The Reincarnated Idol Hard Carries an Indie Band - Chapter 131

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Former Idol Carries Indie Band
Chapter 131
At the same moment, in the United States.
“Hey, Patrick. I saw the video you posted. Looked great.”
“Thanks, Marcus. I’m counting on you for a smooth show today.”
The Greenroom’s filming studio.
Today’s guest was a singer named Liam Patrick.
Before diving into the shoot, he was passing the time chatting with Marcus, the show’s host.
“You know that riff you played is from a Korean band’s music, right?”
“Of course. It’s Oktatop’s music, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. They were on The Greenroom before.”
“I saw that episode too. Those kids play really well.”
Oktatop’s music had been gaining word-of-mouth buzz not just among ordinary listeners but among overseas professional musicians as well.
Soon the broadcast began.
Marcus introduced Liam Patrick, reciting his accomplishments.
A number-one Billboard chart artist and winner of last year’s Super Music Awards Artist of the Year, Music Video of the Year, and Album of the Year.
A triple crown achievement.
North American tour, Asian tour, European tour—all sold out.
The audience’s eyes gleamed as they cheered for his globally recognized accomplishments.
“Great to see you, Patrick.”
“The pleasure is mine, Marcus. It’s been quite a while.”
The two shared recent updates, flaunting their friendship.
Marcus, once a renowned bassist in his day, now dedicated himself almost entirely to broadcasting work.
Yet he’d been recruited as the bassist on Patrick’s most recent album.
And it was through that connection that Patrick had appeared on this show.
Patrick promoted his upcoming concerts and albums.
He answered questions about his usual approach to making music.
As the warm atmosphere continued, a question came up.
“So Patrick, is there a singer you’ve been paying attention to lately? You could introduce some music you listen to often.”
“Hmm, recently…”
Patrick paused briefly before mentioning a singer’s name.
“I listen to a Korean band called Oktatop quite often.”
“Oh, Oktatop. They’ve appeared on our program before. What makes their music appeal to you?”
Marcus’s question, fishing for kind words about Oktatop.
Patrick could see right through Marcus’s intent to favor Oktatop.
But he decided to play along anyway.
He genuinely enjoyed their music too, after all.
“There’s a power in their music. It has the power to make you revisit certain memories from childhood.”
“Hmm, from what I’ve heard of Oktatop’s music, it’s generally pretty intense?”
“Oh, they’re certainly good at that too. Recently, Oktatop led a challenge craze with an incredible guitar riff.”
“Right. It’s impressive that young kids without a company managed to pull off something like that.”
“Wait, no company?”
Patrick was startled by Marcus’s words.
He’d never thought to look into something like that.
A band of this caliber surely had a company backing them.
Their music video view counts and streaming performance seemed to prove it.
But it was a false proof.
“Yes, they’re an indie band from Korea.”
“Oh… I didn’t know that.”
Patrick wasn’t the only one surprised.
Most of the audience members in the studio also knew “Fire Truck.”
The riff’s presence overseas was that impressive.
Some people learned the song’s creator for the first time now, while others already knew.
But for most, learning they were an indie band was news.
“Well, since we’re on the topic, why don’t we have you play that Fire Truck riff from Oktatop?”
“Oh, I’d love to.”
And so Patrick began playing that riff from Oktatop’s “Fire Truck,”
A brilliant rendition—comparable in skill to the original artist, yet with its own distinct flavor.
* * *
—Liam Patrick – Fire Truck Challenge Clip. (The Greenroom Broadcast)
It didn’t take long for the video to reach Korea.
Liam Patrick was an artist commanding attention not just in the United States but worldwide, including Korea.
The clip from the broadcast landed in Korea less than a day after airing.
And numerous Korean comments were already piling up on the video.
—????? Why is Liam playing Fire Truck???
—How far is Oktatop going to get famous?
—How? I mean, how does he even know about them?
—Wow, this gives me such national pride! Oktatop expanding overseas!!
—Wow, is God helping Oktatop or something? The hottest artist right now is covering them?
—Wait, what song is this? Is this an Oktatop song?
