"I bet you could be bigger than Kylie ever was!"
"Please, Michael. No one could be bigger than Kylie ever was."
Taryn McCormack was trying to resist Michael Macquarie's latest plan for entertainment-world domination, but Michael knew it was only a matter of time before Taryn came around.
"You have a beautiful voice. The world needs to hear it. With the right producer and the right promotion, you could be the biggest singing sensation in the world. Back off, Beyonce. Tough shit, Taylor. To hell with Adele. You have what it takes to dominate the charts worldwide!"
"Really."
"Yes. Really."
"Brian, what do you think?"
Brian Beckett smiled as he sat across the office table from Taryn and Michael.
"It's like Eminem said. You can do anything you put your mind to."
--
First Fleet Records, like its sister movie studio, believed in Michael's vision, and brought in Luther Reed to produce Taryn's album. A Philadelphia native, Luther was credited for discovering the singing quartet LMS and leading them to four multi-platinum albums, before the group's bitter breakup.
Luther flew out to meet Taryn and Brian at the apartment they now shared in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He took an immediate liking to Taryn and her diverse music tastes; in their discussion, they came up with the idea of creating the "ultimate pop" album, something that listeners regardless of background could find something of interest in. Brian couldn't help noticing how enthralled Luther was by Taryn. He also couldn't help noticing that the producer kept glancing at his face and chest as well.
Taryn mentioned that Brian was quite the poet, and raised the prospect of turning some of his poems into songs. Luther loved the idea, insisting that he wanted Brian to be a major part of this project. Taryn also asked if another lyricist could be brought onto the project as well.
Annie O'Driscoll Menzies was a 22-year-old singer/songwriter from Adelaide whose work Taryn had become obsessed with, ever since hearing her on Triple J during a visit back home the year before. Menzies, who performed under the name Seiznem, was quickly becoming a major name in Australia with her airy vocals, confessional lyrics and powerful stage presence. Taryn knew that having Seiznem on her album would give it the credibility it needed--and the success it needed, too.
Seiznem also flew to Brooklyn to meet Taryn and Brian. The moment she walked through the door Brian was overtaken by desire. She was tiny and very thin, pale as a ghost, with light-brown hair that flowed to her waist and piercing blue eyes. Her face and arms were covered with light freckles, and Brian imagined what it would be like to kiss each and every one while holding her in his arms. He sensed an immediate attraction between Seiznem and Taryn, too.
--
Luther, Taryn, Brian and Seiznem spent six months working on the album. Brian and Seiznem wrote over fifty songs together, fifteen of which would ultimately end up being used. The recording sessions at Sunset Sound in Hollywood and the Power Station in New York were filled with sensual energy; Luther at one point joked, "This whole album is about fucking." At one point, Taryn recorded the track "Firelight" in the nude; in the control room, Luther and Seiznem marveled at her tanned, toned body.
Michael and First Fleet Records put together a massive worldwide promotional tour for the album, which was ultimately titled "Taryn." (She wanted to title the album "Black Rooster," after her favorite track on the album, but Michael and Luther convinced Taryn that the tabloids would claim the title was a cheeky reference to Brian's penis.)
The tour helped to make "Taryn" a moderate international hit, but the album failed to yield a single Grammy nomination, dashing Taryn's hopes of at least winning Best New Artist. The album fared much better at the ARIA Awards a few months later, winning Album of the Year. In her acceptance speech at the Hordern Pavilion, Taryn modestly declared, "Of all the awards I've won, this one means the most. I never, ever imagined that this moment would ever happen. Thank you so much for making this dream come true!"
After the awards show ended, Taryn, Brian, Luther and Seiznem made their way to the royal suite of the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park for a few bottles of wine to celebrate the ARIA win. The same erotic energy that dominated the recording sessions returned, and it wasn't long before dresses and tuxedos came off, and bodies began to wrap around each other.
It was full frenzy--Luther kissing Seiznem, Taryn kissing Luther, Seiznem kissing Brian, Taryn kissing Seiznem. At one point, as all four artists pounded against each other, Brian felt a heavy hand against his ass. He immediately knew it wasn't Taryn or Seiznem. He turned around to see Luther rubbing his bottom while kissing Seiznem.
Brian froze and didn't know what to do. He remembered Luther glancing at his face and chest when they first met, and knew this wasn't an accident. Luther broke his kiss and smiled at Brian.
"You like that?" Luther whispered.
"I'm...I'm straight," Brian muttered.
