Why Wasia Project’s “Whale Call” is Their Most Devastating Track Yet

If you’ve been following Wasia Project, you already know sibling duo Will Gao and Olivia Hardy don’t really do half-measures when it comes to emotion. Whether they’re blending sweeping classical piano chords with jazz-infused alt-pop or pulling at our heartstrings on screen (yes, Will is still keeping us hooked over in Heartstopper), they have a knack for capturing the exact ache of growing up.

Their new single, “Whale Call” hits that exact nerve. It’s also our latest taste of their heavily anticipated debut album, Nocturne, which drops on September 18 via AWAL Recordings.

The Story Behind “Whale Call”

The band described the track as a “lament,” and honestly, that word feels spot-on. It zeroes in on a very specific, lonely kind of pain—watching someone you care about drift closer to somebody else, trying your hardest to bridge the gap, but realizing that even reaching out hurts.

It feels like sending a signal into deep water and waiting to see if anything echoes back. Olivia’s vocals are as ethereal as ever, floating over Will’s intricate piano work in a way that feels intensely fragile yet massive all at once.

If you’ve already caught Netflix’s Heartstopper Forever, you might even recognize the track from its feature in the film, making it an instant standout for fans tracking the band’s cross-medium momentum.

What to Expect from Nocturne

“Whale Call” follows incredible preceding singles like “Bleeding Gold” and “2515”, steadily building a world for Nocturne. Produced by St. Francis Hotel, the 12-track record is shaping up to be a sprawling, nocturnal journey.

The duo built the album around the concept of the night—ranging from the dizzying rush of a late-night club to the heavy isolation of being wide awake at 3 a.m. If past EPs like Isotope taught us anything, it’s that Wasia Project thrives in these moody, cinematic extremes.

Catch Them on Tour This Autumn

Off the back of massive tours across North America and beyond, the band is bringing Nocturne to life with a massive headline run across the U.K. and Europe later this year.

Here are a few stops on the itinerary:

• November 4: Glasgow, U.K. – SWG3 Galvanizers

• November 6: Manchester, U.K. – New Century Hall

• November 8: Birmingham, U.K. – O2 Institute

• November 11: London, U.K. – Roundhouse

• November 20: Paris, France – Elysee Montmartre

• November 23: Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg

• November 25: Berlin, Germany – Astra Kulturhaus