Q&A: Shoegaze Revival: Wisp on Her "Pandora" EP and Lollapalooza Performance
DREAMY SOUNDSCAPES MEET RAW, EMOTIONAL CORE – Natalie R. Lu, better known by her stage name Wisp, has quickly become a standout figure in the Gen-Z shoegaze revival. Her music builds a dreamy yet eerie atmosphere, weaving gentle vocals and droning guitars into an enchanting auditory experience. This unique blend has resonated deeply with listeners, propelling her debut single “Your Face” to rack up millions of streams on Spotify and earning her a coveted spot on the Interscope Records roster.
Since the release of “Your Face” just over a year ago, Wisp has skyrocketed into shoegaze stardom. Her debut EP, Pandora, further cements her place in the genre. The EP’s tracks are a sonic journey, characterized by their ethereal layers and melancholic undertones, offering a modern take on the classic shoegaze sound. Each song on "Pandora" showcases Wisp's ability to create a soundscape that is both haunting and beautiful, drawing listeners into her unique musical world.
Pandora demonstrates an intuitive understanding of songcraft and arrangement that continues to evolve with each listen. Drawing inspiration from the likes of shoegaze icons Whirr and alternative rock legends Deftones, Wisp has crafted a distinct and sophisticated sound that pushes the boundaries of modern rock music. The EP is a testament to Wisp's ability to blend her influences into a cohesive and innovative whole. The EP's tracks are meticulously arranged, featuring layers of droning guitars, ethereal vocals and lush soundscapes that envelop the listener.
Wisp's sound on Pandora is characterized by its dreamy, otherworldly quality, yet it retains a raw emotional core that resonates deeply with listeners. Her vocals float effortlessly over the dense instrumental arrangements, creating a hauntingly beautiful contrast that defines her sound.
This rapid ascent in her career has led to significant milestones, including a performance at Lollapalooza. Fans eagerly anticipate her set, where she captivates the audience with performances of Pandora's iconic tracks and concludes with the hit single that started it all, “Your Face.” Her presence at Lollapalooza is a testament to her growing influence and the impact she has made in such a short time.
In an exclusive deep dive with Luna, Wisp opens up about her Lollapalooza set and the creative process behind Pandora. She described her music as an ethereal and whimsical world, where she channels her emotions and experiences into each track.
As Wisp continues to evolve and push the boundaries of the shoegaze genre, her fans can look forward to more dreamy soundscapes that capture the essence of modern shoegaze while paying homage to its roots.
Photography Credit: Abra Richardson
LUNA: Thank you for sitting down and talking to Luna. For any readers who aren’t familiar yet, what kind of atmosphere or emotional space do you aim to create for your listeners?
WISP: I try to aim for a very ethereal, pretty, whimsical vibe but at the same time, I love incorporating heavy drone guitars into my music. It's all about the build up for me that makes it so crazy and emotional.
LUNA: You released your debut EP Pandora earlier this year. How has the response and support been from fans and loved ones since the release?
WISP: They're loving it which is so awesome to hear. I was a little bit skeptical about my abilities as an artist at first, but after creating Pandora, I was honestly proud of myself for the first time in a while and it was very heartwarming seeing that other people were enjoying it as much as I was.
LUNA: Did you ever expect your music to blow up as much as it did through social media?
WISP: Not really. I was thinking that people would still be so obsessed with “Your Face” and just that specific single, and even though I love the love that “Your Face” is getting, it was a good feeling to escape that and expand in my music.
LUNA: Pandora is very multifaceted from its roots with its sound ranging from traditional shoegaze, alt-rock to bedroom pop, but still has a very DIY feel to it. How do you approach building such a diverse soundscape within a single EP?
WISP: It’s honestly all in the people that I work with, because I have so many friends in the shoegaze community that will come in, hop on guitar or bass or drums. It's a really collaborative thing. Even though I say that Wisp is my solo project, I feel like Wisp is a band that anyone can be in.
LUNA: What is your favorite song from Pandora and why do you love it? Is there a certain lyric or message that stands out to you the most?
WISP: I think my favorite on Pandora is “Pandora.” I worked with Will Kraus on that one. He's one of my favorite shoegaze artists, and he brought so much to the song and I feel like the lyrics that I wrote for “Pandora” were very meaningful to me too. I was very proud of that.
LUNA: I absolutely adore the cover art for Pandora and your visuals that depict very dreamscape scenes. How do your personal aesthetics, especially with the iconic angel wings, play a role in your visual storytelling?
WISP: I started with a mermaid vibe. I grew up loving mermaids. I was obsessed with them. I still am obsessed with movies. I do think they exist somewhere out in the world. I wanted to keep that mythological, mystic vibe going on. I was thinking about how else I could switch it up, and I thought of a bloody snow angel. It has all the elements of being pretty but eerie at the same time.
LUNA: What’s the atmosphere like at Lollapalooza, both on stage and off? How does it compare to other shows you’ve played?
WISP: So different. I was expecting it to be different but not this different. I usually don't really get nervous before shows, but for a while, I was definitely nervous on stage. The energy from the crowd was incredible. I really appreciated that.
LUNA: What’s your favorite song to play live and why?
WISP: My favorite is definitely “Your Face” because people go the craziest for that song. They're anticipating it and you can feel the love for that song. Also it’s really fun to play on guitar and to sing and I feel like I'm very loose when I perform it.
LUNA: Do you have any pre-show rituals or routines that help you get ready for a big performance like Lollapalooza?
WISP: Pre-show I would say I drink a lot of throat coats which are the tea bags that help you. A lot of people don't like how it tastes but I love it. Yeah. It's great. Post-show, I just frantically ask every single person in the greenroom if I looked good and sounded good.
LUNA: Did you have the chance to explore the festival and see other artists perform? If so, who were some of your favorites?
WISP: I really want to see Sexyy Red.
LUNA: How do you choose your setlist for a festival performance, and did you do anything special or different for Lollapalooza?
WISP: I didn't do anything different for Lolla, but we did have a new visuals guy who is doing live visuals for the set, which was super cool.
LUNA: How are you feeling in this current era of your career and what does the rest of the year look like for you that you would love to share with Luna?
WISP: I'm feeling great about everything. I’m so excited to play more festivals. I have lots of big announcements for next year as well, and going on tour probably again and just working on my album. It's been great.
