Wasia Project, the collaborative name of brother‑sister pair Will Gao – also known for his acting role in the series Heartstopper – and Olivia Hardy, have spent the past few years experimenting with songwriting after the COVID‑19 lockdowns. Their efforts culminated in a debut album that critics describe as “spectacular” for its ambitious blend of classical‑electro soundscapes and raw lyrical content.
The album opens with the track “2515,” which plunges listeners into a dark, orchestral‑electronic world. Hardy’s soaring vocals contrast sharply with lyrics that reference emotional abuse, such as “Break me down again, then you lift me up, it’s so pathetic, you only want to save me, when you see me drown.”
Subsequent songs continue the theme of turbulent relationships. “Bleeding Gold” features Hardy’s plaintive lines about isolation on a bus, while “Even If I Tried,” sung by Gao, evokes the mood of Radiohead’s *Amnesiac* era. The closing track “Wildfire” sees Hardy reflecting on blame and longing, likening love to a fire that burns out.
The duo’s sound has been likened to a modern take on classic British pop, with nods to Soft Cell, Human League, and even Nine Inch Nails, especially on the expansive “Strike Me Down From Heaven.” Reviewers note that the album’s hooks sit alongside “torn psychology and self‑destructive tendencies,” a hallmark of the British pop tradition the siblings are continuing.
While no mainstream outlets have officially recommended the record, the reviewers suggest it could become a “bedroom heartbreak classic” and a “prime piece of modern Romanticism,” potentially resonating with listeners who appreciate both grandiose production and intimate lyrical confession.