AllFreeNovel
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“No, I’m not country enough for them, and I completely understand.”
I nod and glance out the window to the building across the street. “Is that a studio?”
“It is. I’m recording there later today, in fact. I haven’t recorded an album in LA in years. We do everything either across the street there or in my home studio. Technology is a beautiful thing.”
“I love that,” I admit, giving the building another look.
“We can walk over there when we’re done here, and I can give you a tour.”
“If it’s not an imposition, that would be great.”
“Not at all,” he assures me. “Are you kidding? We always love bringing in established artists to play around. Now, as happy as I am to sit here and shoot the shit, I assume you asked to meet for a reason.”
Before I can reply, Nic walks over, holding a tray full of our orders. She sets our coffees down as well as a cupcake for each of us.
Leo chose chocolate.
“Enjoy, you two,” Nic says and walks away.
I glance down to where Leo wraps his hands around his mug of coffee. He has tattoos down his hands and fingers.
Leo has tattoos everywhere, and they’re damn sexy.
But that’s not why I’m here.
“You mentioned before, when we were at your house, that I could reach out if I needed advice.”
He nods and lifts his mug to his lips.
“I guess I need a lot of advice right now.” I shake my head and sip my own coffee.
“Start at the beginning, and we’ll work our way through it.”
He’s so…calm. So easy to talk to.
“Okay, first of all, I lost my contract with the label.” Leo’s eyes narrow, and I fill him in on the dismal album and tour sales. “So, when I came off the tour, I was informed that they didn’t want to renew for a new album.”
“Why do you think it failed?”
My eyes widen at that word. Failed.
“Listen, I’m blunt. This is business. Get your feelings out of it for a minute, and think about it as a businesswoman, because that’s exactly what you are. Why do you think the album failed?”
I sigh and do as he says. I set my personal feelings aside and think it over. “The music was different from anything I’d done before. I was trying to show the audience that I’d grown up, that I’d evolved as an artist. Maybe they want me to sing the same kind of songs over and over again.”
“Don’t guess. Just tell me what you know.”
I take another sip of coffee. “Okay. The tone of the album wasn’t as country as I’ve done before. It had more of a pop sound to it, and the tour incorporated more dancing, more lights, and more pyrotechnics than me with my band.”
Leo doesn’t say anything; he simply leans back in his chair, listening.
“I veered too far off from what my fans love about my music and my performances. I can have the pyro and lights, but I need to make sure there’s a balance.”
“There you go. There’s nothing wrong with trying new things, but you do that one song at a time, not an entire album. Now you have to earn back the trust of your fans.”
I bite my lip, drumming my fingernails on the table. “I need new music.”
“Agreed.”
“Someone recently told me that I should get on social media, have a presence there, with some new songs.”
“I think that works well for the artists your age.”
“You don’t have social media?”
Leo grins and peels the paper off his cupcake. “We have a social media manager. She’s a gem. Hell no, I don’t want to do that shit. Our girl takes video of us, interviews us, records us in the studio or on stage, and shares it on the platforms. But I think, to start, you need to have a personal presence.”
“I do, too. I’d like to play the song that we wrote. I’ve done some tweaking and made it sound a little more country.”
“I can’t wait to hear it,” he says with a grin, and I can tell by the excitement in his eyes that he means it.
“Can I say that I cowrote it with you?”
“Of course. You did. And you’re welcome to write with me anytime. That was damn fun.”
I smile, lighting up from the inside. “It really was fun. I’d love to write with you or collaborate with you. I don’t want to overstep, but maybe we could do a duet sometime.”
“I’m in,” he replies immediately. “What did you call the song?”
“‘Little Miss’.” I grin over at him. “It’s repeated in the chorus a lot, and I think it works with my brand.”
“I like it.” He nods. “Are you keeping it a ballad?”
“Yeah, a lot of guitar and piano. Very moody.”
“Love moody,” he says. “I can’t wait to hear it. If you want to record it, come over to my place next week, and we’ll get it down for you.”
