With the movie concept gaining traction, Kaelen turned his attention back to the music industry. He had already identified Sarah Jenkins, the talented singer from the open mic night, as a potential protégé. Now, it was time to move beyond casual encounters and make a strategic play.
"Nexus," he thought, "recall a future hit album or a series of popular songs from the late 90s or early 2000s that would perfectly suit Sarah Jenkins' vocal style and resonate with the current music landscape. Something that could be adapted and introduced as original work."
Immediately, a cascade of melodies and lyrics flooded his mind. It wasn't just one song, but an entire album's worth of material, a collection of tracks that would define an era. Nexus meticulously presented the nuances of each song: the chord progressions, the lyrical themes, the production techniques that would make them stand out. It was a perfect match for Sarah's raw talent, a blend of pop sensibility and heartfelt emotion that would captivate audiences.
He arranged another meeting with Sarah, this time in a more formal setting – a private studio he had quietly leased. Sarah, still working her day job, arrived with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. Kaelen, however, wasted no time. He didn't just talk about her potential; he demonstrated it. He hummed a few bars of one of the future hit songs, then played a rough melody on a keyboard, a melody that was instantly catchy and undeniably powerful.
"This," he said, his eyes intense, "is the kind of music you were meant to sing, Sarah. It's authentic, it's soulful, and it has the potential to reach millions."
He then laid out his proposition. He would fund her entire project – studio time, producers, musicians, marketing. In return, he would retain a significant stake in her future earnings and creative control over the initial material. It was a bold offer, one that few struggling artists would refuse. But Kaelen wasn't just offering money; he was offering a vision, a path to success that felt almost preordained.
Sarah, overwhelmed but intrigued, listened intently. She had been struggling for years, pouring her heart into her music with little to show for it. Kaelen's confidence was infectious, his belief in her talent unwavering. He spoke of a future where her music would be heard by millions, where her voice would inspire and move people. It was a dream she had almost given up on.
"I'll need to hear more," she said, her voice trembling slightly.
Kaelen smiled. "Of course." He then, with Nexus's assistance, began to guide her through the creative process. He would suggest a lyrical change here, a melodic tweak there, always framing it as a collaborative effort, a refinement of her own innate talent. He introduced her to a producer Nexus had identified as a rising star, a man who, in the future, would be responsible for countless chart-topping hits.
As they began to record, the magic happened. Sarah's voice, combined with the future-proof melodies and lyrics, created something truly special. The raw emotion she poured into each track was amplified by the sophisticated production techniques Kaelen subtly introduced. The music was fresh, yet familiar, instantly appealing. It was a strategic release, timed perfectly with Nexus's insights into market trends and consumer behavior. Kaelen was not just investing in an artist; he was investing in a cultural phenomenon, a testament to his growing influence in the world of entertainment.