fluencies

[fluencies]

* featuring ( penelope platt ) —

while penelope was on bass for everclear, she’d started modeling ever since she got to los angeles. her and a few photographers were downtown that evening, she was posing in front of a brick wall as she caught sight of a few wandering eyes. “better close your mouth, you’ll catch flies.” penelope teased with a playful grin. the guys got a few more shots before taking five, allowing p to have some water and approach a familiar face. “i feel like i’m 18 again but honestly, my fingers were getting tired from plucking that damn bass string.” she shook her head.

     estelle is sitting  ...  in a director's chair, one leg crossed over another as a stylist fixes her hair. it's a lovely day out, as it usually is in los angeles, and photographers have taken this as an opportunity to get their natural-lighting shots in. the frenchwoman is here on separate business, but it's nice to see a familiar face in penelope: estelle's eyes are half scrutinizing her own makeup in the mirror, half watching her friend and labelmate as she's photographed against a brick wall. it's evident that bassist is comfortable in front of a camera, and estelle makes a mental note – adding it to the short list of things they have in common. a smile appears when she's approached, leaning forward to touch cheeks with a kiss as a greeting: ❛ salut, ma belle ! you're looking as youthful as ever. did you ever get around to using that hand creme i sent you ? it works wonders, i promise. ❜ estelle holds up her own perfectly manicured hands in example, turning the palms towards and away from penelope. ❛ you show age in your hands, you know. ❜

[fluencies]

* featuring ( noah reeves ) —

DIVE BARS WERE somewhat of a guilty pleasure for noah. he’d always enjoyed the seediest places, with the worst whiskey and the cheapest beer. it was something he enjoyed even more now that his band had claimed fame, and he couldn’t step out of his apartment without having paparazzi and fans swarm him. he found solace in the dark, usually foul-smelling bars with sticky countertops. he had yet to be discovered at one of them, and intended to keep it that way. as he raises the dusty glass of whisky to his lips, he feels a tap on his shoulder. he rolls his eyes in annoyance at the other’s discovery before turning. “ well, i certainly wasn’t expecting to find another black bird here. ” he says once he takes in the other’s features in the dim lighting. “ i thought jack paid good enough to stay far away from places like this.”

     dj thought that  ...  working at black bird records – her first real hollywood job, if you forget about all the waitressing – would change everything. it has, in a way, but mostly she finds that her everyday life hasn't changed much at all. she's interacting with all these radio stars, sure, but there's a cloak of anonymity in ghostwriting that allows her to keep everything exactly the same. maybe in a different lifetime it'd be nice to have quiche for breakfast and sushi for dinner, but in this one, the songwriting gig pays the bills and bought a bedframe ( one that she put together herself ! with her own bare hands ! ). and right now ... it's allowed her to nurse a middle shelf rum for her rum and coke tonight, instead of the shitty, rancid, couple-buck, well alcohol she normally gets – so really, she figures, there isn't much to complain about.

     dj surveys the dingy establishment and there's familiarity in the figure across the bar, one that she can't quite make out in the dim light. her curiosity pulls her closer and she wishes it hadn't, because now she's got two options: one, to completely veer in the opposite direction, making her presence obvious now that she's already gotten too close. or two, play niceties, have awkward conversation for maybe five minutes before pretending to realize it's getting late and she should head home. both seem terrible, but dj bites the bullet and chooses the latter, watching noah turn to face her. she rolls her eyes then, regretting her choice. ❛ m'sure it's not everclear's most frequented establishment, but us regular folk can't afford the ritz on the daily. what brings you to this part of town ? ❜

[fluencies]

* featuring ( sierra gonzález ) —

SIERRA IS PERCHED on a red leather couch in the record label’s lobby, acrylic nails tapping impatiently on the exposed skin of her thigh. her driver was never late, and he had to be stuck in the insufferable la traffic the day her stiletto heel broke midway through a video shoot. she can feel the starstruck gazes of people who don’t come into the label’s building often, but she rather be ogled at than have to stand barefoot on the cold concrete of the private parking floor. she feels the weight of the loveseat shift slightly, and she sighs, exasperated. the last thing she wanted to do was talk to someone. “ did you really have to sit here ? there are a million other couches, you know. ”

     it's not easy  ...  making records to follow her previous successes. estelle's been frustrated lately – at production, at the writing ... merde, even at her own vocals. god seems to be on her side, because today has been an exception. it's a breath of relief for her: finally, she thinks, pleased with herself. when estelle finally finds herself in the elevator, on the way to the next item on her schedule, it's only after hours and hours of riding that high, that rush of satisfaction when you get it right. pulling on her sunglasses before the doors ding open, estelle steps into the lobby of black bird records, smiling gracefully at the eyes she catches but never stopping – her pace, however, does slow when she sees one sierra gonzález sitting on a loveseat, looking every bit like she doesn't want to be there. the look only deepens in annoyance when a hopeful ( but still, intrusive ) stranger finds a seat next to her, and estelle decides interjection might be welcome. ❛ bonsoir, monsieur, ❜ estelle coos, lifting her sunglasses over her head. ❛ i'm sure there's a free seat elsewhere, no ? ❜ she smiles and he scurries then, so estelle directs her attention back at her labelmate, a rising star in her own right. ❛ ça va, sierra ? how are you ?  ❜

