimin { ♢ } Lalisa Manoban { ♥ } Kim Jongdae { ♢ } Jegal Seoyoung { ♥ } Jo Eunae { ♢ } Seo Kangjoon

[ Congratulations on receiving a contract! To start, we’d recommend reading this page that’ll tell you everything important there is to know about having a trainee character. When you’re ready, head over to your company’s blog, read over the contract, then submit it to the company blog to make it official! If you decide not to accept the contract, please send a message to the company’s blog confirming that too. Whatever you decide, please let us know before the end of Wednesday, December 7th, EST. Once again, congratulations! ]

[exhoseokrk-blog]

— KT & ROYAL CONTEST !

shin hoseok performing toy by block b ( 0:08 - 1:33 )

further info: november 20th || singers round

Though the boy could stand here and mentally lie, pulling out a long list of every single person that he was doing this for (though not literally... he doesn’t carry such a thing around with him at all times), at the end of the day, Shin Hoseok was here for himself. Not selfishly, however. He’d always been everything but stingy, but these were still his dreams. While he wanted to provide a better life for his mother, and while he wanted his siblings to be better off than he was, there still were other options. He could have continued on going to school or found a higher paying job than his gig at 7-11. This is what he wanted. 

So now? He found himself at the venue, along with his best friend, and they stood side by side filling out the necessary forms. While he would have shown up the day before, sadly, he was stuck working, but the second day was just as good. He would be damned if his employers completely kept him from this opportunity. What are the chances something like this would roll around again soon after? Hoseok moved to Seoul for a reason, and he felt like this was his one shot, so he surely wasn’t going to blow it.

Time seemed to move slower than ever, but once he was called on stage, he wasn’t able to think about anything apart from his next steps. He was slightly nervous that he brought his own stool to sit on, but he figured it was his best option. Which would they prefer? Him sitting and looking casual? Or standing stiff as a statue as he sang, likely coming across as awkward? He placed it in front of the microphone and gave the two CEOs along with the rest of the panel (plus, you know, the crowd) a large smile. It was bright and shone in his eyes, so he quickly bowed his head before answering whatever questions he was asked.

“My name is Shin Hoseok. I was born in Busan, but I moved here not too long ago.” He spoke looking between the faces of those watching him, making sure that he properly displayed the confidence in himself that he felt. He always had been comfortable with people watching him, and he was more than thankful for that in this moment. “I came here, here being Seoul, because I figured it would be best for me and chasing my dreams. And I came here,” he briefly paused, his smile increasing and a soft laugh escaping his lips, “here being the venue, because this is a once in a lifetime chance that I knew I couldn’t let slip past me. So,” he rubbed his hands together and stepped back so that he was sitting down on his stool. “I’ll let you see what I have to offer, and hopefully you’ll be pleased. Thank you for this opportunity.”

내 감정 따위 뭐가 중요해 싫증 날 때까지 갖고 놀면 돼 널 위해서라면 날 부러뜨려도 좋아 Because I’m a toy, toy

After flashing one last smile, the music began playing and Hoseok began nodding his head as he waited for his lines. And then, the moment arrived, and he brought the microphone closer to his face as the lyrics began flowing from his lips. It was amazing being on stage and singing, people recognizing him for a talent that he actually worked hard on. Being under the spotlight fueled him and gave him a sense of happiness and peace, but even more so when it was something that he loved and was proud of, rather than something that he couldn’t actually help.

쓸모 없어지면 버려 몰래 문득 어렴풋이라도 기억될 수만 있다면 나 Everything, I do it for you I’m a toy, toy

The song that he was performing wasn’t his first choice. As a matter of fact, he had a much lighter song prepared originally. However, he wanted to connect more to what he’d be singing so that they could notice that he was genuine. The words he sang felt less forced and came out effortlessly because he felt what he was singing, but that didn’t stop his gentle smile from gracing his features. He made absolutely certain to keep his breathing steady so that he didn’t make any horrible mistakes. That’d suck.

담아왔던 속 얘길 나i눌 때면 날 어루만지고 나서야 미소를 지었던 너야 얼마 안 돼 구석에 놓이겠지만 이 운명은 네 소유인 걸 Girl use me while you can I’m all yours

As the pace of the song increased, his movement did as well. Slow nods transitioned into slight sways and he had to admit that he felt proud of the way his voice sounded while carrying out the notes. He never had any doubt about his abilities, but he still felt comforted by his own thoughts. The various faces that his eyes scanned over only drove him to do even better, so he worked harder to efficiently display his vocal abilities, as that’s what they wanted. Could he have attempted some of the choreography? Yes. But, that isn’t what he wanted. It was the singers round, so he was going to give them an idea of just how good of a singer he was.

