Chris strums the guitar a few times before grabbing the microphone. "Sorry," he laughs. "Forgot it was attached."

"Listen, I know you guys are nervous to record this one," my dad leans over and presses the button on the desk so the boys can hear him inside the booth. "It's one of your first songs back in the spotlight. This one is going to be huge. I can feel it." He shakes his fist at them. Somehow, he is trying to be supportive with his gesture.

I sit back in my chair and watch the mixer at work as the boys tune their instruments.

Brian hums in the microphone, testing the volume.

"Take one," Brad speaks before playing the song.

Chris takes a deep breath and began to play a haunting melody that sends shivers down my spine. As he sings, his voice trembles with emotion. I can feel the raw pain and vulnerability in his lyrics.

"Once a voice that made hearts sing
Now he sits alone, no one to bring.
The love he lost was his light
Her absence cuts like a knife."

The slow ballad causes my dad to nod his head as they get emotional inside the glass box.

"He sings his pain to the world
The hurt in every word unfurled.
A broken heart, shattered dreams
A life torn at the seams."

This song is unlike anything I have ever heard from them before. It is raw and emotional. They are not raw and emotional men. This is out of character for them.

"Sorry, sorry." Chris misses his cue to start the next verse.

"That's alright. We can edit that out," my dad assured them. "Take five and we will jump back in for verse two. You guys sound great."

The mixer mutes the boys so we can no longer hear their conversations inside.

My dad turns to me. "What's got him so emotional, do you think?"

I shrug. "He wrote the song, not me."

He nods.

Brian opens the door to the booth and lets everyone know they are ready to get back at it.

They continue from where they left off.

"Every note a memory
Of the love that used to be.
The crowds roar, but he can't hear
The echo of her voice still near."

"He sings his pain to the world
The hurt in every word unfurled.
A broken heart, shattered dreams
A life torn at the seams."

This song is so sad. I am not so sure my dad should have them release this as the lead single off their next album. It doesn't really set a very happy scene for anyone listening. It is actually quite depressing.

"The stage is where he finds release
A place to let his sorrow cease.
But the melody can't heal the pain
Of a heart that will never be the same."

"He sings his pain to the world
The hurt in every word unfurled.
A broken heart, shattered dreams
A life torn at the seams."

I wipe a tear that has snuck down my cheek. Chris takes off his headphones and slumps down. He removes the strap of the guitar over his head and sets it back on the stand.

"That was great, you guys!" My dad cheers, entering the box with them. He gives them all high-fives and awkward guys.

Though they are celebrating, Chris' demeanor does not change. That song was really hard for him to sing.