REVIEW

Debut EP from San Francisco, California–based artist Wisp (Natalie R Lu).

Wisp rose to prominence almost overnight with her first single, “Your Face.” At the time, Natalie R Lu was just 18 years old. She recorded vocals using Apple earbuds as a makeshift microphone over a track produced by grayskies, mixed everything on her phone, and uploaded the song to TikTok—where it quickly went viral. When the track was officially released on Spotify, it reached one million streams in roughly one month.

Even more remarkably, before releasing her second single, Wisp signed a deal with Interscope Records, the major label home to artists such as Billie Eilish and Lady Gaga. Her monthly Spotify listeners, which stood at 900,000 prior to that second release, surged to 1.96 million by October 2024, firmly cementing her popularity. Including this fairytale-like rise, Wisp can now be considered one of the defining figures in the current shoegaze scene.

The appeal of Wisp’s sound lies in the way her delicate, fragile vocals intertwine with massive, heavy guitar harmonies, creating a melancholic atmosphere that feels like slowly sinking underwater. Wisp has cited Whirr as her most beloved artist—she is such a devoted fan that she even uses the band’s name as her Instagram ID—and also names Cocteau Twins and Deftones among her key influences. The fusion of ethereal beauty and heaviness in her music clearly reflects their impact.

Incidentally, the heavy and melancholic style of shoegaze represented by Wisp is often described as “Nu-Gaze.” Originally coined during the shoegaze revival of the 2000s, the term has recently been redefined in the context of nu metal–influenced shoegaze, and it has generated a massive following, particularly on TikTok. These days, a quick scroll through TikTok is enough to uncover countless undiscovered gems not yet available on streaming platforms. It is no surprise that labels are keeping a close watch on TikTok in search of the next generation of stars.

That should be enough background—let’s move on to the music itself.

The EP opens with #1 “Pandora,” a heavy track produced by Kraus. Its dynamic structure builds a powerful sense of elevation, delivering a catharsis reminiscent of opening Pandora’s box. #2 “Your Face” and #3 “Enough for You” showcase shadowy melodies and sinking, hypnotic beats that strongly recall Whirr, standing as definitive examples of Wisp’s core sound. In contrast, #4 “Luna” introduces a dreamy, light-filled atmosphere, adding striking contrasts of light and shade to the overall work.

Next comes #5 “See You Soon,” a romantic song centered on love, with an upbeat closing section that beautifully captures the happiness of being in love. The EP concludes with #6 “Mimi,” where noisy guitars blend seamlessly with a soothing, lullaby-like melody to bring the record to a gentle close.

Due to her viral success on TikTok and Spotify and her subsequent signing to Interscope, Wisp has occasionally been dismissed as an industry-manufactured star. However, with a collection of songs this strong, such criticisms are easily silenced. Moreover, her musical ability is evident: after studying violin and classical guitar in childhood, she went on to play electric guitar and bass, and she currently performs while playing guitar live on stage.

Since her first live performance in December 2023, Wisp has been actively touring, and in May 2024 she served as a support act on Panchiko’s North American tour. Thinking of Wisp—once an individual hidden away in the internet’s forest, like the angel depicted on the cover art—now spreading her wings and delivering excitement to audiences everywhere is undeniably dramatic.

As a live band, Wisp is surely continuing to grow, and I can only hope to see her perform as soon as possible. With a full-length album reportedly in the works, her popularity is certain to rise even further. To all Japanese promoters: I sincerely hope you will make Wisp’s Japan debut a reality.