난 너에게 더 이상 바랄게 없어 나로 인해 채워지는 널 본다면 꺼내줄 수 있어 다 가져가 주겠니 사랑이 장난이면 가차 없이 날 이용해 Now you know, all you need is me I’m your toy, I’m your toy, I‘m your toy 사랑이 장난이면 가차 없이 날 이용해

The last thirty seconds or so of his performance were his best, in his opinion, considering he felt as though he was given the most to showcase his talents. As it came to a close and his time ran out, he took a deep breath after speaking the last line. Once finished, he felt proud. Proud of himself for moving, proud of himself for coming here, and proud of himself for not messing anything up. His tongue swept across his lower lip as he stood and he gave one last grin to everyone present. “Thank you again. I appreciate being allowed to perform for you all. Hopefully, it won’t be the last time you'll be seeing me.” One last nod and Hoseok was grabbing his stool and exiting the stage.

It was only his first step, but he felt like it was a big one. Things would only get better from here. He knew it. After experiencing that, no matter the outcome, he knew that he wanted to work harder. His drive never once fell dormant, nor did it falter at all, but he wanted to add more to the fire. Determination felt stronger than ever and his aspirations didn’t feel a bit out of reach. He had hope and he had faith, and he wasn’t going to let it be false. Somehow, someway, he’d get what he wanted. Maybe when the results come back, maybe in a few months, maybe in a few years... It didn’t matter... He’d get there.

This was simply the beginning.

[kihyunrk]

— kt&royal contest ;

🎤 shake it — sistar ( 0:01-1:30 )

as he quickly scribbles information onto the required form, kihyun can’t help but smile. he hasn’t been in this city for long, yet he already feels as if he’s one step closer to his dream. a month ago, he’d left the comfort of his home in busan, leaving behind the feelings of security provided by his family to venture to seoul. he wouldn’t have had this opportunity without the support of his mother, and he owes it to her to participate in the contest. how would he live with himself knowing that he may have passed up on the opportunity of a lifetime?

it’s safe to say that he didn’t feel conflicted about whether or not he should come. there was no doubt in his mind that he’d regret simply ignoring the contest, so, as soon as he’d caught wind of it, kihyun had already begun to get to work. it’s common knowledge that a considerable amount of practice must be put into a worthwhile audition, and when it’s an audition for two of the largest and most successful entertainment companies, the stakes are impossibly raised even higher. he wants to put on a spectacular performance, but, more than anything else, kihyun wants to be memorable.

it takes him a while to decide on a song to perform; would he rather give a performance that’s emotional, or would he rather give one that could be seen as upbeat and fun? it’s a difficult decision to make, and he’s well aware of the fact that he probably won’t reach a conclusion alone. less than five minutes have passed, yet he’s already making his way towards his phone, dialing his mother’s phone number an instant later. she’s kihyun’s main source of inspiration, she’s the one he fights for—it only makes sense that he’d turn to her for advice.

it doesn’t take long for her to answer the phone, and this alone leaves kihyun feeling emotional. he misses his mother, and it’s obvious that she misses him as well. “kihyun?” she answers, curiosity heavy in her voice. “what are you up to?”

“mom—i have the opportunity to participate in a contest, a singing contest. and, if i do well, then...” he pauses, acknowledging that there’s a certain risk in getting his mother’s hopes up. “well, there’s a chance that they’ll offer me a contract.”

“honey, that’s great! are you going to do it?” the genuine excitement and enthusiasm in her voice prove to be too much, and kihyun finds himself wiping a single tear from his cheek. it became obvious that her hopes were being lifted far too high, and the idea of letting her down is unbearable. his mother has been through so much, only to benefit kihyun’s own selfish needs—he will make it up to her.

“yes. or at least, i plan to. i’m having troubles figuring out how i should perform, you see. a part of me thinks it’d be better to showcase my emotions. you know, showing them how i currently feel about my life right now... me missing home. another part of me thinks that it could be better to show them how i hope to be, performing happily on stage, trying my best to have a good time. i just... i don’t know, mom. there are so many options, and i’m terrified that i won’t pick the right one.”

