IN CONVERSATION WITH WASIA PROJECT

interview by SAMO ŠAJN

Sibling duo Wasia Project, formed by Olivia Hardy and Will Gao, step into a bold new chapter with Nocturne, their debut album and most expansive creative statement yet. Across 12 tracks, the pair transform the uncertainty, isolation and emotional intensity of coming of age into a nocturnal world where classical composition collides with electronica, club culture, modern soul and cinematic pop. Inspired by everything from solitary moments before dawn to the communal release of the dancefloor, Nocturne explores connection and disconnection, cultural identity, desire and the strange experience of growing into adulthood in an increasingly digital world. Their Chinese heritage emerges intuitively throughout the music and accompanying visual language, alongside influences drawn from London, Berlin, Beijing and Hong Kong. Darker, more experimental and deliberately difficult to define, Nocturne sees Wasia Project move beyond the boundaries of indie pop to create something entirely their own: a coming-of-age record about finding connection in a world that can often feel profoundly disconnected.

OLIVIA
jacket and skirt ERICA MYAT
shoes JIMMY CHOO
jewellery THE DIAMOND STORE
tights CALZEDONIA

WILL
jacket and trousers YMC
shirt talents own
shoes COS
eyewear LACOSTE

‘Nocturne’ feels like a big step forward from your earlier work, especially in its darker and more electronic sound. What changed for you both while making this album?

So many things. During the making of it, or maybe even before, I think our tastes developed and changed a lot. We were introduced to new things and inspired by new things. I think we wanted a more up-to-date version of ourselves, something that felt more aligned with what we had grown fond of since we were teenagers and with the things that were happening in our lives, expressing them in a big and immersive way.

I think something we've always wanted to do is instinctually reach this level of grandeur and make it feel immersive and different, because we don't like doing the same thing all the time.

‘Nocturne’ explores both connection and isolation. How have those two ideas shaped the music?

A lot. I think it was very current in our lives and a big part of what was going on during that time. Having taken more time to reflect on it, it's kind of like looking at the connections in our lives, growing into our early twenties and what that's looked like socially, both for us and generally for people our age.

As a generation, there's also everything that's going on with how digital everything has become and finding closeness within that. And then there's personal experience, just how deep and nuanced relationships can go. I feel like when you're in your late teens and early twenties, there are so many things changing socially. Friendships you've had consistently, and people you've had in your life for so long, will change. You're meeting new people and letting go of people who were in your life.

It's a period of change and uncertainty, and I think all of those things shaped the sentiment of a lot of the songs on ‘Nocturne’, particularly time affecting connection and isolation.

OLIVIA and WILL
full looks PRADA

You’ve spoken about having very different creative processes, with Olivia being more meticulous and Will working more instinctively. How do you find a balance between those approaches?

We've learned to channel different parts of ourselves. At the beginning of the process, when we're bringing in ideas, I've learned to be less meticulous because there's an understanding that these are broad strokes, and to lean into my intuitive side and let instinct lead.

Then, by the end, we both lean into a more meticulous side because we both have that as well. But overall, within the creative process, we try to allow ideas to be free and become whatever they want to be, to flesh them out, and then begin judging or refining them later. If we want to make decisions for the sake of creation or world-building, we do that later in the process.

Night-time is such an important part of the world of ‘Nocturne’. What is it about the night that brings out a different side of you creatively?

I don't know specifically what it is, but I think it's the stillness. I keep using the word liminality, but it's like this in-between state. I guess it's partly because of the way society works, and that's why it feels so peaceful and freeing.

It feels like free time, actual free time. Everybody's clocked off and it feels like you can do whatever you want. There are no voices telling you otherwise. It's just your time completely.

There's this constant environment of the night, and that's why it feels like a personified thing in itself, because it accompanies you when you feel most free. That's what it is for me.

OLIVIA
dress and shoes FENDI
bra CALZEDONIA
bracelet COMPLETED WORKS

WILL
wears shirt YMC
trousers and belt PAUL SMITH
shoes JIMMY CHOO

You combine classical music, electronic sounds, soul, jazz and club influences. How do you decide which sounds and influences belong in a Wasia Project song?

