★★★★★
Siblings William Gao and Olivia Hardy, who form the band Wasia Project, are back with their debut album ‘Nocturne.’ The title, referring to a piece of music inspired by the night, feels particularly fitting and effective for this record. The album cover echoes this idea, showing a lily reflected in the light with darkness behind it.
From the first beat, '2515' opens the record by tying the project to its title, delivered with a haunting undertone that isn't traditionally melancholic. The song opens with distorted vocals and beats that speed up throughout the record, reminiscent of a night out dancing in a club. Layering beautiful vocals with pulsing beats creates a grittier and more striking start to this project for Wasia Project. The electronic beats continue throughout the record into songs such as ‘Vogue’.
‘Whale Call’, which features in Heartstopper Forever, is a beautiful and understated ballad, with Hardy's voice particularly strong here, capturing the feeling of the track, delivered with a more stripped-back production. It brings the production of the record back down to a calmer, more emotional tone for a moment. ‘Sunken Quay’ also adds another particularly moving moment throughout the album.
However, the most memorable vulnerable moment of the record comes in the form of the hard-hitting 'Stay’. Wasia Project’s ability to create feeling through both their vocals and production is particularly powerful here. The vocals feel raw, sincere and vulnerable, while the production builds around them, allowing the song's emotional weight to remain at the forefront. ‘Stay’ draws on this balance perfectly, creating a significantly moving effect.
A much more upbeat track with a distinct dreamlike feel, ‘Bleeding Gold’ is a standout on this record. It has a sound of Magdalena Bay to it, while evoking the cinematic quality of a Lorde song. It is a song that makes you feel as if you are taking the same journey as the singer, emphasised by the repeated phrase “back again, right back again".
‘Wildfire’ is the ideal final track of this album, concluding the record with a loud and commanding moment. Sonically, ‘Wildfire’ is more vocally driven than the clubbing and dance feel established at the beginning of this album, instead creating a powerful anthem which brings the album to an explosive conclusion. Thematically, this album brings together the night, both its vulnerable and dramatic aspects, with elements of Greek mythology in places and personal experiences, all of which are carefully woven throughout the record.
On ‘Nocturne’, Wasia Project have created a debut album that feels ambitious and thematic while remaining personal. From the dance-driven ‘2515’ to the vulnerability of ‘Stay’, the album explores different sounds and creative approaches while still feeling like one cohesive project. It demonstrates what Wasia Project are capable of, making ‘Nocturne’ a strong, exciting and memorable debut.
Maria Bensusan
Image: ‘Nocturne’ Official Album Cover