“don’t think like that. you’ll make the right choice, i know you will. you always have, remember?”

“i know, but... what do you think about it?”

“i don’t want to make your decisions for you, kihyun, but... hmm. if you show too many of your emotions, they may think twice before offering you a contract. you wouldn’t want them to think you’d rather be home with your mom, now, would you? so long as you put your heart into it, even a fun performance can be seen as deserving of a win. just be sure to practice hard either way, alright?”

he hesitates for a moment, amazed at how his mother always knows just what to say to help him feel better. “alright, mom. i’ll work hard. i think i know what to do now, so thank you.”

“that’s my boy. i’m glad that i could help! now go and prepare a great performance, okay?”

“okay, i will. i promise. and thank you, again.”

“i’m always willing to help, so don’t be afraid to call anytime. i love you.”

“i love you too.”

he waits for her to hang up the phone. kihyun has only been gone for a month, yet he already misses his mother incredibly so. she’d offered him valuable advice, and his mind was already made up moments before they’d ended their call. “mother knows best,” he mumbled to himself, quickly pulling out his phone to look at the array of songs he had saved.

kihyun eyes a few of the songs over, doing his best to determine what could be used for his perfect performance. some would argue that there was no such thing, and though kihyun would feel inclined to agree with them, he strives for perfection nonetheless. even if a perfect performance is impossible, if he aimed to be anything but perfect, there’s a good chance that his talents could be seen as lackluster compared to those of the other young hopefuls.

he feels the corners of his lips tugging upward at the sight of a particular song—one that he’s happy to say he knows well. but could i manage to pull it off? i might know the song, but... would it actually be enough for them to offer me a contract? he forces his doubts aside, however, figuring that it could prove beneficial to be bold in his song choice. after all, something unique and bold could be just what katie lee and so jiseob are looking for.

time seemingly stops once he’s called on stage. kihyun generally isn’t one to feel nervous, but now is an obvious exception. the voice of reason within him is drowned out by the loud and constant beating of his own heart. calm down, you can do this, he tries telling himself, but to no avail. despite his nerves, he makes his way onto the stage at a steady pace, putting on a facade that will hopefully convince the others into believing that he isn’t worried. mom is counting on me, i can do this. i know that i can do this. i made a promise.

luckily, he calms himself down in time to hear the questions provided by the panel. he considers himself to be rather unflappable ninety percent of the time, so he’s relieved that he managed to get his worrying under control before anyone had the chance to notice.

“my name is yoo kihyun,” he begins, quick and to the point. “i’m from busan, but i came to seoul to better my chances of becoming an idol.” he smiles towards the crowd, shyly waving in their direction. he isn’t used to such a crowd, but he’s sure that he could come to welcome the change given a bit of time. “i love to sing, and i’ve wanted to sing professionally for a very long time. i’m grateful for the opportunity to perform for you now.” he takes one last glance towards the panel, nodding in their direction. “i’ll try to put on a performance worthy of your time and attention. thank you.”

when the music starts, whatever stiffness he’d shown in his introduction becomes all but a distant memory. kihyun is here to have fun, to woo the crowd—and the confidence he seemingly displays is surprising even to him. it’s nothing out of the ordinary, though he would have expected to appear at least a little nervous, given what was at stake.

initially, he follows the original choreography of the song, hoping to make the audience aware of the type of performance he hopes to give. it may not be a dancing competition, but it was the best way he knew of to kill the time while waiting for the lyrics to come around. hoseok had helped put his outfit together, and kihyun hopes with every bone in his body that it helps him to look good—to impress those watching. jesus, how much did he pay for these?

너만을 유혹하는 춤 (우우우 우우우우!) 심장에 매력 발산 중 (우우우 우우우우!) 손끝만 스쳐도 막 쿵쿵쿵쿵 Oh! 내 맘이 흔들려

he’s a fairly skilled dancer, but that doesn’t stop him from being grateful once the singing portion finally come around. as he sings, kihyun continues to moves with the beat, letting the music move him, albeit far less noticeable than before. it only makes sense that he’d settle down, not wanting to sacrifice his vocals for his dancing—he was far more confident in his vocal ability, and he’s determined to show this off to the panel and audience. make me into a singer, not a dancer. this doesn’t stop him from moving his hips to the music, keeping up the same essence of fun that he’d chosen to center his performance around.

just as the lyrics express, kihyun hopes to secure his contract not only with his voice but with his charm as well. if he can tempt the judges, if he can show off his potential as an idol in more ways than one, he’s going to go for it. in a way, this song is his attempt at showcasing his many potentials, even if it could be seen as a solely vocal competition. so long as he proved his worth as a vocalist, they wouldn’t mind something like this, would they?

