The Reincarnated Idol Hard Carries an Indie Band - Chapter 57

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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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A Former Idol Carries Her Indie Band
Episode 57
“Lee Jong Myung, the audition preliminary round applicants list has come out.”
“Oh, yes. Contact the successful candidates and leave the documents here.”
“Yes, understood.”
A total of 749 teams had submitted applications to perform.
The number of applicants had grown since the audition program launched four years ago, but the talent pool remained as thin as ever.
I’d thought things might have improved with time, but this band scene really was hopeless.
Fewer listeners meant fewer players to begin with.
The talent pool was inevitably bleak.
Out of the 749 teams, fewer than half showed any sign of having rehearsed as a full ensemble, and among those, genuinely skilled teams were rarer than expected.
Teams with real star quality could be counted on one hand.
Of course, from a broadcast perspective, this worked in their favor.
Lower-tier teams served as useful fodder for early drama, while just a handful of genuinely talented groups were enough to carry the narrative forward.
“This should make for decent television.”
Lee Jong Myung slowly reviewed the successful preliminary candidates.
Bands formed by YouTubers, bands featuring washed-up entertainers, bands that stirred up controversy with difficult compositions—
There was plenty to keep the broadcast entertaining.
And then there were the genuinely skilled bands.
Some of them would probably coast through to the finals without breaking a sweat.
And among those with exceptional talent, strong buzz, and impressive visuals—
The eventual winners would likely emerge from that group.
Lee Jong Myung was already mapping out the entire arc of the show in his mind.
The actual outcome would only become clear once filming began, but something told him there would be plenty of compelling moments.
He wondered which bands would deliver unexpected surprises.
Which one would create a legendary performance.
He almost wished he could jump ahead to the future and peek.
* * *
-[K-Net] Preliminary Round Audition Advancement Notice.
Hello. Thank you sincerely for sharing your precious talent at the band audition “Who’s The Real.”
After rigorous deliberation, we are delighted to inform you of your advancement to the preliminary round. The following schedule is….
We celebrated the advancement text lightly with our friends.
Neither I nor any of the members seemed particularly surprised by the result.
We had prepared thoroughly, and there were no mistakes in our performance.
What mattered was what came next.
We had to perform in front of demanding judges and compete against formidable opponents.
This was a different caliber of competition from simply submitting a single video.
Plenty of strong contenders would be coming.
Only after defeating them all could we create an opportunity with Lee Do Young and Lee Jong Myung.
“The first shoot is mid-July.”
“Good timing—right after summer break.”
The filming schedule worked out perfectly.
“Alright, let’s draw up some kind of plan.”
“A plan? What kind of plan goes into an audition program?”
My words left them looking bewildered.
Even Lee Do Young and Kim Ji Hu seemed confused.
I could understand that.
None of them had ever been on a show like this, and no one could know yet what the challenges would be or how they’d be structured.
But data exists for a reason.
And I had future knowledge on top of that.
“It’s a preliminary meeting. I’ve dug up all the shows Lee Jong Myung produced, and there are some patterns.”
“Oh, look at you being prepared.”
“True, there’s data to work from after all.”
“Told you the leader knows what he’s doing.”
“See, when you watch him like this, he’s actually pretty sharp.”
After that day, we threw ourselves into thorough preparation for the program.
We prepared four sample songs for the First Round Audition.
For the Second Round, we prepared three songs in two different versions each—six variations in total, just in case.
We anticipated the kinds of variations the producers typically introduced mid-show and prepared contingencies for each.
If we advanced to the Main Round, a producer or judge would likely be assigned to work with us.
For those consultations, I worked through possible new material with the members, carefully sketching out detailed arrangements.
No one knows what the future holds.
All this preparation might come to nothing, but this kind of groundwork would help us weather whatever came next.
A week passed, then two, we went through school closing ceremony, and the audition date crept closer.
* * *
The First Round Audition venue was a large abandoned factory-themed studio in Ilsan.
The audition order was first-come, first-served.
Even though we arrived quite early, Okdap’s slot was number 56 out of the 100 preliminary teams that advanced.
The waiting area was under tents set up in the front courtyard and parking lot outside the studio.
With each band laying out their instruments under the canvas and waiting, it resembled a massive flea market venue.
The production team had deliberately created this harsh environment to capture raw authenticity.
Hungry musicians and bands made for the perfect aesthetic.
Yet some bands still managed to shine even in such conditions.
Visually striking teams appeared occasionally, but the one that truly stood out was Okdap.
“Wow, what is that, celebrities?”
“Damn, they’re good-looking.”
Every time Okdap passed between the tents, the noise from practicing musicians faded.
In its place came a wave of whispers.
