The signing of Billie Eilish to Echo Chamber Records was formalized a week later. David Vance flew to Los Angeles with his entertainment lawyer, meeting the O'Connells in person. Alex joined via video call for the parts related to creative direction. The contract was artist-friendly, emphasizing creative control for Billie and Finneas, fair royalty splits, and a commitment from Echo Chamber to long-term artist development. Maggie and Patrick, impressed by the label's transparency and genuine enthusiasm for their children's art, signed on behalf of Billie.
Echo Chamber Records now had its second official artist. A thirteen-year-old girl with a voice that could shatter hearts and rebuild them, and her prodigiously talented older brother as her primary collaborator.
The release strategy for Billie Eilish's "Ocean Eyes" was different from Alex's own. They bypassed radio initially, focusing on a targeted digital launch. A simple, evocative lyric video was created – footage of ocean waves, abstract close-ups of eyes, intertwined with the words, all shot and edited with a subtle, artistic flair. The goal was organic discovery, letting the song find its audience on platforms like SoundCloud (where her small existing fanbase was), YouTube, and curated indie playlists on Spotify that were beginning to gain traction in 2015.
Alex, using his "Alex Vance" artist clout, subtly promoted the track on his nascent social media. A simple tweet: "Heard this incredible new artist. Hauntingly beautiful. 'Ocean Eyes' by Billie Eilish. Out now from Echo Chamber Records. You need to hear this."
The initial reaction was a curious ripple. Alex's existing fans, intrigued, checked it out. Many were instantly captivated. Comments like, "Wow, totally different from Alex Vance, but SO good!" and "This Billie Eilish girl is unreal. That voice!" began to populate the video. Indie music blogs, already watching Alex, picked up on his endorsement. The song's inherent quality did the rest.
"Ocean Eyes" didn't explode overnight like "Shape of You." It was a slower burn, a creeping tide of obsession. It began to appear on niche Spotify playlists, shared between friends, its ethereal sound a stark, beautiful contrast to the mainstream pop of 2015. It was cool, understated, and deeply resonant.
The [Maestro's Codex] confirmed: [Billie Eilish - "Ocean Eyes" - Timeline B Trajectory: Initial organic growth exceeding Timeline A projections due to early ECR infrastructure and Alex Vance co-sign. Strong cult appeal established.]
While Billie's career was taking its first steps, Alex's own next single, Lewis Capaldi's "Someone You Loved," dropped. He'd held this one back, waiting for the right moment. It was a vocal powerhouse, a raw, emotional plea that showcased a different dimension to his artistry. The music video was stark – just Alex, in a dimly lit room, singing his heart out, conveying every ounce of the song's pain and longing.
I'm going under and this time I fear there's no one to save me
This all or nothing really got a way of driving me crazy
I need somebody to heal
Somebody to know
Somebody to have
Somebody to hold
It's easy to say
But it's never the same
I guess I kinda liked the way you numbed all the pain
Now the day bleeds
Into nightfall
And you're not here
To get me through it all
I let my guard down
And then you pulled the rug
I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved
I'm going under and this time I fear there's no one to turn to
This all or nothing way of loving got me sleeping without you
Now, I need somebody to know
Somebody to heal
Somebody to have
Just to know how it feels
It's easy to say but it's never the same
I guess I kinda liked the way you helped me escape
Now the day bleeds
Into nightfall
And you're not here
To get me through it all
I let my guard down
And then you pulled the rug
I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved
And I tend to close my eyes when it hurts sometimes
I fall into your arms
I'll be safe in your sound 'til I come back around
For now the day bleeds
Into nightfall
And you're not here
To get me through it all
I let my guard down
And then you pulled the rug
I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved
But now the day bleeds
Into nightfall
And you're not here
To get me through it all
I let my guard down
And then you pulled the rug
I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved
I let my guard down
And then you pulled the rug
I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved
The public, already enamoured with his romantic ballads and pop anthems, was floored. "Someone You Loved" became an instant global phenomenon in this timeline, rocketing to Number 1 in multiple countries. Critics lauded his vocal prowess and emotional depth. The "teen prodigy" narrative was solidifying into "genuine superstar." He was barely sixteen.
-----
Somewhere in a quiet suburb, a woman named Claire stood alone in her kitchen, sleeves rolled up, scrubbing at a plate that had already been clean for a while. The radio played in the background — soft chatter, distant pop melodies — just enough noise to keep the silence from swallowing her. It had been like that most evenings lately. Mundane chores. Empty house. The ghost of conversation that never came.
Her husband, Mark, had passed away nearly a year ago. Not suddenly, not loudly — just a slow fade, like sunlight slipping off the edge of a windowsill. Since then, Claire moved through her days with mechanical steadiness. Laundry, dishes, emails, bills. Small things she could control. Music, sometimes, was too much. But tonight, she hadn't turned it off.
Then the first piano notes of Someone You Loved drifted through the speakers — soft, uncertain, as if the song itself was asking for permission to be felt. She paused. The sponge fell from her hand into the soapy water with a soft splash. She stood still, eyes on the window above the sink, where the dusk painted the sky in colors Mark would've wanted to take a photo of.
