Wasia Project at Heaven
London’s famous Heaven is teeming with concertgoers of all ages as Wasia Project take the stage, running onto a small, smoky setup packed with instruments for the evening ahead.
Immediately falling into Petals, main vocalist Olivia Hardy is full of lush and vibrant energy. She spins casually, grinning and hyping the crowd with ease, so clearly enjoying herself that it’s infectious. Her brother and bandmate, Will Gao Hardy, settles alongside her behind two pianos, a space that seems comfortable to him, and offers sweet backing vocals to Olivia’s soulful runs. It’s only the first song in and we’re treated to both saxophone and trombone solos, a taste of what proves to be a night where music soars.
Burning Eyes R Calling breaks down into a wondrous jazz moment next, a wholly immersive backdrop to Olivia’s voice, rich with story. The way she sings just makes you want to listen to what she has to say. Will closes the song out with truly impressive piano skills, encompassing how well they complement each other as a duo, never trying to outperform or overshadow, as siblings tend to do, but blending into each other in a way that only makes them stand out, adding a layer of familiarity to the overall experience.
The middle of the show slows down as they perform fan favourites Remember When and the dreamy ur so pretty. Fans know the latter by a single chord, erupting into excited cheers before the siblings can even get a bar in. Most sing along quietly, content to just listen; the silence at the end before the applause is one of awe and respect, the room transfixed. The tracks they perform are slow but powerful, building and building into moments that feel cinematic. My Vine, a devoted love song, is a special moment, and those onstage have to step back to take in the sea of phone light flashes before them.
The gig ends in a booming party with rainbow lights and confetti cannons. Again, Will’s piano trills are a testament to talent and consistently a highlight of the performance. The whole room moves with Olivia’s hands, jumping and celebrating the final number, Impossible. A Wasia Project show is musically transcendent, a towering mix of soul and indie electronica, lyrical belts, jazz beats and a damn good time.
Talitha Stowell
Photos: Virginie Viche
For further information and future events visit Wasia Project’s website here.
Watch the video for the single Remember When here:
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