Over and Over

futurelegendrecords.com

Chapter One

If one girl had all the packages in the right places it was Nikki North. A body to die for, her long fishnet-clad legs went on forever before they finally disappeared up inside her short leather mini skirt. Her tight white sleeveless halter-top highlighted two of her other assets that could have certainly given Lara Croft a run for her money. Her shaggy blonde bob nearly caressed her shoulders as did her 60’s metal loop earrings. Her eyes were sea blue and her cute turned up nose set the scene for the most kissable lips I had ever seen. This girl was born to pout. As if all this were not enough she had the talent to match her looks. Flowing from her vocal chords was a voice that could melt ice cream and that was the girl who melted my heart.

Nikki was a fresh young upcoming singer/songwriter when I first met her. Here she was back in my recording studio belting out her latest song for my trusty hard disc recorder to capture.

‘Look at me, am I your desire, I’ve got a line for you, don’t play with fire’

If only those lyrics rung true. I had wished many times I’d been the object of her desire. As for playing with fire, I felt one day one of the many people who had used and abused this girl would indeed finally get burnt, and burnt badly. God knows many characters who had littered her path and had crushed her aspirations and dreams deserved it.

Unfortunately, Nikki had once been green to the ways of the music industry and the sharks could smell the blood of another wannabe. Nikki was on the menu and it was feeding time. But that was then, this is now.

Nikki was no longer fresh and although not old she was pushing 30, definitely too old to be a pop pin-up in today’s climate. Each line etched onto her face had been earned by a major trauma and each told a story of her mammoth struggle to get accepted by the music industry but here she was giving it one final go. Yet another thing I admired and loved about Nikki.

So what went wrong? As her trusty friend and record producer, I was one of the few people that knew the full horrific story and I think her story deserves to be told. So if you’ve got a spare rainy afternoon and a bottle of Jack Daniels to hand and a few tissues, read on.

First came the managers, one by one they streamed into her life, each with a different angle but each wanting a piece of her soul and some even more. Nikki could have taken the easy route through the X-factor shows but that lacked total credibility and Nikki was a true artist if nothing else. So, managers pushing for her to go on these type of shows found that their words fell on deaf ears but it didn’t stop them trying.

Next came the wide boys, ‘Sleep with me and I will get you a record deal’. At least Nikki didn’t fall for that, she had far too much intelligence. One guy even boasted of a very big cock. Like that would have made any difference to her career prospects. Most girls I know, although initially excited by the prospect of a big cock find themselves bow legged and often damaged internally by the reality of the situation. Others who had got away unscathed physically had told me, ‘Big cock maybe, but small brain definitely,’ and probably the worst shag they had ever had.

Anyway back to Nikki’s story. After all the wannabe Casanova's came the shady characters. First up, a drug dealer who offered to fund Nikki’s career in return for selling his gear to anyone she met in the music business. Apparently, he was sick of getting stopped and having a police dog sniffing his arse for drugs every five minutes or diving for cover every time he heard a car backfire. He wanted a safe environment in which to peddle his wares and wanted Nikki to be his pimp. Needless to say, Nikki ran a mile in the opposite direction.

Surely not every manager was dodgy. Well, when Nikki told me one day she had a female manager coming to see her, I thought, ‘At last someone who won’t take advantage of her.’ How wrong was I? As Nikki tells it, Julie was the sleaziest of them all. A former pop star and former lead singer of ‘The Brunettes’ Julie had moved into management. She claimed to be finger licking good but the only finger licking she had in mind was to put her wet finger between Nikki's legs. She even performed a scene from ‘Basic Instinct’ as an appetizer as Nikki sat interviewing her. Nikki said she should have known what was coming as soon as they met - Julie breezed in gulping an over the top breath of her ‘Alien’ perfume whilst also grabbing her bottom as they embraced.

