Wasia Project at the Fonda Theatre: Review

By: Sarah Hyun

Wasia Project, consisting of brother-sister duo Will Gao and Olivia Hardy, recently wrapped up the North American leg of their “Isotope” tour with two nights at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles. The siblings from London, joined by openers Nick Leng and Sabrina Sterling, put on a show that would be remembered by fans for years to come. 

Wasia Project—a name that began as a playful twist on their White and Asian heritage—formed in the household of Gao and Hardy as they began writing songs together, releasing “why don’t u love me?” in 2019. Gao—being a classically-trained pianist—incorporates elements of classical and jazz into their alternative-pop records, while Hardy—with her unique voice and smooth tone—really brings their songs to life. The homogenization of genres can be heard on their newest EP, “Isotope,” with string arrangements appearing in tracks like “Takes Me Back Home” and “Tell Me Lies (fin),” saxophone playing in “Isotope,” and pop synths appearing in “Somebody Come Through.” The two likely intended for their fans to listen to “Isotope” in chronological order, as each track blends into the following, truly captivating listeners and transporting them into another dimension. The final track, “Tell Me Lies (fin),” is a beautifully cinematic piece that ends the record on such a satisfying note.

Although Gao has already gained massive recognition for starring as Tao Xu in Netflix’s original series “Heartstopper,” Wasia Project has already made their mark in the music world with their unique sound filled with deeply personal lyrics about the growing pains of heartbreak, love, and maturing. Gao and Hardy are only 21 and 19 respectively, but they have been able to capture the confusing feelings of their teenage years so well, writing lyrics like, “I’m so scared that the moments we shared, won’t happen again, I don’t want this to end,” and “In that moment you were mine, time was all it was but now it’s gone.”

The two, being talented songwriters, do not fall short on their stage performance. They opened the night with the tracks “Is This What Love Is?,” “My Lover Is Sleeping” and “U Deserve.” Hardy, with her mic in hand, danced happily on the stage as she sang her lyrics along with excited concertgoers wearing their themed outfits of black and white dresses, skirts, blouses, Doc Martens and bows. On an Instagram post from September, Wasia Project stated that the theme was “monochrome, elegant, classy, “Isotope” chic” to which fans did not disappoint. Gao sat by his keyboard, impressively scaling his fingers on the keys along to the beat. Bassist Tom Pacitti, drummer Luca Wade and saxophonist Rachel Mazer had incredible chemistry with Gao and Hardy, creating a palpable energy in the crowd that could be felt throughout the night. 

Before playing what was supposed to be “Remember When,” on their setlist, Gao and Hardy decided to switch things around and play the first song they ever released—“why don’t u love me”—per a fan’s request. The fully acoustic performance of this track was truly magical —fans watched in awe as Hardt sang and Gao played piano, gently swaying along to the tune. A similar moment occurred during “ur so pretty,” with only Hardy and Gao playing, and fans watching in amazement—some crying, some smiling, and all soaking in the special moment. After the song finished, Gao said, “That felt really really special tonight, don’t you feel the same thing, Olivia?” As a long-time fan of Wasia Project, I can attest hearing this song live was truly mesmerizing—a very special moment I will cherish forever.

After a bossa nova cover of “Smooth Operator” and their song “To Get Better,”—where

Gaol took on lead vocals and Hardy soloed on the guitar—the two finished off with “Somebody Come Through” and “Tell Me Lies (fin).” They made a quick exit, where fans applauded loudly, before reappearing shortly after for the encore. They actually ended the night with “Misfit Biscuit” and “impossible” with Gao back on main vocals. During this point in the show, fans were seen jumping, dancing, crying, screaming and ecstatically singing along. Every bandmate’s energy could be felt in that moment—Gao standing up and slamming his fingers on the keys, his chair falling over, Hardy bouncing around and jumping excitedly into a knee-slide, Pacitti whipping his hair along to the addictive beat and Wade going absolutely insane on the drums. 

After the last note of their last song, the crowd applauded wildly, and the goodbye was bittersweet. Although Wasia Project did just finish up their North American tour, they are sure to return to the Fonda Theatre, or possibly an even bigger venue, in the near future.