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Sibling duo’s intimate new single previews their debut album Nocturne, arriving Sept. 18, with a moving reflection on love, memory and identity
ALT-POP musical duo Wasia Project by siblings Will Gao and Olivia Hardy has released its latest single Whale Call, a deeply intimate ballad that meditates on love, memory and the self left behind. The single serves as a preview for the debut album Nocturne, set for release on Sept 18.
One of the album’s most emotionally arresting moments, Whale Call was formed from fragments of a voice memo Hardy recorded when she was just 15 years old, particularly the line, “I’ve spent a while. Looking up at the moon”.
Written years later in isolation inside a freezing church, the galactic ballad became a way to process a pivotal experience that shaped her.
A lament for a lost lover or perhaps a younger, more impressionable version of herself, Whale Call slowly unfurls into a hymn-like crescendo, its closing moments soaring skywards like the whale call of its title, releasing emotions long held beneath the surface.
Global rise ahead of debut album
Formed in 2019, Wasia Project’s mixed British-Chinese heritage and classical background drive a global approach to pop that cuts across musical traditions and hemispheres.
Its reach has expanded rapidly, amassing over 200 million streams across its catalogue and peaking at 2.4 million monthly Spotify listeners.
Most recently, Whale Call follows previous album singles 2515 and Bleeding Gold, which have already amassed over three million combined streams, steadily built anticipation for Nocturne while offering a compelling introduction to the album’s sonic world.
The track has been a key part of Wasia Project’s live set over the past few months, as the duo’s touring activity continues to deepen its connection with a growing fanbase.
It debuted new music live for the very first time to a rapturous response during a run of sold-out intimate piano shows across Asia, including the Philippines and Hong Kong, with additional dates added due to popular demand.
Wasia Project has also announced its most extensive headline UK and Europe tour to date, commencing in Autumn 2026.