Shake it shake it for me Shake it shake it for me 나나나 나나나 나나나! (Hey!) 나나나 나나나 나나나! 짜릿한 이 느낌 날 춤을 추게 해 지금 이 순간 (Shake it)

with every ‘shake it, shake it for me’ he tries to do just that, continuing to shake his hips to the rhythm. aside from hoseok, anyone who knows kihyun would tell you that he tends to be act quite reserved, generally opting to not take risks; kihyun hopes that this performance will prove them dead wrong. as an idol, he hopes to not only take risks, but embrace them—to be outgoing and have fun, even if it isn’t always well-received by the critics. this is how he hopes to live his life, this is the childhood in which he feels as if he’s missed out on. as he performs now, he feels a sense of joy that he’d believed to have gone missing a long time ago.

Bae bae baby Love me love me love me now 흔들리는 내 맘 모르겠니 So let’s dance Just shake it let’s dance 좀 더 핫하게 완전 와일드하게

knowing that he doesn’t have much time left in his performance, kihyun puts as much effort as he can into his vocals while making sure not to overdo it. he’s not trying to show off how many high notes he can fit into one song, after all. instead, he’s trying to showcase his ability to keep his voice steady and mellow over a prolonged period of time, only belting out higher notes when necessary. he’s confident in his ability to hit high notes, true, but that doesn’t mean it’s all he should be showing off today.

as he loses himself in the midst of his performance, feeling as if he’s becoming one with the music, kihyun hopes that he’s putting on a good show. raising the spirits of those on the panel and within the audience is his main goal, their enjoyment and fun serving as priority number one. it’s safe to say that he’s certainly enjoying himself, the confident grin displayed on his features doing well to show this during each moment of his performance. if he’s lucky, his own positive attitude will resonate within each of his viewers, changing their mood for the better. i hope they’re having as good of a time as i am. i was born to perform. i know that i can do this.

Make it louder 우우우 더 크게 make it louder 우우우 날 자꾸 흔들어 흔들어 놀라게 흔들어 (Shake it oh shake it) 밤새 나와 Shake it baby

at this point, he’s mostly trying to encourage the crowd, showcasing his own vocal strengths with a nice mix of the fun movements that he’s tried to incorporate into the majority of his performance. so long as the audience is happy following his performance, he’ll feel as if his job as a performer is complete. kihyun wants a contract more than anything else in the world right now, so he hopes that his own skill, charms, and aspirations will be enough to get him there. as a performer, he hopes to be known as an entertainer as opposed to a mere vocalist, so he makes a silent wish that kt or royal will see the value in this.

he puts one last effort into showing off his vocal ability, doing his best to successfully wrap up the performance, bringing it to a smooth close. at this point, he hardly remembers that he was nervous in the first place; the stage is his home away from home, and he hopes that his performance did well to relay this to the panel. as the tune reaches its end, kihyun strikes his finishing pose, the charismatic grin still glued to his face. i did well, right? i think i did well... i hardly remember. damn, i’m still a little bit nervous, aren’t i?

“thank you so much,” he speaks into the microphone, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand in an attempt to rid it of sweat. he bows towards the panel and the audience, smiling and waving in the direction of the latter. “let’s do it again sometime, shall we?”

as he exits the stage, kihyun finds himself overjoyed, ultimately pleased with his performance.

he can only hope that the panel was pleased with it, too.

