If you’re looking to discover an artist who personifies individuality in their music, singer/songwriter Gaho is a desirable vocalist worth familiarizing yourself with. 

The 25-year-old artist first made a name for himself back in 2018, when debuting as a soloist in South Korea with his intriguing first single “Stay Here”. The song played as a soft introduction for the new artist, before starting to find his own lane over the past few years, dropping tracks like “Home”, “Pink Walk”, and the OST single “A Song For You” that even earned Gaho his first No.1 on Gaon. The song then elevated the singer’s range – picking up multiple nods in the 2020 awards season, with major category nominations at the Mnet Asian Music Awards for Song of the Year, and earning a win for Best OST. 

In the spirit of following up on a massively successful year, Gaho’s new (and first) official studio album titled Fireworks suggests there’s still plenty of emotions to dance through before the year comes to a close. As the seasons’ change and large-scale music releases tend to go dormant, Gaho works overtime to bring his own unique influence into an array of song stylings with a seamless transition. 

Gaho openly admits that each song on the album is fueled by a specific emotion. The exploration of his own life through music cycles ideas of love, happiness, intuition, and more in the 12 track album, giving it that touch of his own stories in the most honest and pure form possible. With select tracks staying afloat in traditional pop-music styles –  there’s also liberating brassy bonuses, synth-produced songs, and even a style that creates this sense of euphoric escapism. For being Gaho’s first studio album, his artistry opposes the suggestion that a new artist will stumble in their first introductory ambitions. 

Prior to the album’s release, we listened to Gaho’s Fireworks and spoke to the singer/songwriter about his intentions with his debut album, and sharing those fresh new ideas thanks to the continuous support of his fans. 

This is your first album which you must be so excited to share! What was the biggest message you hoped to convey with this debut album overall?

Gaho: I’m 25 years old this year, and I put various emotions that my friends, colleagues, and just the youth feel into the album. I hope this album will be a starting point for young people who will be having the brightest time in their lives.

I personally appreciate that you used an idea or emotion as an inspiration behind each track on Fireworks! What were the initial emotions you knew were essential to the album from the very start?

Gaho: I think it was “hope”. Fireworks came to mind as a word representing people in their 20s. Fireworks fly above the sky and explode splendidly in a high place. That moment is such a fleeting moment, and our youth is also one of the most exciting times of life, so I wanted to give “hope” to those around me who were struggling to overcome this period.

One thing that I really respect about your album is that it has such a versatile collection of songs that feel very personal. Looking back, what would you say this process taught you about yourself? 

Gaho: This album is a special album for me, but it’s also meaningful to the company internally. So, I received help from many people, and they worked so hard that I was able to produce a good album. In this process, I realized that not only I but also many people around me worked extremely hard to produce this album, so I feel it gave me more perspective on what it takes while working on this album.

I absolutely loved “Rush Hour” which happened to be your song about love, and it still feels upbeat ‘80s synthpop dance track too! Did you always intend on depicting love as something more vibrant than others typically try to display?

Gaho: Yes, that’s correct. I wanted to express my brilliant love with “Rush Hour,” and give a high-teen feel, so I dyed my hair brightly for the first time in the music video. But I was quite satisfied with the hairstyle that felt it matched me better than I originally thought. So I feel while preparing for this song, I was able to make a new change that rather suited me.

We then have “Part-time Lover” which has some groovy funk influence that is absolutely addictive from the first listen! What was your initial reaction to hearing the finished product of something so different/unique from your other work on the album?

Gaho: When I heard the final version, I think it came out more flamboyant than I originally thought. But it was rather nice, and I put a lot of effort into the sound so that it wouldn’t make my ears tired. So, I think it will be a colorful but good to listen to, and addictive song. Seems like it might fit to hear this song in a club or something like that?

I’m so enamored by “High” which is about excitement, but it actually feels very slowed down and like this hazy-pop form of escapism! With the instrumental inclusions and getting to reveal a more sensual side to you as an artist, what would you say was your favorite part about this pivot?

Gaho: There’s a part where the brass comes out in the hook of the second verse. For those who are listening to the song for the first time, I think you will think that it comes from something that no one expected. As we go into the second half, there are many four-dimensional elements, and I feel it seems to represent the unpredictable future and my pursuit of life.

The album ends with “Like the moon” which reflects emptiness, but also potential. Why was this song the perfect choice to close out your curation of music?

Gaho: This song was definitely intended to give you a feeling of arriving in outer space. The last outro of the song “OOO” on the first track contains the sound of astronauts talking on the walkie-talkie, which can be seen as an extension of this song. If I started out into space in the song “OOO,” I finished the album with the feeling of landing on the moon in the song “Like the Moon.”

If you were going to add another emotion to add to the album, what type of feeling would you choose and what genre would accompany it?

Gaho: Even if I didn’t, I was thinking of adding one more song, but if I were to add one more song, I want to add a four-dimensional song like “High.” It’s a song that’s free-spirited and you don’t know where it’s going to bounce. In a way, it may seem kind of weird, but I think it would be fun if such music was added.

Looking back at the process of sharing this journey from where you first started – was it therapeutic in any way to convey these thoughts/feelings through music?

Gaho: The highlight emotion I wanted to convey through this album was healing, and I thought it would be nice to feel the motivation I didn’t feel in my daily life through my music. Rather than motivation in a bad sense, I paid a lot of attention to work so that I could feel positive energy, and I hope that my intention was well conveyed and felt.

Absolutely! And if you were going to showcase one emotion on the album as your most frequent or current mood, what would you choose?

Gaho: I think “Right Now” is a song that can comfort you. These days, I feel like we’ve lost a lot of encouragement or comfort for each other, but this music makes me feel like I can live for myself. So I hope that the people who listen to this song can feel similar emotions and gain some comfort.

Gaho’s debut album Fireworks is out now, and his official Spotify page can be found here in order to stream and pre-save future releases!