Wasia Project Establishes Their Indie-Classical Presence in Sophomore Album, Nocturne
Wasia Project gets experimental in their new album, Nocturne. The London-based sibling duo is back with their most comprehensive work from start to finish. Totaling around 48 minutes and 12 tracks, Nocturne is nearly double the length of their 2024 debut album, Isotope. This time, Wasia Project’s songs are like nothing before, working as an amalgamation of the siblings’ different life experiences, creative outlets, and musical approaches.
In an interview for NYLON, members Olivia Hardy and Will Gao explained that the album underwent many early unsuccessful studio sessions. After a series of half-finished songs and melodies, they decided to take a step back. “Gao boarded a plane to Berlin, throwing himself into the city’s famously immersive club culture, while Hardy stayed closer to home in London, punctuating the slower pace with a brief trip to Paris,” NYLON’s Sam Tracy writes.
According to the duo, the time apart was much needed before they were able to take a different approach to the album; their hiatus showcases itself in Nocturne. As the album progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that this is a reflection of two sounds coming together again to make something emotional, addictive and above all, distinctive.
The album opens with “2515,” a rhythmically steady, club-track inspired piece. It’s the type of song that would play over a movie montage — the main character is reliving every little moment with someone, of something. It’s subtle, but infectious, a great opener to introduce an experimental album.
“2515” is followed by “Vogue,” a track that feeds off the energy of the previous piece but elevates the tone, beat, and lyrics.
Suddenly, though, there’s a shift, where Hardy’s restful holiday seems to bring forth a softer energy to the album. “Whale Call,” which was featured in Netflix’s Heartstopper Forever, is a striking declaration of solitude and longing.
“I spent a while / Looking up at the moon / I see her smile / As she shines down on you / And it's not my fault / She looks like I do / Nobody knows / But God knows I've tried to figure it out,” the song first opens.
It becomes evident to the listener that the narrator yearns for someone; that feeling is reiterated time and time again throughout the piece, only further emphasizing this desperation for acceptance and visibility. By the end of the song, the narrator determinedly states, “Where does it go? / Think you should know / You were the beginning of my life / I can't find you still / But I will.”
And then there’s “Bleeding Gold,” which shifts focus from anguish to something tantalizing. It’s sweet, spirited and addictive in all the best ways — the embodiment of indie-pop.
“Bleeding Gold” is the type of song you play in the weeks between summer and fall: windows down, volume up, and the air is just thick enough to feel freeing. This song feels familiar, like something you find yourself returning back to again, and again, and again.
Within those first 5 songs, Wasia Project has got you.
The rest of the album is equally as enchanting. From the almost gothic rock feeling of “Strike Me Down From Heaven” to the siren-like calls that echo in “Stay,” listeners will be locked in throughout the entirety of the album.
At a time when indie pop is dominating the music scene, it can be difficult for bands to find a sound that is equally intoxicating as it is unique; Wasia Project doesn’t struggle with that at all. Nocturne manages to combine Gao and Hardy’s classical music training with emerging club sounds and indie beats, a combination that feels almost arbitrary and is rarely heard in today’s scene.
All-around, Nocturne is a stunning sophomore album from Wasia Project. Nocturne is available to stream everywhere September 18, and you can catch Wasia Project on their European tour this fall.