—Wow, so Korean people really don’t know? This is already pretty popular overseas as a cover challenge
—└Yeah, I know… it’s used a lot as background music on short-form video platforms, but since there aren’t many Korean users, it’s…
—Wow, Patrick covering a song by those young Korean indie band kids is just *chef’s kiss*
—Oktatop’s lucky
—I hope Oktatop goes viral and signs with an American agency and enters the US market. There’s no hope for bands in Korea
—└Still, things are pretty good these days. Quite a few bands have charted since Oktatop debuted
—└But how long will that last?
—└I suppose
Finally, people in Korea started popping up left and right who recognized Fire Truck’s global standing.
The video began racking up high view counts.
And more importantly, many accounts began redistributing clips of the video everywhere.
And then another development.
「Famous American Talk Show “The Greenroom” Featuring Liam Patrick’s Cover of Oktatop’s “Fire Truck” Becomes Hot Topic.」
A video of Liam Patrick, who appeared on the talk show The Greenroom broadcast from the United States last night, performing a guitar rendition of Oktatop’s latest track Fire Truck has become the talk of the town.
Performing the guitar riff originally played by Oktatop’s Heo Jun Sung with Liam Patrick’s own seasoned sensibility, the riff from this track is reportedly experiencing a surge in usage on short-form video platforms like “TikTok” and “MusicallyBreathe.”
Fire Truck, already enjoying significant fame overseas, gained major significance in that the song’s creator is an indie band, and netizens across the board commented, “This gives me national pride,” “It’s an honor that an overseas famous artist is covering a Korean indie band’s song,” and “Oktatop’s overseas expansion seems imminent.”
Meanwhile, Oktatop’s Fire Truck is available on various music streaming sites.
Reporter Jin Ji Hye, Entertainment Roundup
[email protected]
Multiple media movements were being detected.
The band members themselves were equally caught up in the excitement.
“Insane! Insane! This is absolutely insane!”
Upon hearing the news, Heo Jun Sung was bouncing around the studio.
“My… my own playing… ugh, hehehehe…”
“Seo Ha, he’s scaring me.”
“Just leave him. He’ll quiet down on his own.”
The other members of Oktatop understood Heo Jun Sung’s feelings completely.
Which is why Kim Ji Hu was also holding back from telling him to calm down.
“Hey, Cha Seo Ha, you answer. What am I now?”
“Well… yeah, that’s true.”
“Right, right? So I’m something now, aren’t I?”
“Yeah, I… guess…”
From across the room, Kim Ji Hu shook his head, silently pleading with Seo Ha not to encourage this.
But Heo Jun Sung’s eyes were sparkling too brightly to say no.
“Wait right there! I’m gonna become the strongest guitarist on Earth!”
It reminded me of those shounen manga I saw as a kid.
Something about a pirate king.
“Pack your gear. We need to go.”
“Today’s busking is gonna be even more exciting! Just you wait, Banwol Park!”
When will this guy calm down?
* * *
Whether we’re famous overseas or topping the charts,
Oktatop still showed up at Banwol Park every Saturday.
When we first came here, the passersby were just families, couples, and friends,
“Wooooah!”
But now, the number of regular attendees had grown so much that it was hard to estimate how many there were.
The district office installed fencing around the audience seating area.
The place where we performed now had a proper low stage.
They even installed a canopy overhead to prepare for rainy days.
I wondered why they’d go to such lengths, but apparently this neighborhood had benefited from tourism.
Anyway, it was mutually beneficial.
“Well then, moving on to the next song!”
Here at Banwol Park, I spoke with more decorum than I did at festivals or underground venues.
We had young kids and families in the audience.
At a concert anyone could watch, you had to be careful.
“Fire Truck!”
As the next song title came out, the audience erupted.
“Wooooah!”
Heo Jun Sung was fully unleashed now, reveling in the stage.
Caution and propriety were the last things on his mind. He just looked thrilled.
How could he not be happy? One of the world’s top singers had played the riff he created.
I wonder if those people overseas realized we were just casually busking right now.
The gap that comes from a difference in information is intoxicating.
They probably thought we were some famous Korean singers,
But Oktatop was just a band that gathered in the neighborhood to busk,
Occasionally lucky enough to be invited to events or shows,
Just a bunch of young kids working hard at music and releasing albums.
No matter what anyone else said, that’s how we knew ourselves,
And we planned to keep it that way for a very long time.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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