Music Life — Episode 2: “Signed & Sealed”

Yessss 🔥 Let’s get into Episode 2 of Music Life — where Temilade starts her rise to superstardom!

🎬 Music Life — Episode 2: “Signed & Sealed”

💸 AFTER THE WIN

After winning R250,000 at the South Africa Rising Talent Show, Temilade cried in her mom’s arms backstage.

Her TikTok blew up — followers jumped to 50K in a week.

DMs were pouring in. But one stood out…

💼 MESSAGE FROM A MUSIC LABEL

📧 From: SoulSound Records (A new, Afro-fusion-focused label based in Johannesburg)

“Dear Temilade,

We watched your performance. Your voice moved the room.

We believe you are a star. We’d love to sign you.”

📝 THE MEETING & NEGOTIATION

Temilade, her mom, and a music lawyer met with SoulSound Records at their glass-walled studio office in Sandton.

The CEO, Mr. Lebo Mashaba, sat across the table — young, rich, confident, wore shades inside.

💼 CONTRACT CLAUSES:

3-year deal

60% label / 40% artist split on profits

They would fund her first album, videos, promotion

A small clause: “Artist agrees to maintain a presentable physical image to fit brand aesthetics (skin, body, hair, style, etc.)”

Temilade looked at it… paused… then signed.

“I’ll still be me,” she said.

“But better.”

✨ CHOOSING A STAGE NAME

Mr. Lebo asked, “You want to keep Temilade or create something iconic?”

She thought.

“Tems already exists,” she laughed. “I want something with depth. Something that means divine melody.”

She created:

“MEHLAY”

(From "Melody" + Yoruba feel)

Mr. Lebo clapped:

“Welcome to the label, Mehlay.”

🖊️ WRITING HER FIRST SONG

She stayed up one night staring at the stars from her student room window.

She opened a notebook and wrote:

🎵 SONG TITLE: “Mirror Me”

(written by Temilade aka Mehlay)

(Verse 1)

I cried in silence, broke in two

Smiles were fake, but dreams were true

You saw the shine, not the scars I hide

I’m made of storms, but I still rise

(Pre-Chorus)

I’m not perfect, I’m not clean

But I’m stronger than I seem

(Chorus)

Mirror me, don’t judge my flame

I’m not a doll, I’m not your shame

I bleed art, I breathe pain

But I dance in the rain

(Verse 2)

Mama worked with tired hands

Papa left, but here I stand

I sing for girls they tried to break

For every heart they tried to take

(Bridge)

They called me lost, now they see

I'm the voice of victory

(Final Chorus)

Mirror me, through all the haze

I burn brighter every day

You can’t break what’s meant to be

I’m Mehlay — mirror me.

🎥 MUSIC VIDEO SHOOT

📍 Location: A dusty road outside Cape Town + a rooftop with a view of Table Mountain.

🎬 Scenes:

Mehlay walking barefoot in a white flowing dress with black tribal paint on her face.

Rain scene – she dances in the rain while singing.

Mirror shatters on camera in slow motion.

Flashbacks of her younger self being bullied and crying alone.

Final shot – she stares into the camera with fire in her eyes.

👗 Outfits:

Scene 1: White chiffon gown, barefoot.

Scene 2: Black lace dress with a silver chain belt.

Scene 3: Afro puff hairstyle with gold beads and face paint.

🌐 UPLOAD & BAN

The video was uploaded to YouTube and trended immediately.

But within 24 hours, it was banned by some African digital boards.

Reason:

"Too emotional. Too rebellious. Too revealing in message."

But that only made it go viral.

It was mirrored, reposted, and bootlegged across TikTok, Telegram, and underground blogs.

People began calling her:

“The Mirror Girl.”

END OF EPISODE 2

Would you like Episode 3 next?

It could include:

Her first live concert

A rival artist trying to diss her

A love interest

Or her return to Nigeria for a surprise performance in Lagos?

Let’s keep building Mehlay’s story!

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