EXCLUSIVE: Gaho Talks New Album, Inspirations, and Personal Tastes
Fresh off the release of his first full album Fireworks, PLT’s singer and songwriter Gaho sat down with The Kraze to discuss his album, creative processes, inspirations, and much more. Check out the interview below!
Q: For our readers who are getting the chance to know you for the first time, can you please give a little introduction about yourself?
A: Hello, I’m Gaho. I’m a singer-songwriter who works on composing, writing lyrics, and producing. While performing various genres like pop, R&B, and rock, I enjoy expressing them uniquely and naturally through my own vocals and style.
Q: Where do you get inspiration from?
A: I frequently take walks because I don’t have a specific hobby, and there are moments when I get inspiration during the walk. For this particular album, the songs have been inspired by personal experiences, imagined scenarios while watching movies or dramas, listening to friends’ concerns, and conversations with various people.
Q: Who is your mentor, and what did you learn from them?
A: Rather than a mentor, there are artists who fit my musical preferences that I aspire to resemble. Among my favorite artists, I like the musical adventures that Justin Bieber or Imagine Dragons take. Despite being longstanding musicians, they stray from the safe path by constantly challenging themselves in terms of music. I want to learn that aspect and become a free wanderer when it comes to music; I hope to become a musician who enjoys constant challenges.
Q: You are capable of singing in so many styles, what genres are you interested in exploring?
A: I want to try jazz. In terms of genre, I want to create a feeling of something that seems to have combined jazz with a different genre––but not now. I hope to try it when I’m older and feel that I myself have become more dignified or listeners deem so.
Q: What are your plans for the future, music-related or otherwise?
A: I hope that my current attitude of dedicating myself to music in a serious and hardworking manner persists even with age. I don’t have any thoughts of doing music “comfortably.” I’d be more than satisfied if I would be able to constantly take on challenges and enjoy working with music like now.
Q: What is your perfect vacation?
A: To me, there’s no such thing as a perfect vacation. I haven’t had a vacation yet, but it sounds nice to take a relaxing trip out of the country with friends and participate in a song camp. Because the songs would be inspired when I was laidback and comfortable, I think they would encompass a different kind of charm.
Q: What kind of games/phone apps are you into in your off time?
A: When I’m going from one schedule to another, there’s a game that I sometimes play in the car. It’s a classic game called Brick Breaker (벽돌깨기). It’s fun, but when I can’t get through a certain stage, I get competitive. Still, concentrating on the game helps clear my mind.
Q: Favorite go-to snack/meal from the convenience store when you need a break from working on music?
A: I’m a really big fan of beaded ice cream. There’s no reason for my liking, but it’s just good and it distinctly pops up in my mind among all ice creams. Whenever I travel far for a schedule and see a rest area, I only get beaded ice cream. It’s delicious.
Q: You've worked on a number of collaborations, features, and OSTs. What projects do you most enjoy working on?
A: Each and every one has its own charms. As a solo artist, it’s exciting that I can work with new artists through collaborations or features. For OSTs, it’s difficult to sing considering the drama’s mood and understanding the producers’ various intentions of certain parts in the song. However, I believe that type of work can test me, so I’m trying to enjoy it.
Q: What's your process like producing a song?
A: My process tends to involve a lot of song production, and I’m the type to randomly start writing a track. Once I gather a good number of songs, I then start thinking about how to organize them. I work diversely with instrument composition and genres, and I often include unique elements. When I produce, I don’t restrict myself to one concept and work freely.
Q: You are the king of bottle flipping. What other very useful or weird talents and hobbies do you have?
A: I don’t have many hobbies, but if I had to choose something I always enjoy, I would say taking a brisk walk instead of being on my phone lying down in bed before sleeping. People don’t take a walk as much as I thought, but investing 30 minutes to [walk] while listening to your favorite music helps you end your day in a good mood. I also read somewhere that walking has a positive impact on brain activity, improves concentration, and helps with creativity. If anyone needs to generate ideas or get inspiration, take a 30-minute walk. You will be able to access a source of inspiration like me.
Q: From your point of view, what is the biggest difference between your debut single “Stay Here” and your new album title song “Right Now”?
A: One of my favorite tracks is “있어줘 (Stay Here),” and I think that this track expresses me very well. For the title song “Right Now,” I was inspired to compose this track from the idea that it’s rare for a person to feel overwhelmingly touched in their lifetime. I hope that this song delivers a sense of overwhelming emotion because I believe that the feeling of being deeply moved at a special moment in life is one of the most precious emotions. I wish that this song can become a starting point and give hope to the young people who are going through difficult times in their lives.
Q: If you had to pick a color to describe yourself, what would it be and why?
A: I think “mint” is a color that describes me. Mint is both a flavor and color that people either like or hate. I think I resemble the color mint in that there are people who like my music but also those who don’t and might see my music as a bit unique.
Q: What things (music, food, hobbies, etc.) have brought you comfort lately?
A: I’ve been into Tiger Chicken (호랑이 치킨) these days that whenever I end up eating chicken, I only get that. I think Tiger Chicken (호랑이 치킨) is only available in Korea, but I wish it sells globally.
Q: What do you order at a cafe?
A: These days, I get a strawberry latte. I don’t drink coffee, so a strawberry latte is one of the few options I can choose from. Also, strawberries are in season right now, so the drink is really good. You should try it too.
Q: Last question, is there anything specific you’d like to share with your fans and our readers?
A: Hello, this is Gaho, and my first full-length album Fireworks [just released]. This album contains various emotions that I, 25-year-old Gaho, have about youth that are translated into diverse music, so I hope that many people can listen to it and empathize with these emotions. I hope the day that we can meet and greet each other in person will come soon. Thank you.
Interview translated by staff translator Julia Hur
Global PR and Marketing Strategy by MJ TONZ