It’s true. I did say that. And while I am tired of waiting for permission and Colt and I are taking steps to move forward with or without the backing of a label, going indie isn’t the way to fame and fortune. Unless you grow a big enough indie audience to catch a label’s attention. In which case I would need someone like Delores in my corner. And since I already have her, it would be short-sighted to sever our relationship prematurely just because we had one good concert and fans who want to buy those songs.
It’s a start, sure, but no one knows better than me how quickly the wheel of fortune can change.
Delores takes off her glasses and sets them on her desk, settling back in her chair and giving me her attention. “You seem to have been busy since your recent wedding.”
A hot blush works its way up my cheeks. “We have.”
If Delores were the type to roll her eyes, I think she’d be doing so now. But instead, she gives me a prim scowl. “I meant writing new songs. I caught a few of the highlights on your social pages.”
“Of course. That’s what I meant too.” Because that is mostly what we did after our wedding. It’s really just since the concert that our activities have … shifted.
Delores’s look broadcasts her doubt as to the truthfulness of my statement, but otherwise lets it pass. She slides her glasses back on and reaches for her mouse, clicking something on her computer. “Yes, you’ve gotten some more press coverage since your concert and had an uptick on your social engagement, which is good. You’ve also shown that you can produce more songs, even if some of them are …” She trails off, tipping her head from side to side in a gesture of ambivalence.
The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand up as I bristle. She thinks some of my songs are meh? What does she know anyway?
But I force down my immediate defensive reaction, knowing it won’t get me anything but a lecture on growing a thicker skin, that I’ll have to deal with far harsher criticism from labels and music critics if I want to produce my own work.
As Golden Enigma, even though we grew a following with covers and original songs, we were on the hit-maker track. The label bought most of our songs, and while we did get to participate a little bit in the writing to make them “ours,” it’s not at all the same as writing my own songs like I did with Colt for our concert.
Plus, I wrote his songs too on top of our duets. I’ve been a writing machine for the last month or so.
But I resist the urge to point all that out. “Is there a way we can capitalize on that?” I ask carefully, letting all the subtext speak for me. Can we create more media interest? Does the increase in media interest help or hurt me with a label? Is a label interested in my songs?
Delores once again takes off her glasses and looks me over. “I haven’t heard anything from your old label. But …”
She’s the master of drawing out the tension, knowing I’m dying to hear what comes after the but.
She reaches over and picks up a sheet of paper, glancing at it before setting it back down. “I’ve reached out to a few other labels. If Bad Wolf Records is too fat and lazy to make a move, we can find someone else who’ll be happy to pick you up.”
I swallow down the ball of anxiety, hope, and disappointment lodged in my throat and give her my best media approved smile. “That’s great. Have you heard back from anyone?”
She nods. “I have. The A and R director at Good Fortune responded first, saying they’d keep you in mind. And a junior exec from Spellbound asked me to set up a meeting with you.”
That makes me sit up straighter. A label wants to meet with me? “Have you scheduled it yet?”
She holds up a forestalling hand. “Let’s not be too hasty. Is this really someone you want to work with? First, this is a new person on their team. They’re looking to build their stable so they’re bound to be desperate. That could be good or bad for you, depending on what they’re able to offer. Plus, it’s a smaller label. They might not have the contacts and distribution that you’re really hoping for.”
Deflating, I slump in my seat. “Right. Good point.” This is why she’s my agent after all. It’s her job to look out for these things. Plus, the better contract she negotiates for me, the more money she makes. And I think she’s probably looking for a big score from me. Otherwise, why would she sink all this time and effort into me?
“Still,” she muses, “it wouldn’t hurt to meet with them. We might be able to nudge some of the other guys along if they think you’re in danger of getting snapped up.” A calculating smile pulls at her pristine maroon lips. “Especially with an upstart feminist label like Spellbound being the one courting you. They wouldn’t want it to look like the darling of their hot girl band jumped ship to go with someone more forward thinking. Especially since they were started by Joanna Gale.”
My eyes grow big and round at the mention of Joanna Gale. She’s a legend who’s been around and successful for ages. I hadn’t even realized she’d started her own label. And her people are looking at me? “Right. No harm in at least taking the meeting. Seeing what they can offer.”
Delores gives me a nod and a satisfied smile. “In the meantime, the more you can get yourself in the public eye, the better. We need to see you looking happy and
