After a two-year hiatus, Golden Melody Award-winning singer-songwriter Shi Shi (孫盛希) returns to the music scene with her new EP, “The Taste Of…,” a deeply personal project shaped by the emotions and experiences she accumulated during her break.
“During this period, I experienced a wide range of emotions, from the sweet ones to the bitter ones, and even some moments that were sour or spicy,” Shi Shi shared. “It is hard to describe the feelings we feel every day using merely our words, but sometimes they can be expressed and digested in a song.”
For Shi Shi, every track on the EP carries its own distinct emotional flavor.
“In this EP, each track is like a unique cocktail, bringing a different flavour and taste profile, and a different composition of ingredients and emotions. I hope my listeners can savour each one of them,” she added.
Shi Shi explores English, Mandarin, and Korean in new EP
“The Taste Of…” marks Shi Shi’s first English-based EP and features songs in English, Mandarin, and Korean. The multilingual project pays tribute to her South Korean roots while signaling a new step toward reaching international audiences.
The EP also brings together a lineup of global music producers. Contributors include K-pop producer parkhyeon, who has worked with MISAMO of TWICE and (G)I-DLE’s Miyeon; Different Sleep, whose credits include Zara Larsson and Aminé; and Latin Grammy-winning producer Andrø Pop.
Among the EP’s tracks, Korean-language songs “Falling in Love” and “Tteokbokki” offer some of the project’s most intimate and gentle moments.
‘Tteokbokki’ turns food memories into an ode to friendship
With “Tteokbokki,” Shi Shi moves away from her usual relationship-inspired themes and explores the idea of “food memories.”
The song reflects on pure and comfortable friendships—the kind of connections that can be difficult to find and even harder to replace.
Having grown up in South Korea, Shi Shi associates tteokbokki, the popular spicy Korean rice cake dish, with memories of her youth. The food reminds her of her journey home from school and the warm atmosphere of eateries where she spent time with friends.
Shi Shi collaborated with Chinese American producer Morrison Ma, also known as MOSUN, to give the track a gentle retro sound. The song opens with slice-of-life audio recorded by Shi Shi at a busy Korean market, immediately transporting listeners into the setting that inspired the track.
Shi Shi reunites with longtime friend Lee Jung-Min for music video
The music video for “Tteokbokki” also carries a personal connection for Shi Shi as she reunites with longtime friend and actress Lee Jung-Min.
Lee Jung-Min has appeared in popular Korean dramas including “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim” and “Duty After School.”
Although the two had not met in person for 16 years, they remained in contact. Their first professional collaboration sees them portraying childhood friends who reunite at a familiar local eatery after years apart and reconnect over the time they missed.
Shi Shi sets sights on international music scene
A third-generation South Korean-Chinese singer-songwriter based in Taiwan, Shi Shi has earned major recognition for her artistry, including Best Female Singer and Best Album honors at Taiwan’s prestigious Golden Melody Awards.
She also gained wider popularity in 2020 through “Someday or One Day,” the title track of the hit Taiwanese drama of the same name.
In 2024, Shi Shi collaborated with South Korean jazz artist Lee Jin-ah on the single “Goodbye Spring,” drawing attention from audiences in Taiwan and Korea.
With “The Taste Of…,” Shi Shi enters a new chapter in her career, embracing multilingual music and global collaborations as she works toward reaching a wider international audience.
The new EP represents not only her return after two years away but also a taste of the evolving sound and creative direction Shi Shi hopes to bring to the global music scene.