Then came the voice — young, trembling, carrying a grief far older than sixteen. The words didn't just land; they found her. Every line seemed pulled from a place she had buried, too raw to touch. Her breath caught somewhere between a sob and a sigh. She pressed a damp hand to her chest, surprised by the sudden weight of feeling, as if the song had reached in and turned the light back on in a room she'd locked.
Claire leaned against the counter, tears slipping silently down her cheeks, letting them fall this time. She didn't know who Alex was — some teenager with a voice too honest for radio — but by the time the last note faded into silence, something in her had shifted.
She turned off the tap. The room was quiet now, but not empty. And into that quiet, she whispered, "Thank you," not just to the song, but to the boy who sang it, and maybe, just maybe, to the man she still missed every day.
------
The contrast between his public persona and his school life was becoming increasingly untenable. He was recognized everywhere. His teachers were either starstruck or deeply annoyed by the disruption his presence sometimes caused. He was struggling to focus on trigonometry when his phone was buzzing with urgent texts from his dad about licensing deals in Japan.
One afternoon, during a particularly chaotic attempt to leave school without being swarmed for autographs, Alex made a decision. He spoke to his parents that evening. "Mom, Dad… I don't think I can do regular high school anymore. It's… not working. I need to focus on the music, on Echo Chamber. Maybe homeschooling, or a tutor?"
His parents, who had witnessed the escalating circus, were understanding. David, ever pragmatic, had already been considering it. "We can arrange for a comprehensive homeschooling program, Alex. It will allow you the flexibility you need, provided you maintain your academic progress. Echo Chamber is becoming a serious business. It needs your full attention."
And so, Alex Vance quietly withdrew from Northwood High. His former classmates buzzed about it for weeks, the legend of the local kid who became a global pop star solidifying into myth.
Around this time, David received a call from one of the LA youth talent agencies he'd contacted. "David Vance? Ben Carter from Stellar Youth Artists. We got your demo package for Echo Chamber. Impressive stuff. We might have someone who fits the bill for your 'female vocalist' search. Young girl, twelve, almost thirteen. Name's Olivia Rodrigo. Incredible raw talent, writes her own songs too, mostly on piano. She's done some small acting gigs, but her passion is music. Interested in meeting her?"
Alex, who was in his father's office reviewing streaming analytics for "Ocean Eyes," felt a jolt. Olivia Rodrigo. The name, the age, the description – it was her.
"Yes," Alex said, perhaps a little too quickly, earning a curious look from his dad. "Yes, definitely. Can we arrange a virtual meeting first, similar to how we met Billie and her family?"
Ben Carter chuckled. "Eager, are we? Sure. She's a great kid, you'll be impressed. I'll set it up."
A few days later, Alex and his father were on another Skype call. This time, a bright-eyed, energetic girl with long dark hair appeared on screen, accompanied by her equally friendly parents. Olivia Rodrigo. She was bubbly, articulate, and radiated a nervous excitement.
"Hi Mr. Vance! Hi Alex! Oh my gosh, I love your songs! 'Perfect' is like, my favorite song ever!" Olivia gushed, her enthusiasm infectious.
Alex smiled, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu mixed with genuine warmth. "Hi Olivia, great to meet you. We heard you're an amazing singer and songwriter."
"I try!" she said, beaming. "I play piano and write about… well, stuff that happens. Feelings, you know?"
Alex did know. More than she could possibly imagine.
Ben Carter had Olivia play one of her original songs on the keyboard she had nearby. It was, as expected, rough around the edges, a young voice full of emotion and surprisingly sophisticated melodic ideas. It wasn't "drivers license" yet, but the raw DNA was there – the nascent talent for turning heartfelt teenage angst into compelling pop. The Codex silently affirmed: [Olivia Rodrigo - Early Compositional Style Consistent with Timeline A Pre-Breakthrough Period. High Potential for ECR Development.]
Alex saw it. The spark. The star quality. This was the next crucial piece of the Echo Chamber puzzle.
"Olivia," Alex said after she finished, her parents looking on proudly. "That was fantastic. Truly. You have an incredible gift."
The journey of Echo Chamber Records was about to take another pivotal turn. The future stars of his lost timeline were, one by one, stepping into the light of this new one, guided by the echoes he carried within him.
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hey hey! quick shoutout before I vanish into the next chapter draft — a huge thank you to all of you for the love and support you've been showing. seriously, it keeps me going more than you know 💛
special shoutout to my Pro Reader on Patreon — Gintoki Sakata! you absolute legend 🙌 your support means the world to me and helps fuel everything I'm building here.
and for the rest of you awesome folks — if you're enjoying the story and want to help keep it alive (and maybe get a few extras along the way), check out my Patreon:👉 patreon.com/hellothere2024that's what sustains fanfic authors like me — every bit of support makes a difference.
also, I'd love to hear what you think so far — drop a comment and tell me what's working, what hit you, what confused you, or who your favorite character is. seriously, I read them all.
thank you again, from the bottom of my writer's soul 🖋️you're awesome.