[rktaetae-blog]

                         “ ... regrets and mistakes                         they are memories made “

#KTROYALCONTEST ♥  singers round  » ━  someone like you [ ADELE ] : 2:37 - 3:23  ⊳ performed by KIM TAEHYUNG

the sun shines on the morning of the contest and taehyung wonders if it’s the gods mocking him, or if it really is a positive omen. will this be his chance to cling to the coattails of the dream he’s been chasing since he was five? he knows he can sing, many a singing teacher had praised his deep voice over the years, and from the lessons he’d taken from the mere age of seven he’d gained the skills to continue improving day by day even without the help of his trusted teachers. 

anyway, taehyung had always enjoyed learning from his peers more. it wasn’t the techniques he needed anymore, even if he knew the few things he wanted to improve, it was the experience, the emotion, the way to make such a strong impression in only a minute and thirty seconds that he stuck in the minds of everyone watching. he wanted to reach into their very souls and tug on their heart strings, imprint himself on their frontal lobes and the inside of their ribs, so with every breath they got a second wind of the intoxication his voice aimed to induce. 

so that morning he finds himself waiting for his name to be called, palms clammy from the inevitable nerves that always edged their way in at the last second. it was the sheer pressure to do well, that he himself had strapped to his back year ago, that drew the sweat to his brow and the tremble to the tips of his fingers. if there was one thing taehyung was ever serious about it was his music. it wasn’t a joke to him, it wasn’t a hobby, it was written in every cell of his body, as if he had dna that determined that he simply was a singer. 

always aiming for the sky he reaches below the neckline of his hoodie, tugging out the chain with the little silver cross on the end that he never takes off. bringing it to his lips he thinks of his mother. she loved his voice. he remembers the day he told her he wanted to be a singer, and she simply beamed and lifted him onto the kitchen counter, asking him to sing her a song. it wasn’t particularly beautiful, his little rendition of a kids tv show theme song, but her smile reached her eyes and he remembers how very proud she seemed. “sing a song for me one day, okay taetae?”

over the years he’d sung many songs for his mother, but he realises this is a time that really matters, to him, to his grandmother who had given him her best wishes when he’d told her over the phone that he would be competing. he knows his mother would be proud, even if he fails, the simple fact he’d tried would be enough for her. 

the tears sting the backs of his eyes as he realises just how much he misses her in that moment, but he pushes them back and clears his throat, right as he hears his name called. 

here goes...

the steps up to the stage seem to take him years to climb, but as he steps into the lights shining down on the large stage he looks out to the audience and grins. this is it. the feeling he lives for. ever sing he was younger he loved being the centre of attention, loved people watching him, wondering what he’d do next. it gives him a rush of ecstasy, knowing he has people to prove himself to. he wants people to be proud, to smile at, and for him. 

the stage is incredibly large for a single boy to fill with his every essence, but taehyung has always loved a challenge. this is his kingdom, up here, under the bright lights that reflect off the print on his hoodie. he relaxes, all the nerves melting away as he looks to the CEOs, sending them both a bright smile as he bows. the questions are what he’d expected, so bringing the mic to his lips he answers them. 

“my name’s kim taehyung, i’m nineteen and was born in daegu, but moved to seoul when i was about fourteen. i’m here today to chase my dream. i’ve been chasing it since i was five, but hey, i’ve got a lot of steam left in me, and i’m not giving up till i catch it. i’m also here to make my mom proud. i know she’d be happy i’m reaching for my dream, even if she isn’t here to see me doing it.”

he’d been worried that perhaps his voice might shake once he’d began to speak, that the nerves might not be completely dissipated, but he’s still relaxed and his voice holds strong. but now is the moment that really matters - proving himself. 

at first he’d thought of bringing his guitar, but the song has emotion that needs full attention. it needs his fingertips, in fact his entire body - underlying the lyrics there’s meaning to him, memories, as usual in all the songs he picks. he digs deep, because he knows he’s experienced far more than many other contestants. so, as he brings the mic back to his lips his eyes close, and then he begins.

“never mind, i’ll find someone like you i wish nothing but the best for you too”

his rendition is softer than the original, to suite his voice and give it his own style - he’s never been fond of imitating others styles to try and sing a song he likes; usually he can find some way to make a song fit his voice, and with ‘someone like you’, the feat hadn’t been a hard one, as he’d sung it many times before, and he felt it showcased the deep, smoothness of his voice, the ability to reach from high notes down to low ones, and back again, so though he started with the chorus, what he knows is a risky move, he made it his own, gave it his own, personalised, soft lead up. 

“don’t forget me, i beg i remember you said,  sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead”

he shows the control he has over his voice in the melisma in the lines, and then the soft strength he has in holding the notes and bringing attention to the emotion. you can see it in his fingers as they delicately hold the microphone. you can see it in the way his free hand curls into a fist and his spine bends to emit all the pain and longing the song encompasses. 

