Comprised of siblings Olivia Hardy and Will Gao, Wasia Project has been building anticipation for their new album through a string of singles, including ‘Bleeding Gold’ and ‘2515’. The album ‘Nocturne’ follows their 2024 EP, ‘Isotope’ and 2022 EP, ‘how can i pretend?’.
Intertwining wistful, guitar-led instrumentation with Hardy’s delicate, emotive vocals, ‘Whale Call’ captures the feeling of growing apart from someone you once held close. Her lyricism and delivery give the track an intimate quality, while the lingering harmonies towards the end leave listeners hanging in the atmosphere of the song.
‘Whale Call’ s cinematic atmosphere makes it a natural fit for the screen, being featured in Netflix’s new film, Heartstopper Forever, which premiered the same day as the single. The film concludes the beloved coming-of-age story adapted from Alice Oseman’s graphic novels, and the song underscores one of the first and most emotional moments between the two lead characters.
The connection between Wasia Project and the Heartstopper universe spans several years. Gao stars as Tao Xu in the franchise. The band’s music has appeared previously in the television series including ‘Ur So Pretty’ in Season 2 and ‘My Vine’ in season 3. Reflecting on his time with the series in a recent Instagram post, Gao wrote, “I've discovered more about myself, about how I work, and I've become more accepting of the world around me. It's strange having a show like this become so important and 'massive' at such an early age (I hadn't even left school). I didn't really know who I was or what I wanted to say. I just knew that this story felt important”.
With ‘Whale Call’, Wasia Project delivers another glimpse into ‘Nocturne’, solidifying the duo’s ability to create deeply moving and memorable songs. Their 12-track debut album arrives September 18th, followed by a 10-date UK and European tour beginning November 4 at SWG3 Galvanizers in Glasgow.
Sam Russo
Image: ‘Whale Call’ Official Single Cover