#juniper mayfield

Juniper just wants to be a composer, it’s her only dream. But no matter how much she wants it, the industry will never make it easy to get it. 

Junipers Account: In the waiting line

Word count: 3k

I stand in front of another white and grey building. All day I’ve been dropping applications in at different music companies, they all look the same so I’ve lost track of which one this is. The envelope my application is in has became creased from my grip on it all day. Last one, I said to myself, then I wait. I walked over hesitantly to the letterbox, attempting to straighten the envelope before slipping it through the opening. I exhale, asking the gods for a miracle, even though I don’t believe they exist. 

On the way home my thoughts were racing with all the possibilities, good and bad. I was able to settle myself by saying if I get rejected from all the companies in Dawnspire I can move along to the other cities. The chances of complete rejection were pretty slim too. I applied to all the up-and-coming labels, including the super dodgy ones, they’re bound to have availabilities for composers. All year I’ve worked on my music portfolio for these applications. Even though I had my final exams I didn’t care when I never wanted to go to college anyway. Everything about composing I can teach myself, I don’t need to pay thousands a year for it. I’ve even gained a minor following online, a handful of loyal fans. I haven’t had a breakthrough yet but I was praying that when I got writing credits for one artist it would happen. 

A few days later I got my first rejection. Then another the next day. And for two weeks the rejection letters kept piling up. It was beginning to look hopeless, but I was stupid to believe a company would want to take on a seventeen-year-old composer with no industry experience. The whole process was so frustrating regardless. Each of these companies have had the same composers for years, and it was really beginning to show. You can only recycle the same samples so many times before your music becomes repetitive and boring. It’s no wonder the idol industry is starting to fizzle out. That’s their speciality. 

After two weeks, I got my first positive response. From Ravenshade Entertainment none the less. The letter went like this: 

Dear Juniper Mayfield,

Thank you for your application. We currently have no openings for a composer position; however we reviewed your portfolio and would like to invite you in for an interview on Tuesday 7th June at 11:00am. We’re looking forward to making your acquaintance. 

Ian Ravenshade 

CEO Ravenshade Entertainment 

It took a few hours for my brain to fully process the contents of the letter. I read over it about a hundred times, just to make sure I read it correctly the first ninety-nine times. I knew that the letter wasn’t actually from the CEO; just a secretary writing on his behalf. Regardless of who wrote it, I still got an interview! It wasn’t a job yet, but at this point I’ll take anything. 

Soon enough I was sitting in a bland corridor waiting to be called in to the interview office. I was in a different part of the building, a much quieter and much more corporate. I was told that most of the studios were down here, as well as the offices. I impatiently tapped my finger against the plastic chair, trying to find an interesting rhythm for the song I was working on. It distracted my thoughts so I could go into the interview with a clear head. 

“Juniper Mayfield, we’ll see you next.” The suddenness broke me from my trance. I really hope that it doesn’t cause me to forget that rhythm, it was finally getting somewhere. 

The office was much different to the entire Ravenshade building. It actually looked like it belonged in Dawnspire. The walls and furniture were made from warm toned woods and there were different plants everywhere. A large window covered the wall in front of me, illuminating the room in a golden hue; below the window was a middle-aged man facing towards it. When he slowly spun around I realised who he was. 

Ravenshade.

“Good morning Ms. Mayfield, have a seat.” He spoke with an air of undeniable confidence; it was horrifying. The interview was scary enough, was it necessary for the interviewer to be the CEO? 

When I sat down he stretched his hand out for me to shake it and continued, “Ian Ravenshade, as you should know. I have to say Mayfield I’m highly impressed at your work. How old are you again?” He began shuffling through papers on his desk. “Seventeen?”

“Seventeen yes.” I stammered. 

“Wow, seventeen. Not many people your age have your musical talent. I hoped you don’t mind but I looked at your videos online, do you have any training perhaps?”

He looked at my videos? Is that allowed? 

“Well.. my mum taught me. Liliana Mayfield-“

“Liliana Mayfield I’ve heard of her, what does she do again? It’ll come back.” He interrupted.

“She’s now a music teacher, but she performed with the Clementia Philharmonic Orchestra for a few years.”

“Ah yes I know her now, talented woman. You’re very lucky. Anything else?”

“Uh, she taught me violin and piano. I’ve also had workshops and lessons with some of her friends and colleagues from over the years. I have grades for voice, saxophone and cello as well as violin and piano. Though I’ve played a bit of everything.”

“That’s a lot of instruments, arts school I’m guessing?”

“Yes, I went to Dawnspire School of the Performing Arts.”

“Ah yes, nothing but the best hm? You must know some of my idols then.”