“nothing compares no worries or cares regrets and mistakes they are memories made”

he opens his eyes to look straight at the CEOs as he begins the bridge, putting that anguish and frustration into the lyrics, that feeling of regret, but hesitance to let go that comes with the loss of love and god can he feel it throughout his entire body. in one sense he’s lost in the lyrics, lost in the song, but in the other he’s mindful of where he is, of who he’s performing to, of what rests on this opportunity and it only gives him more power and will to do well. 

“who would have known how bittersweet this would taste?”

that’s exactly it - the bittersweet of letting go, but also remembering, they’re full of pain, but they’re memories all the same and as he takes his time with the ending he stands straight and locks eyes with the judges, drawing it all to it’s peak, then, giving it a second to sink in and the atmosphere to calm, to let the music rest around him like the dust on a dirt track that plumes up around your feet as you walk, then slowly falls back to where it rested before. he bows one last time, offers a ‘thank you’ and a last, bright smile, then makes his way off the stage, his smile stuck to his lips. 

despite the outcome, it felt wonderful, and he’s reassured, once more, that up there, under the lights with all those eyes on him - that’s where he belongs. 

[rksungho]

KT/ROYAL CONTEST  .. jin sungho “bc” performing RULER; a self-written rap

not that the words would ever reach his lips, but he’s incredibly apprehensive about this whole opportunity. there’s something daunting about any audition; the anxiety of seeking the approval of your evaluators and the raw desire to prove something about yourself. i’m talented enough, i’ll work hard enough, i’ll be an asset to your company. sungho’s been there before, plenty of times. he’s attended private auditions for smaller companies that have either turned him down, recognizing his name as someone with a rocky past in the industry, or sungho himself avoiding a bad deal with a nobody label who will only bankrupt him and maybe give him a failed debut. 

there’s something new entirely about a public audition like this. with an audience. not only does he have to think about winning over the judges, the esteemed ceos that they are, but also the approval of the crowd. how loud they cheer can affect his chances, he knows this. likewise if he’s terrible, they’ll only be sure to make that more clear to the people who really matter. there is no worse fear of his than being booed off the stage; he may as well end his career there and just do his telemarketer thing for the rest of his days if it happens.

apprehensive as he is about the volatile nature of this sort of contest, his demon of a roommate still somehow talked the both of them into it. sungho, looking back, thinks it’s an awful idea, the terrible bet between them. they’re not even auditioning on the same weekends, inho going first as a vocalist and sungho later as a rapper. but still, he has to go now that the deed was done. jin sungho never chickened out of something, and certainly he was not going to forfeit his stake in their wager.

but not before convincing a friend to go with him. he’s glad that kas let herself be convinced easily enough, he hadn’t even known she had any interest in rap. actually, he wasn’t even sure of many of her interests other than in video game characters and a certain hacker in a dating sim that he knew embarrassingly too much about. he wouldn’t go so far to say that he was nervous about performing in front of an audience, but he was nervous about being judged in front of them, and having someone to wait with him backstage and keep his mind off his worries was a blessing. he’s glad he asked her to come, even though he can’t keep from cringing when she introduces him along with herself when her turn comes up.

he mumbles his lyrics to himself as he waits. sungho reminds himself that he penned these words ages ago, edited and perfected them rolling out of his lips long before this contest was announced. he knew them by heart, even if he has never performed them before. confidence, confidence, confidence. he didn’t want to lack it, especially not up on stage where his presence and charisma could make or break his performance no matter how flawless his delivery may be.

and then it’s finally his turn. he climbs onto the stage, putting an easy sureness that he hopes doesn’t translate as arrogance into the way he holds himself as he takes the center.

