Wasia Project: artist music profile and overview of live performances
Wasia Project is a British musical duo consisting of siblings Will Gao and Olivia Hardy. The project originated in London, and their collaborative work developed from classical music education toward a blend of indie pop, jazz, classical music, soul and contemporary electronic production. Gao grew up playing the piano, Hardy the violin, and it is precisely the combination of instrumental knowledge, different songwriting approaches and close collaboration that has become one of the main characteristics of their sound.
They attracted wider attention with the EP how can i pretend?, which includes songs such as ur so pretty and impossible. The song ur so pretty was particularly important, appearing in the series Heartstopper and introducing Wasia Project to an audience that had not previously followed their musical work. Gao plays Tao Xu in the same series, but the duo developed their music career independently of his acting work. After their earlier songs and first EP, their sound became broader in terms of production, which is particularly evident on the project Isotope with the songs Somebody Come Through, Takes Me Back Home, To Get Better and Tell Me Lies (fin).
An important new chapter comes with Nocturne, their debut studio album announced for September 18, 2026. The album contains 12 songs and further expands the duo's sound toward dance-oriented electronic music, soul and cinematic piano pop, without abandoning the classical foundations that characterized their earlier recordings. The songs 2515, Bleeding Gold, Whale Call and Vogue introduced different aspects of that approach: from introspective compositions to more pronounced rhythmic and club-inspired arrangements. Nocturne is conceived as a musical journey through the night, from quieter moments and feelings of growing up to a more euphoric section that moves closer to the dance floor.
This breadth makes Wasia Project an interesting example of contemporary pop that does not rely on a single strictly defined genre formula. Their music can begin with piano and voice, move into jazz-infused harmonies, string elements or indie pop, and then finish in an electronically shaped arrangement. For audiences who follow concerts, an additional value lies in the possibility of hearing the same songs performed differently live than on the studio recordings.
Concerts and live performances
Wasia Project's concert story developed gradually. Their first performances were small and intimate, while the growth of their audience led to larger headline concerts, festival appearances and international dates. The duo is particularly associated with performances in which piano and vocals remain at the forefront, but their concert format expanded along with their discography. During 2026, they also held more intimate Piano Show performances, including a concert in Manila, while the period following the release of the album Nocturne is connected with a larger concert production and a UK/EU tour.
It is precisely the contrast between these formats that shows why Wasia Project's songs work so well live. Compositions such as ur so pretty, Petals on the Moon and Remember When can emphasize the quieter, emotional side of their repertoire, while newer material brings more rhythm and room for a more dynamic concert. The audience therefore follows not only familiar songs but also the way Will Gao and Olivia Hardy combine voices, piano, instrumental layers and different levels of intensity within the same performance.
Why does the audience follow Wasia Project live?
- Classical musical foundation: piano, violin and experience gained through classical education have left a strong mark on the writing and arranging of their songs.
- Distinctive relationship between two songwriters: as brother and sister, Gao and Hardy have developed a way of working together in which their different musical ideas complement one another.
- Songs connected with different stages of their career: ur so pretty, Petals on the Moon, Remember When and Somebody Come Through represent several different sides of their sound so far.
- Wide genre range: jazz, indie pop, classical elements, soul and electronic music allow for significant changes in atmosphere during a single concert.
- Intimate and expanded concert formats: the duo can present their music through a stripped-down piano performance, but also through a production-rich concert adapted to newer material.
- The Nocturne album era: the new album brings additional songs and different production possibilities, which is why the current concert cycle represents a new stage in their development.
How to prepare for the concert?
Wasia Project is not an artist whose repertoire can be reduced to just one type of song. Before the concert, it is useful to become familiar with both their earlier, more intimate recordings and the material from the Isotope and Nocturne projects. This makes it easier to recognize how much their approach changes between piano ballads, jazz-inspired pop and newer songs with a more pronounced electronic and rhythmic component.
Performance conditions may vary depending on whether the concert takes place in a smaller venue, a traditional concert hall, a club or a larger venue as part of the tour. Before arriving, it is useful to check the venue address, door opening time, rules regarding bags and items that may be brought inside, as well as any age restrictions. At standing concerts, comfortable footwear is particularly important, while for numbered seating it is advisable to check the location of the section and entrance in advance.
Tickets, dates and availability
Interest in tickets may vary from city to city, especially when the tour includes a limited number of performances. Wasia Project already had sold-out headline dates during earlier stages of their career, and a new UK/EU concert series has been announced for autumn 2026 in connection with the Nocturne album period.
Availability and seating categories may change, so when planning it is useful to compare the date, city, type of venue and seating or standing arrangement. Particular attention should be paid to the exact date of the event because some cities may have only one performance.
Interesting facts about Wasia Project you may not have known
Will Gao and Olivia Hardy grew up in Croydon in south London in a family of British and Chinese heritage. The name Wasia Project is connected precisely with their mixed Western and Asian heritage. Both learned music from an early age: Gao piano and Hardy violin. Their joint project began to take shape in 2019, while their first songs were created using a considerably more modest production process than the material they release today.
Their musical development particularly demonstrates how classical education does not necessarily have to lead toward a classical repertoire. Wasia Project uses that foundation to explore pop, jazz, indie music and electronic music. The connection of the song ur so pretty with the series Heartstopper opened an additional path toward an international audience, but later releases, concerts and the development toward the album Nocturne gradually built a distinct identity for the duo that is not tied solely to Gao's acting career.
What to expect at the performance?
A Wasia Project concert can feature pronounced changes in dynamics. The quieter parts of the repertoire rely on voice, piano and melody, while newer material allows for stronger rhythmic transitions and electronic textures. As a result, intimate songs and more energetic compositions can alternate without the entire performance needing to remain within a single musical register.
The most recognizable songs naturally play an important role in the concert repertoire, but the current period is increasingly connected with material created around the album Nocturne. Rather than using a completely fixed performance model, Wasia Project has used both stripped-down piano performances and broader concert arrangements in recent years, so the specific experience depends on the venue and the format of the performance.
The most pronounced characteristic remains the collaboration between two musicians who build their songs through a shared songwriting process. This is precisely why a concert makes it possible to hear more clearly the elements that blend into the production on studio recordings: piano, vocal interplay, changes in tempo and transitions between classically shaped melodies and contemporary pop.