As the days went by, Landon was getting more and more views on his Instagram lives. He would often post reels of himself doing covers of songs, creating Instrumentals and harmonizing his voice with the beat to fool people almost like he was just imagining they lyrics. But deep down he knew that was just recreating future number one songs that will top charts.
Finally, after two months of doing up and downs promoting the record label, himself and his first solo single "Rebirth" it was finally time for the song to drop. He had short the music video a month ago, nothing too flashy. A simple video that about a young man being abused and finally fighting back his abusive father.
Landon groggily opened his eyes, rubbing the sleep from his lids. He was still in the studio chair, his phone clutched in his hand. He sat up straight, checking the time on his phone. He had been asleep for a few hours.
He looked at his phone's notifications, and his eyes widened as he saw the news about his former band's single. 56 in the UK was a decent debut, but failing to crack the Canadian top 100 was a disappointment.
Landon's gaze drifted to social media, where fans were discussing the band's performance. Some fans were saying that the band felt incomplete without him, that his absence was palpable in their music. "Landon was the heart and soul of this band," one fan wrote. "Without him, they're just a hollow shell of their former selves."
But not all fans were sympathetic to Landon's cause. Some were harsh in their criticism, saying that his departure had been a blessing in disguise. "This single is proof that Landon was holding them back," one fan wrote. "Their music is better without him." Others were more direct, predicting that Landon's own single would fail just as miserably as the band's. "Landon thinks he's a solo star now, but he'll be lucky if he can even crack the top 100," another fan wrote.
Landon's eyes narrowed as he read the comments. He knew that the music industry was cutthroat, and opinions were bound to be divided. But he couldn't be more carefree, he knows that even if "Rebirth " flops it'll flop in the top 30. He had worked hard on his single, and he was proud of what he had created. Now, all he could do was wait and see how it would be received.
Rachel walks in and finds him on the producer chair still. "You know, you've been in here for three days now. Aren't you going home?" She asked with a concerning tone.
"Yeah, in a moment. I want you to listen to these two songs I just finished." He said
Rachel's expression softened, and she walked over to Landon, concern still etched on her face. "Okay, I'll listen. But promise me you'll take a break soon? You can't keep pushing yourself like this."
Landon nodded, a small smile on his face. "I promise. Just listen to these songs, and we'll talk about it afterwards."
Rachel nodded, taking a seat next to Landon. He cued up the first song, "Us" (by James Bay). The soulful melody filled the studio, and Rachel closed her eyes, letting the music wash over her.
As the song played, Rachel's expression changed from concern to surprise. This song was hauntingly beautiful, with a stripped-down arrangement that highlighted his vocals. She could feel the emotion in his voice, the longing and yearning that seemed to leap off the speakers.
When the song ended, Rachel opened her eyes, a thoughtful look on her face. "That was stunning," she said. "You really brought out the emotion in that song." Landon smiled, pleased that she liked it. "Thanks. On to the next. "
As the opening notes of "Half a Man" (Dean Lewis) filled the studio, Rachel's eyes closed again, letting the music take over. Landon's voice was hauntingly beautiful, conveying the emotional pain and vulnerability of the lyrics.
The song's themes of loss and heartbreak resonated deeply, and Rachel found herself getting lost in the music. Landon's vocals were raw and emotive, capturing the essence of the song. When the song ended, Rachel opened her eyes, a look of admiration on her face. "Wow, Landon, that was incredible," she said. "You have a gift. You might just be a musical monster at this rate."
Landon smiled, feeling a sense of relief and gratitude. "Thanks, Rachel. I'm really glad you liked them. I was hoping to get your honest opinion."
Rachel nodded, her expression turning serious. "I'll always give you my honest opinion, Landon. I invested a lot in you to not give you one."
The two sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the only sound the soft hum of the studio equipment. Then, Rachel spoke up, "You know, I think it's time for you to take a break. You've been working non-stop for days. Why don't I get us some food, and we can talk more about your music?"
Landon nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Rachel. "That sounds great. Thanks, Rach."
Three days went by and it was finally time for Landon's first single. "Rebirth" was released on all platforms and the song was more than what people expected. For months he had been teasing the song by doing multiple videos of the same 40 seconds snippet but now they finally got their ears on the whole song and it didn't disappoint.
On Tuesday, it was time for the billboard ranking updates and there it stood on 45 in the USA, 33 In Canada and 28 in the UK.
The fans were ecstatic, taking to social media to celebrate Landon's success. "Rebirth" was trending on various platforms, with fans sharing their reactions, lyrics, and music videos. The hashtag #LandonIsBack was born, with fans expressing their excitement and support for the artist.
However, not everyone was convinced of Landon's long-term potential. Some fans of his former band were quick to dismiss his solo efforts, labeling him a "one-hit wonder." "He's just trying to ride the coattails of his old band's success," one fan wrote. "We'll see how long this lasts."
Others were more brutal, "He's just a flash in the pan," another fan wrote. "Mark my words, this song will be his only hit."
Despite the negative comments, Landon's fans remained loyal and supportive and praised him for his talent and dedication to his craft. "You're an amazing artist, Landon," one fan wrote. "We believe in you, no matter what."
As the days went by, "Rebirth" continued to climb the charts. Landon's team was ecstatic, and he was fielding interview requests from prominent music outlets. The song's success was a testament to Landon's hard work and dedication to his craft. Landon's phone was flooded with messages from industry professionals, congratulating him on his achievement. He received calls from record labels, management teams, and even other artists, all wanting to collaborate or discuss potential projects
One Message in particular caught Landon's attention - a Instagram message from none other than Selena Gomez herself.
"Hey. I heard the song you guys sent over. Can you explain what you want from me? Honestly it sounds good already, but I'm down to hear your original thoughts."
"I need you to sing the second verse there and the second bridge as well. From there we just sing along the Chorus together."
"Okay, I'll get back to you in about three days."
With Salena agreeing to do the song, it was time for Landon to move on to the other projects he had been working on this past week. "Leave the door open" (Bruno mars) and "Dusk till dawn( Zayn).
Bruno mars agreed to work on the Brige and Chorus of Leave the door open. Landon sent him the song with verses and a demo of how he wants the bride and Chorus to sound. On the other hand, refused to work on a song not being in the same studio. She says it'll kill the art and fun, so she agreed to come to Canada to record Dusk till dawn with Landon.