His idols? I hadn’t met a single idol in my time there. I did know his trainees well, too well for one.

“Yes, they’re very talented.” I choked out. Not talented enough for him. There was a girl, Hazel. I dated her for over a year. She was a trainee under Ravenshade in her time at DSPA. Got dropped only a month before her final exams. That’s when we broke up. Only two months ago now. She had a major breakdown when I went to comfort her. She lashed out and I never seen or heard from her since. I found out two weeks later from a mutual friend that she had moved back home. It was never officially said, that it was all over. It’s just made it all the harder to process. 

“I have one more question for you today Mayfield, why apply for Ravenshade?”

I had to pause and regain my train of thought; why Ravenshade? There’s the truthful response which is, I applied to everywhere, this is the only place I got a positive response from. I responded without properly thinking through my answer, “This industry is becoming heavily saturated with the same formulas repeated, with your company being a good example of it. I believe you need someone that will bring something fresh to the table.”

What. 

Why did I say that? Is that even the truth? I don’t even know whose under Ravenshade so how could I know what kind of music they put out? I’m definitely not getting this job now.

He sat across from me in silence, unblinking. “I wasn’t expecting that response,” he chuckled while beginning to flick through a pile of papers that were sitting on the desk beside him. He quickly found the page he was looking for and sat it in front of me, a job contract? “You start next Monday, if you accept hand it in at reception. Just do it before Friday. I’m looking forward to working with you Mayfield.”

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I accepted my offer with haste. Getting a job in a major label like Ravenshade was unheard of at this stage of my career. Though at the start they didn’t want me composing just yet. I was working with the trainees, teaching them the ins and outs of studio recording. Surprisingly, I found it quite enjoyable. Seeing them step into the recording booth, put on their headphones, and seeing their moods change ever so slightly gave me warmth. One told me when leaving that they were never given these opportunities unless they got to do some backing vocals for existing groups. That was still a rare occasion. 

One day I was sitting in one of the studios; working on a personal project when I was on break. Then someone started knocking on my door. I could spot her through the small window. A trainee I recognised from one of my workshops. I saw the side of her face peaking out, a wide dark hazel eye against deep Sienna skin that had familiar freckles decorating her eyes. Strands of her coiled hair fell in front of her forehead and the rest was tied back in a bouncy ponytail. We locked eyes for a second before she darted out of view. I noticed her staring curiously at times in the studio sessions.

She carefully opened the door and peeped in, “I’m so sorry if I’m disturbing you, it’s just, you took our studio workshop the other day right?” Slowly closing the door, she took a cautious step forward. 

“Yeah I did, do you have any questions?” 

“Kinda, you’re Juni right? The one online that posts your music? I just wanted to pop in and say that you’re work means a lot to me. I’ve been following your work for a while and I’ve became a huge fan. It’s really beautiful.” Her features softened ever so slightly, a gentle smile appeared on her round lips.

Then the atmosphere shifted, “I’m so sorry, you’re busy I’ll go.”

“Wait, it’s okay. You can stay.” She stopped just before she turned to leave. I pulled another chair from behind me and gestured for her to come over, and she did. 

We sat and talked for a while before she had to head off for training. I discovered that her name was Ruri. She recently got picked up by Ravenshade after leaving her last company. For a trainee she was very optimistic. The rest looked worn-out and exhausted but she had a light in her that hadn’t been put out yet. We continued to meet up with each other when we got the chance. It was nice to have a friend here. The other composers rarely spoke, to me at least.

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One morning a couple of months later. I showed up as usual. Got the bus at half seven, arrived at Ravenshade around eight. Then my card refused to register. Assuming the system was down I went to reception so I could get it fixed or even get someone to clock me in manually. 

The receptionist said this, “Sorry, you’re not coming up in the system. Juniper Mayfield, composer. Correct?”

“Yes that’s correct.”

“I’ll look at the entire system, sometimes people can get mixed up. Oh seems I was right, you’re coming up as an idol. Sorry can you give me a second?”

I waited in uncomfortable silence for what felt like hours. 

“You’ve been transferred to the idol programme, I’ll email over your new timetable now. You must’ve gotten an email somewhere…” she trailed off while I stared off into somewhere, trying to process what was happening. Was it a mistake? It had to be. I’m not an idol. I never will be.

I got a meeting shortly with one of the managers. I had to make sure. Though it was true. My contract said I could be changed into any job or position in the company at any time. I was changed because “my voice was too good to have it wasted on song demos.” I shouldn’t of signed so hastily. Unfortunately my contract didn’t end until next year, so I had to wait it out. I couldn’t even do a bad job to get myself kicked out as that equated to being fired. I no choice but to join the trainee programme. 

