Contestant No.
3
Name: Rayna Zhou
Age: 20
Place of Birth: China
Education: University
Occupation: Student
Languages: Mandarin, English
Zodiac Sign: Taurus
Hobbies: Singing, Sports, Music
Favorite Singer: Khalil Fong, Tia Ray, Lauv, Ariana Grande
Favorite Songs: “Love Words” (情話) by Dean Ting. It feels like a beautiful secret crush. The melody is also one of my favorites.
“Nanyin” (南音) by Khalil Fong. A very meaningful song for musicians. I look up to
Khalil Fong’s musicality as a role model.
“Butterfly” (蝴蝶) by David Tao. A song full of love and feeling seen. When I listen to it, it gives me a very warm feeling.
Also “The Chaos After You” (如果雨之後) by Eric Chou,“Give Me a Reason to Forget” (給我一個理由忘記) and “The Unknown Me” (無人知曉的我) by A-lin, “Red Rose, White Rose” (紅薔薇白玫瑰) by G.E.M., “Best Part” by H.E.R., “Snooze” by SZA, “Love U Like That” by Lauv, “Best Mistake” by Ariana Grande.
1. What was the first physical album you ever bought?▼ ▲
David Tao's “Blue Album” (藍專)
2. Which singer has had the biggest influence throughout your entire youth?▼ ▲
Khalil Fong.
3. What is your most memorable singing experience? What happened at the time?▼ ▲
One of my most memorable singing experiences was in early 2025, when I performed with a band at Meridian Arts Centre for the Ontario CSSA event. It was my first time standing on a big stage because of singing, and I also met a lot of amazing friends there who I'm still really close with now.
Another unforgettable experience was in early 2026, when I performed at the Chinese Consulate in Toronto for the 10th anniversary of the Professors' Association event. That one felt really special too, because the setting was more formal and meaningful.
And of course, the upcoming “Those Days•These Songs” singing contest is also a big one for me. It's my first time joining a televised singing competition, and honestly, I'm pretty excited. The whole team feels super professional, and the process has been really smooth and comfortable as a contestant, which makes the experience even more special.
4. Do you have any warm-up routines or little rituals before singing/performing?▼ ▲
Lip trills. Basically just “brrrrr” for a while. It looks kind of goofy, but it works.
5. Which song have you played on repeat the most in your headphones?▼ ▲
During a performance or competition period, it's usually the song I'm preparing for. Outside of that, I go through phases where I get obsessed with one song and just loop it nonstop.
6. What is your favorite lyric? Why? ▼ ▲
My favorite lyric is from Khalil Fong's Nanyin (南音): “Music understands itself; it will still have its listeners. Along the way, it lights up the lanterns of his destiny. Erquan Yingyue never cared whether it was popular or not.” (音樂自己懂 一樣有聽眾,沿途點亮他命運的燈籠,二泉映月他才不管紅與不紅).
This lyric gives me confidence and reminds me why I started doing music in the first place. It tells me that music should not just be about blindly following trends or trying to please the market. What matters more is creating and performing something meaningful, something with depth, and something that truly represents myself. The right people will get it.
7. If you had to use one song to sum up your past year, which would you choose?▼ ▲
“single af” by Fousheé.
8. What do you think is your most memorable trait? ▼ ▲
Probably my unexpected and slightly chaotic sense of humour. I can be pretty abstract in a way people don’t always see coming.
9. If you could perform with any singer, who would it be and why?▼ ▲
Julie, because she is my partner for this competition.
10. Use three adjectives to describe your voice.▼ ▲
Varied in style, wide-ranged, and the list is still growing.
11. What does music mean to you?▼ ▲
Music is a soul connection and an emotional resonance. It is something I genuinely love so much that I can't hold back or resist