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The winter season brings to mind images of snow, ice, and dark nights. However, the winter season is also a time when people gather together with their loved ones, celebrating and reflecting upon their past experiences.
Our first featured artist of 2026 is GONA, a newly-debuted singer looking to brighten up all four seasons of the year. Her debut track, ‘Thousand Times, You’ captures all of these sentiments perfectly, as she reflects upon the people she misses and the memories she associates with them.
With her textured and resonant vocals, wintery music video, and emotional lyrics, this song is an essential for the winter season, and perfectly showcases her endless potential.
Read on to find out more about GONA, her journey so far, her thoughts on the winter season, and how she defines her artistry.
Interview:
Q1. Please introduce yourself to our readers!
Hello, I’m GONA, a singer who recently released my very first album.
It’s really nice to meet you! 🙂
Q2. You recently made your debut with your song ‘Thousand Times, You’. Could you tell us more about the song and the meaning behind the lyrics?
‘Thousand Times, You ‘ is a song written for someone I miss dearly.
The feelings toward that person could be sadness, longing, or memories filled with happiness. When the year comes to an end and the air turns cold, there’s often someone who quietly comes to mind. Someone from a certain moment in the past, someone you think of and say, “I was really happy back then.”
This song holds the wish to return to that time, along with the gentle longing that remains. As I worked on the song, I found myself slowly taking out memories from the past, one by one. It felt warm, yet a little lonely at the same time.
Q3. Your soft vocals and acoustic performance create a peaceful soundscape for the listener. What kind of moment or setting do you imagine people listening to this song in?
One listener left a comment on the music video that really stayed with me.
They wrote, “It feels like a song I want to listen to while walking through cold streets wearing padded jackets with my boyfriend.” That felt exactly right to me. It could be a song for spending a cozy year end with someone you love, wishing that moment would never end. At the same time, it could gently warm someone going through a quiet and lonely year end. No matter the situation, I hope this song can become like a little hand warmer in your pocket.
Q4. The music video shows you exploring the city on a cold night during the festive season. Could you tell us some more about the production of the music video, and your favourite moments?
We filmed on an extremely cold day, and since I’m quite sensitive to the cold, it was honestly a bit tough for me. Still, the most memorable scene was revisiting places I once shared with someone I loved, this time by myself.
Those scenes were filmed on different days, and I think that helped the emotions come through more clearly. The contrast between a warm, fulfilling year end and the cold, lonely feelings stayed with me deeply.
Q5. Your debut gives a distinct winter vibe. What do you love the most about the winter season?
Winter is really cold, so I think we naturally keep warmer things closer to us.
Warm temperatures, meaningful time with people, comforting music, and kind words exchanged as we wrap up the year. I use those things as firewood to get through winter. I believe that kind of warmth never truly disappears and stays quietly in our hearts over time.
Q6. You are entering an exciting new era as a soloist. How would you describe your musical style, and what would you like the artist ‘GONA’ to be remembered for?
I don’t think I’m someone who fits into just one genre. I have many sides to me and many things I want to express through music. So when people think of me, I hope they immediately feel my color. An artist whose personal style flows naturally through many genres.
Q7. How did your journey in music first begin?
There wasn’t a big or dramatic starting point. I’ve always loved singing and dancing since I was young, and I never missed a chance to join talent shows.
At some point, when I let go of the academic path I had been following, music became the one thing that truly comforted me and made my heart beat again.
From then on, I wanted to share the comfort music gave me with others, and that’s how I naturally began singing.
Q8. Which artists inspire you and why?
The artists who have influenced me the most are Yerin Baek and ROSÉ.
Both of them communicate deeply with listeners through their voices and stories without being limited by genre. As someone who grew up listening to their music, I’m a huge fan, and I believe their influence naturally appears in my own music as well.
Q9. You released an acoustic version of your song on YouTube. What do you enjoy the most about live performance?
The biggest charm of live performance is that it’s truly alive. Nothing is fixed, and everything happens in the moment. Even if the music is a little raw, there’s a sense of catharsis in knowing that every sound I release in that instant becomes music itself.
Q10. You previously worked on a song called ‘Graduation‘ for your finals at Sungshin Women’s University. Could you tell us a bit about your experiences with the track, including the instrumental and production?
‘Graduation‘ was created with one simple thought in mind.
I wanted to express my four years of university life in a single song.
While my debut track is calm and warm, I actually love band music and electric guitar. So I wanted the song to start with an electric guitar loop and gradually build in intensity, reflecting the excitement and dreamlike moments of my college years. Lyrically, the song expresses both the nervous excitement of stepping into a new world beyond school and the bittersweet feelings of leaving that time behind.
You can also find little details like my friends’ names and symbols representing my university hidden throughout the song. They’re like small Easter eggs just for me. It’s a deeply meaningful song, and when it was chosen as my graduation album track, something my professor said stayed with me. They told me, “It feels like you’ve finally found clothes that fit you perfectly.” Hearing that from a musical senior made the song feel complete.
Q11. What are your goals for the next year as an artist?
I’ve finally achieved the debut I dreamed of for so long, but now my journey as an artist has truly begun. There are still so many kinds of music that I love.
My goal is to show another new side of myself within the next year.
Q12. Outside of music, you share a lot of fashion and makeup content on your Instagram. What is your must have accessory for the winter season?
A scarf. Since high school, I’ve always been careful about keeping my neck warm, so it’s become an essential item for winter. These days, there are so many beautifully designed scarves, so I highly recommend having one as both a fashion point and a winter essential.
Q13. What’s something that’s important to you as an artist that you’d love to share?
I believe every artist needs to have their own story. That’s what allows listeners to truly connect and feel something similar. So I want to keep feeling, learning, and experiencing more, and share all of that with you through my music.
Q14. Lastly, do you have any messages for your fans or any new listeners?
It’s really nice to meet you. Please listen to ‘Thousand Times, You,‘ a warm song I prepared to gently melt this cold winter and your hearts.
I came to you with a winter song, but I hope to be with you through all four seasons very soon.
Thank you to GONA and The SSR for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish you all the best with your debut, and eagerly anticipate your future musical endeavours!
To keep up to date with GONA, be sure to follow her at the links below:
GONA IG: https://www.instagram.com/xona.5_/
The SSR X: https://x.com/stonesound26578
The SSR YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stonesoundrecords
GONA on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7CiNBVJ6Sct8zUq4esUif4
GONA on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gh/artist/gona/1858498347
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