We Talk One Year After Breaking-Up, part 2 (Episode 2, Exes series - Moody Musician)

Transcript

As you listen to this audio roleplay, I invite you to use headphones and imagine yourself as the main character of this story. Yeah, hi. Can I get a sparkling lemonade or juice? Yeah, yeah, that sounds perfect.

Thank you. Yeah, yeah, it looks like the show's about to start. I'll grab a seat here at the bar.

Thanks. Oh, there's All Stars! By Bass Player X, Hiding in the Shadows.

Where introverts love it best. What's their new band's name again? Let me check the flyer.

Neffex, right. I've only heard their instrumental stuff so far. I can't wait to hear their songs.

I wonder if All Stars is still the lyricist of this band too. Oh, let's check it out on the flyer. Right, yep.

Still the songwriter, but not the singer. Oh, and it looks like the lead singer in this band is a guy. Oh my god, the lead singer in the old group was such a scary woman.

The whole band was scary, actually. God, that was a fucked up time. Well, it sounds like this is a much kinder bunch.

I sure hope so. It's nice to see them laughing and bantering up there as they get ready. That's certainly different than before.

Alright, it looks like it's starting. I'm so curious to hear this. I'm so curious to hear this.

I can't move on. You just gotta believe There's something that'll give you relief There's something that'll have what you need What you need We're broken, it's tragic We're not all elastic But maybe there's magic Believe you could have it And I know of sadness The anxious and panic The infinite vastness Of all that is blackness So tell me, oh, will you believe? So tell me, oh, will you believe? So tell me, oh, will you believe? I ain't going back, I'm not falling I'll push all my chips and call all in I'll bet on myself, you keep stalling I hear destiny, and it's calling I'll keep my head up high Through the downs and lows And we're all growing life Still nobody knows But I'ma choose what's right And take what comes and goes And ain't no one in life Holding me back no more I've seen a lot of change Been through a lot of pain Some things are not the same As they were a year ago But I'll be okay I move on each and every day The past is where it stays Way back a year ago Hey you!

Wow, that was killer! Holy shit! You guys are great! Yeah, of course I showed up.

Come on, all-stars, are you kidding? You know I've always been your number one groupie. No really, I love it.

Hey, do you have a bit of time between sets? Yeah, away from the crowd sounds great. Time for the introverts to retreat.

Sure, sure, up on the roof sounds perfect. Wow, honestly, those songs tonight. Yeah, I'd only heard the music from your last album.

Yeah, the instrumental one. Man, those songs packed a punch. Oh, and by the way, the lead singer in this band is great.

Yeah, not just their voice, but you know, the whole friendly vibe you guys have together. Yeah, yeah, I can really feel that camaraderie in this group. It's contagious, actually.

It really sets a great tone for the whole crowd. Yeah, well, you're welcome. I'm honestly really happy for you.

However, I think you might owe me some royalty fees, though. I mean, talk about autobiographical. That was pretty much a concept album of us and our breakup, yeah? Alright, just so we're clear.

No, no, no, I understand. I actually do get it. It's okay, it's okay.

You've always processed your feelings through poetry and music. Yeah, I know. I mean, shit, you still have an amazing way with words.

Yeah, there were some things in those songs that shook me a little, you know? Just how you phrased it. You know, I just really got it.

It was exactly what the experience felt like. And you used exactly the right way to express it. Yeah, it just really resonated.

It was all just so fucked up, right? And I don't know, your lyrics just hit home. It wasn't just that I could relate to your pain.

It's that I realized how much pain we had both been through together. And how much we had to process that and heal it. But yeah, your words were beautiful.

And it helped me to process it a little deeper too, I think. Your songs have always helped me to process stuff. Hey, there was one lyric in there I wanted to ask you about.

Oh, really? You knew I was going to ask? You know which part I'm referring to? Yeah, yeah, exactly.

Yeah, when you say, Ain't no one in life holding me back no more. Is that me? Was I holding you back? Okay, good.

Because you know, I always wanted you to realize your dreams, right? Yeah, I know. You always supported my dreams too.

But you're right, we both had lots of people holding us back. And as it turns out, we also had lots of our own inner dragons to slay. And our own past to confront.

Yeah, what does that philosopher Joseph Campbell call that again? Right, right, the hero's journey. Yeah, well, I think we each had to go on our separate quests to pursue our own individual hero's journeys, you know?

Huh, what was that? Have I conquered my demons? Oof, I don't know.

To be honest, I don't think I ever really will conquer them, per se. These stories are a part of me. They shaped me, you know? The shit we lived through, the shit I lived through before I met you, that will always be there.

But I guess now, even though those things shaped me, I no longer let those demons and those stories define me. Does that make sense? Right, yeah.

I mean, I realize I'm tougher and more resilient now because I went through those things and learned some lessons. It's overcoming those things that really makes me who I am now. It's overcoming those things that really makes me who I am now.

Yeah, right? It sucked, but we grew from it. Yeah, exactly.

Do you think you've conquered your demons? Well then, I guess it's a work in progress for both of us. But really, thanks for writing these songs.

It is helping bring some closure, I think. Right, what's art for? Basically, to express and process fucked-up human experiences.

Right, and know that we're not alone. That we're part of an expansive and diverse community of other humans processing fucked-up human experiences, too. Yeah.

Oh, right, yeah? You need to head back for your next set? No problem.

Yeah, I'm going to call it a night. But thanks for this. It really was good to see you and hear you.

You guys sound great. Yeah, yeah, I do. I think the style of music really suits you.

Yeah, not-so-dark is a good look on you. What's that? Oh, I'm leaving on Saturday.

Huh? Would I be free for dinner sometime before then? To just talk things through a little more before I leave? Uh, sure.

Well, I'm free Thursday night. I was just going to have leftovers and catch up on work and emails. Oh, God, yes.

I don't mind skipping leftovers and work. And when have you ever known me to say no to going out to eat? Exactly.

Where do you want to go? So, not exactly a restaurant meal. Yeah, yeah, the 24-hour breakfast truck was always a favourite of ours, wasn't it? Yeah, yeah, way more my style than fancy pants parties.

Yeah, yeah, I'm there. God, how many times do we go to that breakfast truck after your gigs? Yeah.

Then we take our food down to the beach and sit together, enjoying the quiet, peaceful silence of the beach at night, all to ourselves. And we'd sit there for hours until the sun came up, just holding each other, making out, making love. Wow, it's been a long time since we went there.

We stopped going there ages before we broke up. Yeah, yeah, you're right. We stopped holding each other and making love ages before we broke up, too.

Yeah. Okay, well, yeah, let's meet there. Yeah, that's a really good idea, actually.

Another important closure moment, I think, for us, right? Yeah? Okay, yeah, that sounds good.

I'll see you there at six on Thursday? Alright, have a great second set. See you then, all-stars.