Rise To Stardom - Chapter 80

Chapter 80: Beautiful
After the interview session with Kyle was released onto ViewTube, it quickly racked up a ton of views, quite possibly among the highest view counts the StarSpotter’s Magazine’s Channel had seen in a very long while.

So understandably, the company was really happy with the turnout.

They were even planning to interview Kyle again once [Epoch One] came out and the movie was good.

Considering they had Suzy focus solely on his music and a few personal questions, they were hoping the movie could do well so they could milk his stocks.

But more than that, the people who were the happiest, were Kyle’s fan group.

They had gotten to know more about their favorite rising star so their current state of excitement was understandable.

—

WaifuWithARocketLauncher: You hear that world! Hear that bitches! Kyle’s married! Married to us! His fans! Steal him away from us and I’ll nuke you! I’ll nuke your family! I’ll nuke your ancestors! And just for added measure, I’ll nuke all of your graves!!!

WeDoABitOfTrolling: Waifu upstairs, cool it down will ya?!

WaifuWithARocketLauncher: I’ll nuke you too @WeDoABitOfTrolling!

AN_MZ_27: Someone, please get that rocket launcher away from her!

Trix Or Treat: Just when I think Kyle can’t get any more charming than he already is, he immediately proves me wrong. The interview was so fun to watch.

Peter_Writes_Fantasy: It was really nice to learn more about Kyle. Still, my respect for him just reached new heights because damn, it’s amazing just how good-natured he’s turned out despite the lack of parental care he must’ve dealt with whilst growing up.

Kuro_uzumaki: Yeah @Peter_Writes_Fantasy; Dude’s a big W!

The 78th Curator: I heard some very big record labels and talent agencies are looking for any means to get him on their side again.

Princess Peach: @The 78th Curator; Yeah. As if Kyle’s ever going to pay them any mind. This shit happens every time he goes viral and yet, these greedy bastards never seem to learn that our boy isn’t in this for the money and fame. Our cinnamon roll is simply all about the art!

Sparkinwa: The fact that he’s so confident in his own skin and his hobbies, speaks volumes about just how down-to-earth he is. Feels like someone anyone could easily get along with.

Wendy The Witch: I think we can all come to an agreement that Kyle is a national treasure. He must be protected at all costs! Also, how is it that I haven’t gotten tired of listening to [Strange Canvas] after over 247 times and still counting! So addicted to the song!

Alice In Wonderland 88: @Wendy The Witch; Literally in the same shoes as you!

Pro_noobs: It’s kinda insane when you realize through the interview that Kyle actually wrote the entire song in one night. If that isn’t the mark of a genius, I don’t know what is.

Mamma Mia: @Pro_noobs; I totally agree. What truly stands out to me though, is the use of a glockenspiel in the song. Those subtle orchestral bell chimes really added to the ethereal touch of the song.

Annie Are You Okay?: What’s a glockenspiel? And by the way, anyone know where I can get a fake ID card. Need one so I can use it to buy a ticket to see [Epoch One] when it lands in theatres.

ShrekLovesFiona: I’m definitely going to the GrooveFest 10 just to see Kyle perform. Anyone else planning to go?

Kyle’s Girlfriend: @ShrekLovesFiona; Me, definitely! Though I’ll have to wait till he comes around to New York’s venue. I hope he does…

N0c: How many places will the events even be taking place at? I also heard all the current top 10 artists on the ‘Buzzing 100’ charts will be invited this time. How true is that?

The Impostor: @N0c; To your second question, yes, that is very true. And to your first, it’s a lot of locations. Vancouver, Los Angeles, Memphis, Atlanta, Chicago, Seattle, Nashville, Cleveland and New York.

—

As the messages continued to pour out, the fan group now having reached a total member count 5000+, one of said members quickly rushed into the group to inform everyone that the music video for [Strange Canvas] had dropped.

Instantly, the group went radio silent as everyone flocked over to Kyle’s ViewTube channel like moths to flame.

* * *

Jody was a bit salty.

She was happy for Kyle, the musician that wrote [Strange Canvas]. She really was.

But at the same time, now that every Tom, Dick and Harry knew the song, it felt less intimate, to her at least.

For her, there was a certain joy in finding an underrated song and gatekeeping it, especially since she wasn’t particularly a music enthusiast.

Added to that, was the fact that [Strange Canvas] was one of those rare songs she strongly resonated with, mostly due to her experience as a previous victim of frequent insomnia bouts.

“Can’t believe you wanted to gatekeep the song from me too Jody. Not cool.” her closest friend, Paulina, pouted as she came into the living room with a tray of drinks and a few snacks.

“What can I say? I’m a gatekeeper and a hater~.” Jody gently flicked her hair with sass.

“And besides, if I had told you, the world would’ve found out about it even earlier considering your extroverted ass.” the lady stuck out her tongue, a gesture Paulina couldn’t help but find cute.

“You know, you could easily get a boyfriend if you were just as open with guys as you are with me.” Paulina arched a playful eyebrow and said.

“Not interested.” Jody simply waved her off and switched on the Smart TV.

She was very curious about the music video of [Strange Canvas].