I asked Nikki had she not even been slightly tempted as Julie had been quite a looker in her day. Wishful thinking by me I suppose. Nikki said Julie’s pussy had definitely seen some action and then some and it was the least appealing thing she had ever seen and any thoughts of pushing any boundaries went right out of the window and down the road a few hundred miles. Nikki was pure heterosexual and staying that way.

Nikki did finally appear to settle on one manager, Gerry, and on the surface he seemed just what Nikki had been looking for but in the end he turned out to be the Devil in disguise. I can even recall Nikki’s enthusiasm as she told me word for word what Gerry had said at their first meeting.

Gerry was very charismatic and spoke with a soft Irish accent that drew her in. He looked like an ex-hippy just past his sell-by date. Although far from totally grey his hair and beard was starting to recount his life’s experiences in more strands than he would have liked. The crumpled but expensive looking suit suggested that he took his role as manager seriously since it looked like it wasn’t a natural fit for his personality.

Gerry had the hint of a warm grin as he proceeded to explain expressively why he was the right manager for her. Let me tell you a bit about myself. I’m well connected in the music industry. If we strike a deal today, we can hit the ground running and I guarantee results won’t be far behind. The big music industry-networking event of the year Modex is coming up in a few weeks time I could introduce you to the movers and shakers in the industry. I don’t deny that you have talent but at the end of the day it’s who you know in the industry that counts. So, be sweet with them and they’ll be sweet with you, what do you say? Nikki smiled, Sounds promising. OK. Let’s not waste time, let’s do it. Gerry laughs, Just a second. When I said hit the ground running I didn’t mean sprinting. We need to discuss terms and conditions first. Nikki nods, Sure. What percentage do you want?

Gerry continued to bat back the answers like it was a verbal game of tennis, It’s not just about the percentage. I take 50% by the way. Nikki starts to get annoyed and raises her voice a notch, Do I look like I came down with yesterday’s rain Gerry, my name’s North not Green. Gerry gives a very cheeky grin and looks only a little embarrassed. OK. I tried it on a bit. But I needed to know if you were green. Call it 30%. Nikki bats back her figure, The norm is 20%. Gerry gives forth a reassuring smile and tries to conclude the deal. OK, let’s split the difference, 25% and you also sign all the songs for your first album to my music publishing company. Nikki is rattled and shouts even louder, Are you crazy? I’m not giving my songs away to someone I don’t even know for nothing. They’re my babies and my best way of earning. Think again.

Gerry tries to calm her down. At the end of the day artists’ earning from recordings have lots of deductions, plus you won’t earn decent money from live work till you’re better known. I need to earn now as well. I’m not trying to con you. It’s called a 360 deal, it's common in the music business these days. Check it out. Once I know I’ve got the publishing I have a more of a vested interest to work hard on your behalf so, it’s in your best interest to keep me sweet don’t you think? You’ll also get the same percentage you’d get anywhere else. Nikki looks a bit sheepish and calms down. I suppose so.

Gerry looks very satisfied with himself as he dictates a few more conditions. OK. That’s sorted but as I said, it’s not all about percentages. There’s more to the deal if I’m going to be your manager. Nikki looks slightly fed up puffing her cheeks out. Like what?

Gerry continues to spout some words of wisdom according to the Gerry know it all guidebook. Well, it’s sad to say it but artists think they know it all but surprise, surprise they don’t and that’s why most never get anywhere. If you were already doing well I wouldn’t be sitting here now would I?

Nikki nods her head and takes a sip of coffee. I guess you’ve got a point. So what is it you want me to do, some dodgy naked photos or something? I knew there had to be a catch somewhere. Gerry shakes his head, No nothing so crude. You just need to take my advice since I know best, that’s all. Nikki frowns, What form does this advice take exactly? Gerry continues to lay out his battle plan. "If we’re going to get a deal for you at Modex we need a decent package. What you’ve shown me so far is OK but we could do a lot better. We need to get you into a decent studio with a hit producer, do some great songs, plus some cracking