This article is a review and contains subjective opinions, thoughts and criticisms.
The murmurs of the crowd turned to rapturous cheers when 19-year-old shoegaze artist Wisp took to the stage at the Independent in San Francisco on May 22. Wearing a gray zip-up hoodie layered over a black dress, white calf socks and black loafers, the singer looked relaxed and at home during her first hometown show, where she performed her latest single, “Pandora.”
A prodigy, Wisp’s career is steadily growing. Having just released her debut EP “Pandora,” Her new album, due out this April, has been described by UPROXX as “the boldest shoegaze release of 2024,” and she’s come a long way since releasing her first single, “Your face,” last April.
Wisp kicked off the show with a performance of “Pandora.” The song features a dynamic instrumental that reflects the theme of twisted love, with lyrics such as “If you hold me, I’ll bleed for you” and “So I’ll make flowers bloom beneath my lungs, and my wounds open for all of you.” She began the song with her breathy vocals combined with a backtrack that evokes a dream-like state in the listener with an almost white noise-like quality. The musician then made her trademark transition from meditative music to metal.
At first, I was taken aback by the contrast between Wisp’s soft, dreamy vocals and the heavy metal drums and guitars, but I soon realized that the two blended expertly to create a unique sound that appeals to teen and young adult audiences. The softcore and edgy elements of the artist’s outfit are equally representative of the fusion of bedroom pop and metal that characterizes her music.
Wisp’s bleached, faded hair and outfits reminded me of the outfits I wore to my first concert (my hair was a little less bleached then, but it is a little bleached now). As a young Asian American woman, it was a confidence boost to see someone from my background onstage. Watching Wisp was like watching another version of myself in another world, especially since I didn’t see many Asian American performers growing up.
I was already emotionally exhausted, but hearing the lyrics of “Pandora” at the concert brought thoughts swirling in my head and feelings I could never imagine. The lyrics speak of the unrequited feelings of a devotee desperately trying to win someone’s love. Hearing them sung out loud made it all the more personal, as if the room had suddenly become smaller and Wisp was alone in front of me. With words I couldn’t put into words filling my heart, I watched Wisp dominate the stage, entranced by his presence.
The performance featured quick switches between darkness and light, with spotlights flashing rapidly throughout the show, and while the atmosphere was conducive to the artist’s style, it did feel a bit overstimulating at times.
Even when the lights and sound were too intense, Wisp’s lyrics made for an overall enjoyable experience: her lyrics are the kind of poetry you savor while lying in bed in your dorm room at 2am on a Saturday night, contemplating what it means to be alive, or just to be alive. Become familiarThe way she strings words together evokes emotions I felt strongly as a teenager: indecision, heartbreak, and a longing for the unknown.
Wisp spoke directly to the crowd as she seamlessly switched guitars and adjusted her equipment throughout the show amid excited screams. The musician engaged in conversation, asking fans where they traveled to see her perform and was impressed to learn some had traveled from as far away as Sacramento. She also revealed that her family had come to see her first show in her hometown.
The artist took a moment to acknowledge the crew with whom she’d shared the stage that night and been on the road since mid-April, which elicited thunderous cheers and applause. Though she was soft-spoken, she didn’t need to be loud to grab the attention of the crowd, who were hanging on her every word.
Many in the audience recorded Wisp’s memorable final number on their phones, mesmerized by the artist and each other. Couples swayed to the music and embraced lovingly as Wisp’s soft, melodious voice filled the room. The small, intimate setting created an emotional and physical warmth that was hard to forget.