“hey yo, it’s your boy bc,” he chants a greeting familiar to only himself and those who have seen his few underground performances before in english, throwing up a hand in a gesture that has that swagger-filled sort of confidence that’s just short of being rude. immediately following, he drops that hand and bows respectfully and greets the judges and audience, the picture of a well-mannered korean youth. “hello, my name is jin sungho. i’m twenty-two years old, and i’m born and raised right here in seoul.” he puts a smile on his face, one that spoke of self-assurance and comfort up on stage more than a winning cutesy thing that others might try.

he’s given the cue to start, and he wets his lips with his tongue and glances down at the stage beneath his feet for a moment while the backtrack plays. he knows that the second he looks up, the second he opens his mouth to deliver, he must do so with every intention to leave an impact.

so he does, as well as he’s able. he throws every scrap of confidence he has into his movements, stalking around the stage like a barely-contained predator as he spits his lyrics. and the confidence doesn’t just stop at his movements, but it flows into his voice and the rise and fall of his tone. the sharp syllables, and the ones he purposely leaves a little softer to let the harsher words shine even more.

breathe, he had tried to remind himself before stepping on stage. don’t forget to breathe properly. he’s practiced it, and it shows though his breath control isn’t nearly as flawless as he’d like it to be. it’s good enough though that he doesn’t run out of air in his lungs before he finishes a phrase, nor is it too squeaky when he takes a quick gasp in in preparation for the next.

his entire performance doesn’t quite take up the entire minute and a half he’s allowed, but sungho had been prepared to be cut off early anyways, as they often do in auditions when they’re perpetually running out of time. he thanks the judges and the audience for their time and consideration, bowing again. with a wave to the audience, he makes his way off the stage with an exhilarated smile on his face. it was by far the biggest crowd he had ever stood before, and sungho found the feeling rather exciting. he hands the microphone off to the staff as he dismounts off the stage, an excited tingle not leaving his fingertips. no matter what the results may be, at least he can say he enjoyed himself up on stage. even though he hopes for the best results, for the bet’s sake if not his own.

but in the meantime, he needs to find kas. sungho might find it difficult to put into words, but he means to thank her for sacrificing her time to be with him today. even if he may only do it by sitting with her in a content sort of silence and letting her chatter on while they wait and watch others perform until the end.

[kaiark-blog]

{ 🎤 } 요즘 난 잘 지내

‹ #ootd ›                                                   « not today » by lee chaerin        • dress                                                          ❪ 0:21 - 1:51 ❫        • shoes        • accessories

kt or royal?

they weren’t really her prospects.

so the fact that she found herself in the long line among the other contestants, her name placard and number pasted tackily against the dress she’d prepared for the occasion, was truly a confounding factor for those who knew her.

the answer was simple.

the ball seemed to be in her court as of late. with the songs she’d uploaded to her soundcloud continuing on their steady streak and the modelling offer that came so soon after -- as well as the contract signing!! -- kaia couldn’t help but feel a bit lucky as to her ventures into the entertainment world and so she was going to ride that cloud nine right into the audition line.

she was going with the flow but that didn’t mean she didn’t come prepared. if there was one thing that her parents raised her on -- no matter from how far a distance -- was the necessity to always come at your best and made it her life motto. everyday was a day to show exactly who she was and with opportunities coming her way as a result of this, the young dj saw no reason to start holding herself back now.

the stage was her home.

she was from a musical family all the way up to her grandparents and while her and her father chose the more modern form of music, her grandparents preferred their voices. where she was used to piecing music together and creating instrumentals, they were apt in bringing out the words that electronic beats implied. she wasn’t the most lyrically brilliant but the idea that had fostered in her head, her grandparents helped to nurture it and let it blossom into the small song sample she decided to prepare.

usually high energy and always ready to party, kaia discovered a different side of herself as she penned the words from within to the soothing, melodic instrumental she’d created. she was a young woman not keen on expressing many of her feelings that pierced deeper than the surface but her notepad became the microphone for her inner voice. constant editing. countless times revising. she pieced things together, fretted over the wording and tore them apart again to try her hand at grasping the right sentence. every word she fought to carefully construct put into place to accurately convey her message. she wanted to express how happy things were going for her and how everything seemed to be on a steady rise with no end in sight as far as she was concerned. a feel good song with a relatable message to instill confidence.

she always wanted her music to make her listeners feel good.

it felt foreign to step onto the stage and not to end her journey behind her turntables. she almost felt exposed to the audience and the judges before her but it wasn’t the crowd that sent nerves throughout her hands that clasped at the microphone lightly. it was the oddity of using a different facet of talents she knew were second and third to her real talent of creativity. if she wanted to enter into korea’s entertainment industry, this was certainly the quickest way to do it and she was well aware. sometimes passion wasn’t enough.

at least if she bombed this, she looked cute.

a semi-formal suit dress with lace heels and a matching garter she wore strategically over the tattoo that encircled her thigh, she considered herself dressed somewhat down for the occasion despite the apropos nature of her choice in outfit to the mood of her song. mature. classy. confident. and with integrated points of her personality. sassy. direct. sexy. even if her song was one that was unknown and in it’s entirety exactly a minute and thirty seconds long, she did the most she could do with the time she was allotted -- a skill fine tuned as a dj.

standing on the wide stage that was empty except for a stool that she requested, kaia inhaled to gather herself and exhaled softly before a smile brightened carefully made up features and her first words were directed into the microphone following a short, introductory bow.