“No way, they’re actually here. Isn’t that like cheating?”
“Ugh, what do we do if a hot team like that shows up….”
Okdap had been making waves all year, and recently released an album proving their music was the real deal.
Moreover, with their latest full-length record, they’d dominated the upper reaches of the Rock Chart.
Okdap’s mere presence had already demoralized the other competitors.
Of course, even as that atmosphere took hold, one team burned with defiance.
“There they are.”
Im Hyun Taek, Destruction’s vocalist, watched Okdap looking for a spot in the distance.
His bandmates felt their grips tighten instinctively on their instruments.
Envy and jealousy mixed with a trace of admiration—multiple emotions coexisted.
But what burned brightest in Destruction’s hearts was the hunger to win.
Whether that meant claiming the program’s championship or crushing Okdap remained unclear.
And then there was another team.
“Oh my god! It’s Okdap!!!!”
Someone shouted at the top of their lungs.
Dampa, a YouTuber.
He’d reviewed Okdap’s album not long ago.
Okdap turned at the sound of Dampa’s voice and waved.
“Wow!!! I’m a fan!!!”
Dampa screamed wildly, practically vibrating with excitement.
Most people around him frowned, annoyed by the noise.
And there was also a team on quite close terms with Okdap.
Just as Okdap was still struggling to find a suitable spot—
“Seo Ha!”
“Oh, Jo Sung Hoon!”
“Can’t find a seat?”
“Yeah, we’re looking for one.”
“Come sit with us.”
“Oh, is that okay?”
“Of course it is.”
Now attention shifted to the Jo Sung Hoon Band, who got along well with Okdap.
All the participants received their number tags and settled in to wait their turn.
* * *
Jo Sung Hoon’s band was set for the 32nd slot.
We were much further back—56th.
“Wonder how long this will take….”
If my math was right, we’d be waiting over ten hours.
Each band’s performance would be short—anywhere from a minute to four at most.
But setting up instruments alone took forever, and you had to factor in entrance and exit times.
Looking around, everyone was preparing in their own way.
Some teams had laid out blankets and were napping; others were running through their material relentlessly.
The Jo Sung Hoon Band was naturally among those rehearsing.
A few teams had left their gear and abandoned their spots.
Probably the ones with later slots.
The teams that stayed roughly fell into two camps.
Those practicing like madmen.
Those who hadn’t even unpacked their instruments.
Okdap fell into the latter category.
We’d already practiced until our fingers bled; we just needed a quick check right before our turn.
And there was another reason….
“Hey, why aren’t you playing it right?”
Commotion erupted from the Jo Sung Hoon Band members nearby.
And the noise was coming from a guitar.
“Why do I keep getting buzzing?”
Whether the crew had done this on purpose or simply didn’t know any better, I couldn’t say.
But July was oppressively hot and humid—
The worst conditions for wooden instruments.
Coupled with an outdoor waiting area.
Looking around, many teams were bickering for reasons similar to Jo Sung Hoon’s group.
“Put the instrument away.”
“What? We need to practice.”
“You can’t. The neck will warp completely.”
Heo Jun Sung, unable to watch anymore, came over to help.
“If you Tune it in this state and go in, the string lengths will be off too. The difference will be audible. Put everything in the cases now and just do a quick run-through right before your slot.”
“Ah…. Got it.”
Practicing more now wouldn’t dramatically improve your skill anyway.
Mental preparation was far more valuable.
And the nearby team that overheard our conversation—
“Oh, is that how it works? Hey, let’s put ours away too.”
“You got Silica Gel?”
“Yeah, plenty.”
Practice was something you did on your own time.
Everyone had surely put in grueling effort, but it would be heartbreaking if that work came to nothing due to equipment failure.
Of course, some would argue that gear maintenance was a skill in itself—but some of these people probably didn’t know that yet.
If we could help, we wanted to.
The team farther away from us was still bickering among themselves, practicing.
Should I really walk all the way over there and say something?
I was about to get up when I was beaten to it.
“Ahem! You can’t practice in weather like this!”
Heo Jun Sung was already approaching that team with his advice.
Yep, extroverts really are in a class of their own.
“With humidity this high, the neck will definitely warp. And if you Tune it in this heat and walk in there, the strings will contract. How are you going to get proper tone?”
His social boldness was something to admire, really.
“Oh, I see. No wonder the buzzing kept happening. Thank you so much.”
“Ahem! Well, it’s nothing, really!”
Most of the teams heard Heo Jun Sung’s loud voice.
“See? I told you it wasn’t my playing!”
“Whatever, just put the Guitar away.”
Thanks to Heo Jun Sung’s social nature—or rather, his kindness—many of the participants were now taking better care of their instrument conditions.

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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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