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1.) We’re super-excited to be speaking today with acclaimed K-Pop and Brit-Pop artist Shao Hao… how is the latter-part of 2025 finding you?
Thank you so much for having me! The end of 2025 has been intense in the best way. I’ve been doing a nationwide UK school tour, performing for thousands of students and sharing the story behind my songs. It’s been emotional, healing, and honestly one of the most meaningful things I’ve done. I’m also deep in the rollout for my debut EP S.H.17. The debut single – Where Is My Home just came out last month. So it feels like everything I’ve been building quietly for years is finally coming together.
2.) Major kudos on your freshly-minted track Where Is My Home… what inspired this heartfelt gem?
The song began as a letter to my 17-year-old younger self – the age I left Asia for the UK alone to study music. I remember that feeling of being “in-between”: not fully belonging in the place I came from, but not belonging in the new world either. Where Is My Home came from wanting to give that younger version of me a hug and say, “You’re not lost. You’re just growing.” I think a lot of people, especially young people, go through that same sense of searching.
3.) Who produced Where Is My Home and what did that collaboration look like?
I wrote the song with Kanata Okajima — who’s written for BTS and TWICE — and British duo producers Cheap Cut (Jonny & Jack), who have worked with Sam Ryder and Rudimental. The final mix was handled by Grammy-winner Liam Nolan, whose credits include Adele and Calvin Harris.
In the studio it felt like weaving two worlds together: the emotional storytelling of Brit-pop with the vocal energy and precision of K-pop. Everyone brought their strengths, but the shared vision was clear — make a timeless pop hit that’s universal.
4.) In your opinion, what differentiates Where Is My Home on today’s music landscape?
It sits in a space that doesn’t quite belong to one genre or one culture — which is exactly the point. It blends Brit-rock warmth, K-pop hook writing, and Mandarin-pop influenced emotional melodies. It’s a cross-cultural song about a cross-cultural life. And rather than hiding vulnerability, it leans into it. I think listeners can connect to its honesty; the song doesn’t pretend to have all the answers — it just tells the truth.
5.) After the release of Where Is My Home, should fans look forward to an EP in 2026?
Absolutely. The EP is called S.H.17 and it’s coming in early 2026. It’s a time-travel project — letters to my 17-year-old self, written from the perspective of the person I’ve become. Every song explores belonging, identity, and finding home in yourself. Where Is My Home is just the beginning
6.) What does your touring and performing schedule look like?
Right now I’m on a huge UK school tour — over 70 schools and more than 50,000 students. It’s been incredible seeing young people connect with the themes of identity and self-acceptance. I’m also lining up intimate shows in London, with plans to perform in US and Europe next year..
7.) As a songwriter for yourself and others, what comes first — lyrics or melody?
For me, emotion comes first. Sometimes it arrives as a melody, sometimes as a sentence, sometimes as a chord that feels like nostalgia. When I’m writing for other artists, I adapt to their world. But when I write for myself, it’s usually a feeling from my own life that sparks everything else. The process is structured, but the spark is always free-flowing.
8.) Who are some guiding North Stars in your artistic and personal life?
Musically, Adele, Coldplay, Stevie Wonder, Frank Ocean, and Stefanie Sun have all shaped me. They taught me that honesty, vulnerability, and storytelling matter.
In my personal life, my teachers from St Leonards in Scotland played a huge role when I first moved to the UK. And my friends across London, Tokyo, and Taipei keep me grounded and inspired.
9.) Your style blends Brit-Pop and K-Pop — how would you define those genres?
Brit-pop to me is raw emotion, storytelling, and the feeling of standing in the middle of a rainy street with your heart open. K-pop represents craft — hook writing, precision, energy, and a sense of cinematic drama. I grew up between multiple cultures, so blending them wasn’t intentional at first; it was just natural. My music sits where those two worlds meet.
10.) What do you hope listeners take away after hearing Where Is My Home?
I hope they walk away feeling understood. The song is for anyone who’s ever felt out of place, different, or torn between worlds. I want it to remind people that home is not just a location — it’s about the people, moments, and feelings that make you feel seen. If the song makes someone feel a little less alone, then it’s done its job.