“hi.” she began in english, a wave accompanying the slight giggle that accentuated her single foreign word before she slipped into korean. “my name is kaia lee but my korean name is lee chaerin.” that was a name reserved solely for family but for the sake of professionalism, she crossed that border. she’d correct them if she got signed. carefully her manicured nails tucked ashen blonde locks behind her ear. she was far more demure than her usual personality in the face of new challenges. she was excited to try new things but even the most seasoned performers couldn’t fully escape themselves.

she wasn’t kaia right now. the crowd was truly meeting chaerin.

her smile was somewhat small but she did not waver in her stance. even facing daunting experiences, her confidence was what made her who she was and that wasn’t going anywhere despite the calmness she displayed. “i like to think i have two hometowns with one of them being here but i’m originally from miami, florida.” the follow-up question was not one that she could really lie to and so she didn’t even try to deceive the listeners. “honestly, i wasn’t going to come out originally but things have been looking very positive for me and i don’t have much experience in singing or rapping since i work as a dj but i figured that this was another sign that i should at least put myself out there and give it a try. this is something that i want to do, don’t get me wrong, but i think it’s time i start trying to find a focus.” she smiled lightly once more and took her seat. crossing her legs knee over knee, she carefully pushed her hair behind her shoulders so that her profile could be seen and nodded across the stage towards the sound tech to begin the sole audio clip that was on her flash drive for the day.

timing was no issue for her and she came in as smoothly as she could with her limited singing experience. she wasn’t horrible and had a nice husky timbre to her voice even if it was obvious she’d never had any formal training. she was comfortable most in the lower ranges which was what she learned while working with her grandma and so it was where she stayed, stability achieved where true developed talent didn’t shine through. she knew she wasn’t stellar but she persisted with the cloud her confidence had built up around her at the familiar beat she’d slaved over as critically as the songs she mixed soothed her and delivered a sort of comfort to an anxious heart. she found a luxury in the music that attended to the richness of her words. 

she’d come on the rappers weekend and she was sure to deliver to the best of her ability.

rapping was more her forte. speaking so comfortably and candidly with just the right amount of applied attitude and personality injected into each word was something she did on a daily basis when having a conversation. it came naturally to her and at one point was the closest to singing she would come. her voice was raw in that it was not one she had to force herself into in order to sound a certain way and her words were real because they came from her. from the hand that rested on her belly as she sang and rocked in her seat, she became slightly animated and free with her motions but she never lost her calm, self-secure demeanor to shenanigans.

always classy. always mature. always confident.

her thumb and forefinger curled together as “g-good” left her lips. her hand coyly grabbing as if taking a bite from something at “eat you up” and a small smile following. she even went so far as to lightly graze two fingers across her forehead at the mention of a fever. carefully pointed fingers to the stage as she rapped to give light emphasis before she pressed her fingertips to her temple as if remembering something and gave her head a shake as if wondering if things were really happening as the lyrics questioned that as well. her hand pressed to her chest gently but assuredly as she declared her luxury. with the end in sight, she loosened up slightly and grew more free with her movements, even sparing a half-hearted point towards the judges before waving the accusation off with a jesting smile because not today.

her singing made a short reappearance just to keep with the flow of the song and she allowed herself to freely rock from side to side with it, her foot that had been tapping since the music first began only to pause during her rap started up again and she just allowed herself to jam. because that was what the song was about. she ended the hook earlier than the first one, a broad smile accompanying her last sentence as the music faded. she stood and lightly brushed her dress back down before speaking again. “thank you for your time.” looking to the line of contestants still waiting to go, she lightly held up a supporting fist. “and good luck!” dipping into a light bow, she helped herself off of the stage in the way she was directed, her goofiness already returning as she collapsed with a soft squeal into the arms of her grandmother who stood waiting with a laugh.

you only live once.