Only about a week in, I was thrown onto music video sets. It made no sense to select me when I didn’t have any experience. Each second on set reminded me why I don’t belong here. Sitting on the makeup chair as they prepped me for the screen, I watched as they dusted my skin with glitters and pastels I would never pick for myself. The only upside was that I didn’t have to dance. The dancers outfits were skin tight crop tops with short ruffled skirts, the opposite of what I would consider to be comfortable. When my makeup was done I found a corner to sit and watch them from the sidelines. It was oddly mesmerising, twenty odd people all in perfect sync. The majority of them never even met prior. The sidelines was my place though, I could enjoy and appreciate from a distance. 

When the crowd of dancers come to a stop a familiar head of dark curls pops up from behind one of the dancers. Haz- no, Ruri. She walks over to the other end of the set and takes a long drink from a black metallic bottle. She then picks up a grey towel and begins to wipe her forehead. Slowly she glances over in the direction of the set and for a second we lock eyes before she looks away again. Then she snaps her head back in my direction and our eyes meet. Her face lights up and she begins a beeline towards me. I realise that whole time I was staring and I probably looked kind of creepy oh gods-

“Juniper hey! I didn’t know you were working on sets now!” 

“Yeah, they uh.. moved me into idol training for a bit.”

“Really? Does that mean you’re not doing the studio sessions with us anymore?” She sounds as if she’s trying to mask her disappointment, but that’s probably just me imagining it. 

“Doesn’t look like it.”

“Aw that sucks. I really enjoyed them you know.”

“I’m glad.”

Another girl wearing a similar outfit to Ruri came walking over. Tall, with white hair that faded to a light green. She seemed familiar, another trainee maybe?

Ruri shouts out to her, “Rose, hey!” She turns to face me and begins introducing the two of us. I stay quiet with the exception of quipping in now and again. They talk and talk until I get called away for my scenes. Everything feels wrong. I’m scared to accept this is real because if it is, it’s messed up.If I look too closely the smiles of the extras look fake, as if they’ve forgotten how to. I step off set, robotically like everyone else. My breath starts to hitch and I want to run, anywhere. As long as it’s away from here. When the director says the day is over I rush out as quick as I can. This place will kill me before I can escape.

Days turn to weeks, weeks turn to months. The first weeks were excruciating. Then I ended up in the same group as Rose. Having someone there made things slightly better. Less.. lonely I guess. After a while I just decided to hang with her and Ruri more often. I may as well get some friends out of this. When I think too much about it, I’m reminded of Hazel. How she would laugh knowing that I ended up in the same place she was. 

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Less than a year into my training, things began to change. The usually tense atmosphere mellowed slightly. I overheard some trainees talking about a potential new group was in the works. Ravenshade was apparently teasing it on their socials or something like that. Rose and Ruri had heard the same, but they didn’t really notice anything out of the ordinary on the Ravenshade page. Except for one or two cryptic messages but they assumed it was for the upcoming reward season. 

Then my schedule was suddenly changed, which was odd but I was secretly hoping I might be getting out of the idol programme. After all, this was how I got into this mess, a change in my schedule. 

I was very, very wrong. 

Suddenly there were six of us in this usually unused practice room. Including Ruri and Rose, and Gianna Sinclair? I didn’t realise she done idol work. I don’t pay much attention to pop culture anyways, but it came as a slight shock. Her mum is a popular day-time talk show host, my mum watches her a lot. It feels weird to see her daughter in the same room as me. 

A guy I’d seen around the building came into the room. He introduced himself as Kato Halley, our new manager? Then I heard “spring time debut” and everything began to click into place. I stared at the wall in silence. Only hearing bits and pieces of the conversation. SonÁr. Ruri exclaiming her excitement to Rose. 

This wasn’t supposed to happen. 

How could I be so stupid?

A girl with steel blue hair places her hand on my shoulder, “you alright?” She says. 

“Just.. shocked.” I respond, taking a deep breath to ground myself. 

She gives me a soft smile, almost as if she understands. I don’t recognise her but I feel like I should. 

Then a familiar face strides through the door, Ravenshade. 

“Good morning SonÁr, I’m your CEO, Ian Ravenshade. Now that you’ve officially became idols, you’ll be seeing me more often. I’ve carefully selected each of you from when you first stepped into the door of this company, and you have proven yourselves to be capable. So be proud of yourselves.”

I stare him down, processing every word he said. 

So it was planned from the beginning. He never seen potential in my compositions. I was just another piece for his shiny new project. 

Heather | Rose | Aelita | Ruri