Considering it was currently trending as No. 1 on TweetTalk, just mere hours after it had been released, with people terming it one of the most beautiful music videos they had ever watched, her curiosity wasn’t unfounded.

Paulina on the other hand, casually sat beside her friend whilst waiting for her to navigate over to Kyle’s ViewTube channel.

“Woah… he’s already got a million subscribers now. That’s insane.” Paulina couldn’t help but be amazed.

The last time she saw the channel was during the entire [No Clue] video craze. As at that time, it had been at 300K+.

“More exposure basically. It’s to be expected considering the popularity of the song itself.” Jody simply replied, her eyes noticing the 3.7M view count in just under two hours.

‘It’ll probably reach a hundred million views in a few months at this rate…’ she thought to herself.

Finally clicking on the video, her back relaxing onto the sofa as she picked up a cookie, the music video started off with Kyle’s closed eyelids, suddenly opening to reveal his sapphire irises.

Slowly, the camera panned out to reveal he was actually lying down on his bed, a tired expression on his face.

Twisting and turning on the bed, a frustrated expression gracing his handsome features, Jody leaned forward a bit.

The way the video had started…

It was so relatable to her.

Getting out of the bed, sighing with a tired gaze, the camera then panned over to see things from Kyle’s visual perspective.

Slowly, his eyes landed on the piano in the corner of the room.

Moving over to it and plopping onto the stool, Kyle was shown to be messing around on the piano, a translucent edited clock, ticking by as he continued to mess around with the piano.

And then, at exactly 2:00 am, the clock stopped ticking and instantly, the familiar tune of the song began to play.

~✨ 🎹 🎶 🎼 🎶✨ ~

…

~✨ 🎹 🎶 🎼 🎶✨ ~

By this time, whatever form of tiredness Kyle seemed to have had, had completely disappeared, replaced by an enthralled gaze as he began the song.

~✨ 🎹 🎶 🎼 🎶✨ ~

Why do the stars twinkle at night?

Galaxies and exploding suns?

Why’s the milky way so complex?

~✨ 🎹 🎶 🎼 🎶✨~

After that last line in the first verse of the song, his previously normal room, had the roof, slowly open up to reveal the night’s starry sky.

Along with those stars were swirling galaxies, planets and comets, all put together in a really beautiful and mesmerizing way.

It was all CGI yes, but it looked so indistinguishable from reality, it only served to add more to that dreamy, ethereal feel as Kyle kept singing.

~✨ 🎹 🎶 🎼 🎶✨~

What a strange canvas of thoughts…

Why aren’t the waves of slumber whisking me away…

~✨ 🎹 🎶 🎼 🎶✨~

As he finished up the chorus and kept singing, this time into the second verse of the song, Jody and Paulina were already so immersed they totally forgot they were in her living room.

~✨ 🎹 🎶 🎼 🎶✨~

2 a.m. thoughts are wild,

Do bears know how to smile?

Do fireflies have festivals?

~✨ 🎹 🎶 🎼 🎶✨~

The moment that particular lyric was sang, Kyle’s seemingly normal piano began to glow with a soft golden light as the luminescent insects slowly began to form around Kyle himself, all of them twinkling, and seemingly, moving in a mesmerizing way, akin to a dance at a festival.

As they danced to the tune of the song, their light filling up every corner of the room and Kyle’s sapphire eyes bright with childlike joy, the music video continued on, completely ensnaring the two teenage ladies.

~✨ 🎹 🎶 🎼 🎶✨~

‘Cause I’d like to fall asleep,

But my thoughts have turned sentient,

And now it’s 5 a.m. …

~✨ 🎹 🎶 🎼 🎶✨~

At that particular moment, the camera did a quick shot to the clock’s hand dropping on exactly five O’clock as Kyle sang the chorus again.

~✨ 🎹 🎶 🎼 🎶✨~

Please take me away to a corridor of dreams,

Or I might just stay up all night…

~✨ 🎹 🎶 🎼 🎶✨~

Lowering his voice a bit for the last part of the song, the ladies just watched on, completely in a trance.

~✨ 🎹 🎶 🎼 🎶✨~

Wished the quiet of the night enveloped me…

Then maybe I wouldn’t be having these strange canvas of thoughts…

~✨ 🎹 🎶 🎼 🎶✨~

And then, when the song finally came to an end with the outro, the tunes still lingering, Jody and Paulina watched as the roof to Kyle’s room, slowly closed off to block out the starry sky.

His piano, also stopped glowing and the fireflies, slowly vanished until the room was completely back to normal.

Having a fulfilled smile on his features, both ladies then watched as he slumped headfirst onto the tiles, gently snoring away as he finally got his much needed slumber.

And just like that, the music video ended.

There was complete silence in the room after that and it took an entire minute before Jody and Paulina finally snapped out of it.

Having a soft smile grace her features, Jody turned to her friend and said;

“That truly was beautiful…”

“Yeah. I agree…” Paulina gave a similarly warm smile.

The music video for [Strange Canvas], was definitely a very well-shot one, one that had done total justice to the dreamy, whimsical and ethereal nature of the song.