Chapter Text
THE MUSIC BUSINESS has always reminded me of the sky, it’s full of stars, those which have just risen, the ones that are shining and the ones that are rapidly fading. Quite a monotonous circle, right? Once in a while, however, the process gets out of the rut and then appears a star bigger and brighter than the others- a supernova .
Due to my sincere work engagement and commitment I have had the pleasure of observing the glory of such supernovas like Michael Jackson, Madonna, The Rolling Stones, U2, or most recently Justin Timberlake and Beyonce. Even though, I have enjoyed it down to the last detail, I could not get rid of the odd disappointment about the fact that I haven’t seen any supernovas during the last couple of years.
The profound sadness accompanied me wherever I went until very recently my dearest wish has been fulfilled. Imagine my surprise when none other than good old X Factor became my own personal Make A Wish Foundation. Irrelevant is, however who granted my wish, what is important is who is the new supernova. Let me give you a hint, the tendency to light up the night is really homey for them.
IT ALL STARTED during the auditions, which are a three-ring circus made of a dire mix of quite talented, yet completely boring people and those who with every attempt to sing sound more and more like a whale’s dying breath. This time was very similar, except that the circus has finally brought a professional performer who saved the well-worn show.
When they first came in, one young lady accompanied by two gentlemen, I did not think they would be the ones who’d wow me and leave me speechless. Honestly, apart from their good looks there was nothing quite outstanding.
The process of distinguishing themselves from the rest started when Scott and Stiles opened their mouth and immediately gained the title of the most awkward contestants to be ever seen on the show. It continued when Allison spoke up bringing unexplainable joy to the studio, to the point where I expected a rainbow to appear with unicorns capering right on it. The climax came with their performance, Allison started singing the first verses of What Goes Around, her delicate voice spiced up by a little rasp promising she could do so much more (what she of course proved later) created a melancholic, but somehow not bleak atmosphere when combined with Stiles' guitar and Scott's fingers snapping. When the gentlemen joined their friend, quietly singing, almost whispering Don't wanna think about it/ don't wanna talk about/ I'm just so sick about it/ I can't believe it's ending this way I knew they were promising.
As Beacon kept on enchanting the audience with every sound and note, I couldn't help getting distracted by Scott's yet not used drums set and the fact that Stiles' guitar was in fact electric.
The answer to mine and probably everyone else's whys came mid-chorus. Scott put the sticks on the drums, gave his both companions side eyes followed by a nod and Stiles started playing the strings almost offensively, Allison's voice became louder and raspier just to turn into a desperate scream. Then everything changed. There were drums, there was frantic plucking and there was passion, so much passion in their words.
The damage is done so I guess I'll be leaving never sounded truer than when all three members of the band were pouring their hearts out, owning the stage. When the last Cry Me a River sounded, Scott threw one of the sticks in the air. When he caught it his face showed what I thought- the damage was sure as hell done.
THE REST OF BEACON'S journey went much more predictably, after getting four x's on their audition and gaining a new fanbase (including an impressive horde of unstable teenage girls) Allison, Scott and Stiles stormed through the show earning themselves the second place which no band before them has managed to get.
Their covers of Killing Me Softly, Toxic, Crazy In Love and of course the What Goes Around/Cry Me A River mash-up have more than couple millions of views on youtube and the numbers keep growing every day. If you find this impressive, the next information will blow your mind- Beacon's debut single Light Me Up (they really have a thing for ironic names, don't they?) on the day of its premiere flew off to number three on the Billboard list and occupied the place for four weeks straight. It seemed like wherever you went someone hummed under their nose I need you to light me up, baby be my beacon in the night.
Their next released single Radioactive was even a bigger hit as it has been in the top five till this very day. More than that it has been featured in the soundtrack of four different productions such as The 100 or The Host. Beacon’s debut album (again ironically) called Light Up The Dark has been released exactly one week ago and right now it’s in the top three of iTunes next to Beyonce’s 4, Adele 21 and Lydia Martin’s Speak Now.
FIVE YEARS AGO, when everything started, they all were just normal teenagers who struggled with school, puberty and young love. Scott and Stiles, who have known each other since they were little toddlers, always thought of starting a band, but it was more in the category of wild dreaming.
They both admit it was the success of Lydia Martin, who was funnily enough their classmate, that pushed them into starting a two-men band.
‘We saw someone who we’ve known since kindergarten achieve this amazing goal and we thought that maybe, just maybe, it could be us one day’.
If Lydia Martin was the drive for Beacon, then Allison Argent was the necessary fuel.
The girl moved to Beacon Hills with her father after failing a year in high school, due to family complications. She admits that it wasn’t the easiest time of her life, because she felt like she didn’t belong anywhere.
‘I felt like I wasn’t good enough, but then I met Scott and everything changed’
Indeed, everything has changed.
They connected immediately during their first class together and the connection deepened when it turned out both of them were crazy about music.
It took couple of jam sessions to turn a simple connection into love, which is exactly what made Allison join the two-man band.
Remember, never underestimate the power of simple human love, because it is exactly what allowed Beacon to happen (that or Stiles Stilinski, but he seems to be the only one who thinks this way).
When the band finally felt complete, they started performing in local clubs and uploading song covers on youtube only to take the second place in the X Factor just four years later.
One word: impressive.
IT IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, quite something for a group of novices, isn’t it? Why is a band consisting of three such normal, some would even say ordinary, people so successful? The answer is because of their experiences.
SCOTT MCCALL, the unofficial (because “Beacon is family not hierarchy") alpha of the Beacon Pack, says that what keeps all of them grounded is the fact their lives weren’t always a bed full of roses.
Further explanation never follows, but the thing with musicians is what they won’t say, they will sing.
‘We write from our experience, because you write about things you know. I mean there’s a reason why there are about two billion songs written about heartbreak’.
Lyrics like ‘I saw you with a bottle every night, when you were supposed to be by my side’ or ‘I lost you too soon, I wish had more time, I wish I could see again that spark in your eyes, but you’re gone and I never felt more alone’ , easily chosen as the most heartbreaking verses on the album combined with Stiles’ and Scott’s words make me believe their past has still a massive effect on them.
It’s visible when they’re performing live, how there are hundreds of intense emotions running through their veins, often ending in either tears falling down their eyes or strings being ripped. Makes me think that the good old truth never dies.
The greatest art is born in misery.
EVEN THOUGH, BEACON are one of a kind, without the right guidance they could be easily devoured by the ravenous beast that is the music business. I'm sure they wouldn't be doing as good as they are if it wasn't for the fourth invisible member of the band- producer Derek Hale. The heir of Hale's family label, The Alfa Record, successfully pays tribute to his deceased mother, Talia Hale, by working with some of the biggest names such as Justin Timberlake, Beyonce or Fall Out Boy, but right now there is no doubt that his main focus are his homies. Hale himself admits that it was Beacon's origin that first sparked his interest, but it was their personality that made him stay.
'When I heard Beacon for the first time I knew they were gifted, during the bootcamp I learned they had potential and by the time they came off second placed I knew they had the essential maturity. That's when I decided I wanted to work with them'.
I could not agree more with your method Mister Hale.
The collaboration fructified in a very good and very original album and it has been announced that the work on the next album has already started, so at least till next year the #BeaconSquad as the media tends to call them will continue to work together.
AT THE END, I would like to state that I might be wrong, it might be all wishful thinking and Beacon could just a Fata Morgana of a very thirsty man.
As always time will tell.
Meanwhile I’ll jam to the sounds of Light Up The Dark and enjoy the feeling of having a new supernova to watch.