Jesmel took off her headphones. She was in her favorite corner of the small studio she shared with her band. The ceilings were low and the walls were poorly soundproofed, but they felt comfortable there because it was their place to create. They had rehearsed the same song at least twenty times that week, but something still didn’t fit. Jesmel thought maybe it was her, although she knew the problem was much more complex. “Again?” asked Fran, her drummer and the most impatient of the group. There had been a lot of tension that week. Jesmel couldn’t blame him. It had been a long week, and between part-time work and rehearsals, everyone was on the verge of exhaustion. But that wasn’t enough reason to settle. “One more and we’re done for today,” she replied, trying to sound confident. She just wanted the song to be right.
Together, Jesmel formed a band called Aurora Roja, which wasn't particularly well-known. They hadn't been in the industry for very long, only playing in small bars and local events, and barely made enough money from their songs to cover the team's expenses. However, despite all these problems and difficulties, there was something in them that united them, and that was precisely their love for music. In fact, Jesmel felt that he could ignite something much bigger, together with them, of course, as long as they managed to fine-tune the details. That hope was put to the test when "Vibraciones" was announced, which was the most prestigious band competition in Spain. It was the kind of opportunity that only came once in a lifetime or very rarely.
It was a talent show where the best local bands compete and the winner, in addition to a cash prize, also wins contracts and publicity. So that was something they needed a lot, but of course it was also a test that could destroy them if they weren't ready. The problem wasn't just the level of the participating bands, although that was already intimidating, and also the rules of the show, which were demanding so that only the most interesting bands in the region could participate. Added to that, the registration was expensive, and Jesmel had to convince everyone to contribute from their savings to cover it. Even more difficult was the decision to play an original song, because that was the main requirement for the contestants; copies could not be used, everything had to be original.
The truth is that everyone agreed that it was the best way to stand out, but they were still afraid because it meant exposing themselves in a way they had never done before. Some said that if they failed, at least be themselves; those phrases left a bitter taste in their mouths. What if being themselves wasn't enough?
When they went to register for the contest they told the organizers that they had original songs that they had not submitted. This was partly true, but the reality was that the songs were not ready yet and the band lacked a lot of coordination to be able to use them in the contest that was the following week. But Jesmel simply told them that he who does not risk does not win, so that week they would risk winning or losing, that is if they continued rehearsing the song. That was one of the biggest problems they had, but there were more. There was also the rivalry that came in the form of a band called “Eclipse Urbano”. Jesmel knew them well, too well. Their vocalist, Clara, had been part of Aurora Roja until she decided that the group had no future. Since then, things between them had been tense, especially because Eclipse Urbano had achieved some local success. Clara did not miss an opportunity to remind Jesmel how far he was from reaching her.
In fact, he even made fun of him, saying that if he continued playing in bars for drunks, no one would know that they existed. This hurt Jesmel a lot, but he knew that the ethics of the contest were strict, so he couldn't allow an argument; he just kept the pain inside and didn't answer him. The day after the registration, the first rehearsal arrived and you know it was a disaster. The tension between the members was high, because there was a lack of coordination. On the other hand, Miguel, the lead guitarist, had arrived late because his mother was sick, and Fran could barely concentrate. Jesmel tried to keep calm, among all of them, but it wasn't easy; the band felt demotivated because they couldn't coordinate well.
But she didn't give up, she continued rehearsing with the group for the next few days. They did it up to 5 times a day and each time she went over the sheet music book again and again. The 6 days flew by and they were already 1 day away from the contest. So they decided that that day no one would go home. Everyone stayed to rehearse even if they had a day to do so. At night they listened to the recordings of the song and were amazed. They had been so focused on rehearsing that they hadn't realized how much they had improved, it was nothing like their first attempts. Jesmel laughed and told them that they were ready. So everyone went home happily because the next day was their chance.
The day of the contest came sooner than any of them could have imagined. Aurora Roja was scheduled to play second to last, which meant they would have to bear the weight of expectations and waiting, like when you have to go to the dentist and you are one of the last in line, it is almost more terrible than the experience itself. Clara and her band played before them, and they performed almost perfectly, leaving the audience electrified. Jesmel's group was nervous because they knew they were not at the same level, but well, they were already there and this was their moment.
When they went on stage, the audience was restless. The first note of the new song was heard very well and Jesmel felt that they were on the right track, so he relaxed and let himself go. It was not as perfect as the other group's, but there was something special in their way of playing that connected with the audience even though it was not perfect. The applause at the end was sincere, they had done a good job and they were happy about it. After that, the jury announced the finalists that same night. To the surprise of the group, Aurora Roja did not win, but they did receive a special mention for their originality and authenticity that the others had not received, so that was enough for them, because they knew they had given their all and were satisfied.
One of the judges, who was a renowned producer, approached Jesmel after the ceremony. She told them that they had something unique, and that she would like to work with them if they wanted to develop them to a higher level. Jesmel agreed after talking it over with everyone. And they know that for the band that recognition was worth more than any trophy. Back in the studio, the band celebrated with pizza and laughter. The competition had been a turning point in their career, but of course not an end, it was more like the beginning of everything. They still had a long way to go, and Jesmel knew it wouldn’t be easy. But for the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel afraid. She felt hope.
Credits: The images used are free to use and royalty free. They were taken from PEXELS.