I don't know. We never really thought about it before, but I guess with this album we began to. I think it's whatever is true to the song.

For this album especially, we wanted it to be darker and to have more electronic elements. To be fair, all of those little subgenres were things we wrote down at the beginning, before we'd even made anything. We knew we wanted to explore these pillars and have a good balance between them because those were the things we were leaning towards at the time.

I don't know what makes something feel like a Wasia Project song. It's just whether the song is good and we resonate with it. Within the context of a project, we look at how it balances with the other songs, like we did with this album. Otherwise, it's just a song that we both care about, that feels personal and true to us, and feels like something we both like.

Your Chinese heritage appears in subtle, often instinctive ways in the music, particularly on ‘Moon Goddess’. Has your relationship with that part of your identity changed as you’ve grown older?

Definitely. I think identity is always changing and is a very complicated thing, but my relationship with my heritage feels a lot stronger now. I think the older I get, the more aware I am of it. But I also try not to be too self-aware about that kind of thing because, even in the question, you're talking about it being instinctive and subtle. I think the nature of feeling connected to your roots should come from instinct and your natural yearning, love or desire to be part of something that you are.

Going to China now feels like I'm still trying to connect to the subtle parts of myself that remember when we were younger. I just let myself feel it rather than forcing anything in particular. We've definitely visited China a lot more, connected socially and maybe become more accepting of certain parts of ourselves.

I think I'm just more aware now. I love expressing the pride I have in that heritage through the music, but not in a way that feels defining of us. It's just a proud part of us. Particularly with our Chinese heritage, because we've grown up in England, it can feel like this long-lost identity to be found, but it's always been there really. I think I just discover new things about it every day.

You’re siblings as well as creative partners. Did making ‘Nocturne’ change the way you understand or work with each other?

Yeah, honestly, completely. We understood a lot about each other going into this process, but now we understand each other a lot more. I also think we've changed since, so it's a constant process of understanding, talking about things and communicating.

We'd never made an album before. We'd never dedicated ourselves to a project this wholeheartedly, especially with the ambition we had for it, our goals and aligning on those things. I think we discovered a lot about ourselves and why we make music. Before, we kind of just made music, but this involved a lot of deep digging into what is actually in this for us and what we essentially do this for.

Understanding the root of that in each other is a major part of being able to stay together as a band and continue to collaborate. It's about understanding that, but it's an ever-growing, ever-changing process.

OLIVIA
dress and shoes STELLA MCCARTNEY
jewellery THE DIAMOND STORE

WILL
coat and shirt YMC
suit COS
shoes RM WILLIAMS

The album touches on growing up in an increasingly digital and disconnected world. What do you think young people are searching for right now?

I think what young people are searching for right now is third spaces that feel safe, nice and fun, and that people actually go to. That's what I would search for, just third spaces for community.

I feel like everybody's a bit awkward or everybody's very quick to judge because it's built into the way social media works. But in real life, there are so many things you can uncover from people and ways you can open your mind.

One of my favourite things about touring, or even doing a warm-up tour or whatever it is, is that you meet people in all of these different places. Even though it's fleeting, it feels special. It feels like a connection, some kind of nomadic connection. It's in these third spaces.

I don't know exactly what young people are searching for right now, but I think that's something that would be nice.

You’ve described ‘Nocturne’ as “a world within a world” and a place of respite. What do you hope people feel when they enter that world?

I hope they feel comfort and a sense of soothing. It might sound a bit like a therapist, but I want it to be a safe space to actually feel your feelings.

It's like what night-time is to me. It's that freedom and space, and the feeling that nobody is watching you. There's no pressure and there are no other people. It's completely your time and about your relationship with whatever you want to do with that time.

That's what I hope the album can offer, a similar feeling. It's more like a location or a space people can go to when they listen to it. They can become immersed in this world and feel free within it, stay there as long as they like, and just immerse themselves.

TEAM CREDITS:

talent WASIA PROJECT
photographer EDDIE BLAGBROUGH
stylist DELANEY WILLIAMS
makeup GEORGIA HOPE
hair TAKU HORIWAKI
stylist assistants ENRICA MILLER and KEISHA ADAMS
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial director JANA LETONJA
interview SAMO ŠAJN