[fluencies]

* featuring ( shelley dwyer ) —

         ‘ if you’re looking to drown your sorrows and turn that frown upside down, well you came to the right place — drinks are on me ! ’ shelley lifts her shot glass with a cheers before leaning over to whisper to her companion, ‘ actually, drinks are on — ’ shelley squints at the id in the wallet that most certainly did not belong to her. ‘ — phillip hampshire. ’ she makes a face before sifting through the cash, laying a few bills on the counter. ‘ well, well.. cheers to phillip, our generous benefactor. ’

     born a homebody,  ...  dj's typically avoidant of the social scene. if she were to go out – and that's a big if – she finds herself in a dark corner, a dark booth, a dark something akin to a hermit crab, and she talks to no one. shelley, on the other hand, is nothing like her at all. there's a grin that finds its way across dj's features despite her otherwise curmudgeon personality and she lifts a glass to cheer with the rest of the bar, taking a long swig of her drink. dj chokes, then, registering her companion's words, and her eyes widen in amusement as she pulls the id out from shelley's hands. ❛ oh, phillip , ❜ she laughs, squinting at the card. ❛ you poor bastard. should've been more careful, really. anyone can be a victim of the dwyer wiles. ❜

[fluencies]

[fluencies]

━ ✧ ( emma mackey, twenty three, she/her ) did you see daisy joy dj cohen walking around hollywood boulevard the other night ? apparently she's a ghostwriter. i’d kill to be her. people who have partied with her say she's really skilled & quick-witted, but she can be sort of reticent & self-destructive if you catch her at a bad time. smoking a cigarette indoors. ink smudged on the side of your hand, leftie. chipped nail polish. guitar on your back.

is the youngest of two, government name daisy joy but she'll kill you and then herself if you call her anything except dj or cohen

the opposite of estelle ... she's a bit of an introvert and also an asshole if u ask me ... very cynical for someone who writes love songs

had shit parents that she ran away from, moved to la to live with her brother who also works for black bird and that's how she got her own job here

is a ghostwriter not a songwriter ... doesn't have enough Status in her name to be credited and probably doesn't sit down and write with a lot of famous people, just sends in the work she's written ! at least she's still getting paid JKDHALKJF

very bad smoking habit ... terrible smoking habit ... like ur gonna die bro

may seem all rough and tough on the outside but . very big heart . super excited to be here even if she's not showing it . also i peeped game at some of the vcs/bands y'all took up ... she's definitely a huge fan of y'all even if she's trying to be Cool about it

music is . her Life she's a big music nerd especially since her home life sucked she really fell in love with music

i know we're not big on gender roles anymore but lets just say that we were ... dj's a huge tomboy ie used to skate, has a terrible sailor's mouth, isn't a prim and proper Lady ( but i'm also assuming that in the 80's there are a lot of women like this :') my queens . )

ANDDDD .... i wrote a whole bio for dj here and a lengthy wc page here ! once again ... i am definitely vying for y'alls approval ... so like this to plot or message me for my discord ! ♡♡♡

[fluencies]

━ ✧ ( laura harrier, twenty eight, she/her ) did you hear about estelle aimé’s new record ? it’s totally bitchin’ ! apparently people who have interviewed her say she's really insightful & warm, but she can be sort of secretive & critical if you catch her at a bad time. a scarf in the wind, shotgun with the top down. a dry martini with a lemon twist, no olives. missed calls from your mother.

finessed her way to america, cleaned houses and hotels til she found herself with a record deal, worked hard for years until smooth operator was released

kind of full of it / herself ... i know rihanna's not born yet but i've modeled estelle after her KJHALDKJFHA ... ig u can call her pre-hanna ... no ? ok i'll stop

is french but learned english watching english/american television and also bc the rest of the world is better at being bilingual than america is

comes from a shitty family but she's trying to hide the details of that fact now that she's famous

writes about love but finds herself either a. bad at love or b. avoidant of it ... real, genuine love feels elusive to her

is a rising star / major influence in the genre of neo-soul

calls everyone mon ange or my love or baby or other forms of pet names ... u kinda get the sense that maybe she doesn't know who u are

her Brand is charming and flirtatious and sensual and she doesn't really ? let people know her beyond the Brand

because of how protective she is of her own success she's a bit selfish / out for herself ... i'd really love a couple of genuine friendships and a plethora of fake ones

also as promised: i’ve got a bio for estelle here and a fleshed out wanted connections page here ! you can also like this for me to come to you or message me for my discord ! :D

[fluencies]

[fluencies]

Tracy Chapman - Fast Car

[fluencies]

lauraharrier: anna karina vibes in paris 🇫🇷  @louisvuitton

[fluencies]

[What is your thing, then?] “Complex female characters.”

[fluencies]

Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Tears for Fears (Songs from the Big Chair, 1985)

[fluencies]

i've been listening to 70's/80's music for the past . three days in anticipation who can relate

[fluencies]