You need to know Wisp, the 19-year-old artist making viral shoegaze

Inspired by the likes of Whirr and Deftones, San Francisco-based Wisp was met with immediate success upon the release of her debut single “Your Face” in 2023. It now has 48 million streams on Spotify. Described as a “wall-to-wall shoegaze heater” by NYLON, the 19-year-old’s music is so reminiscent of early 2000s alternative rock that it’s difficult to come to terms with the fact that she makes this music today. 

There’s not much known about Wisp online, but what we do know is that she’s not a one-hit wonder. After the release of “Your Face”, she released incredibly popular singles such as “Tangled Dreams”, “Once then we’ll be free,” and “See you soon”, which resulted in her amassing a cult-like fanbase. Due in part to her mysterious social media presence. 

Last week (April 5), the ethereal vocalist released her highly anticipated debut EP, Pandora. We spoke to the musician about her music, nightmare blunt rotation, and weirdest internet obsessions. 

How would you describe your music? 

Wisp: My music falls under the nu-gaze, alt-rock genre. My sound is spacey and grunge. My vocal style is similar to older dream-pop but has an eerie beauty to it. As the production was low quality, my earlier singles have a more DIY feel, but the telephone vocal effects have become a staple in my songs. 

When did you first become aware of the power of good music? What song could you not stop playing growing up? 

Wisp: My parents aren’t the biggest music heads, but they did put me on a lot of music, especially my dad. He would only play Gorillaz songs during car rides, so many of my childhood road trips consisted of the album Demon Days on repeat. My personal favourite Gorillaz song growing up was “On Melancholy Hill”, which I would also play on repeat during school and still listen to all the time. 

Please share the most recent note from your notes App!

Wisp: It reads “Jhs Muffuletta.” I attended Sway Fest recently, where I met the members of Nothing and Whirr, along with many other talented musicians. Joey gave me a pedal recommendation (the Jhs Muffuletta), so I bought it the day after. 

What’s your favourite cornershop snack? 

Wisp: Gummy worms, but not the sour kind. 

What’s your ghost outfit? 

Wisp: My pyjamas so I can be comfortable in the afterlife. And my Hello Kitty guitar.

What’s your star sign and are you a typical one of that star sign? 

Wisp: I’m a Leo, which is really hard for people to guess (I love guessing star signs). A lot of people have told me I give off more Taurus energy, which is my moon sign! I am also a Capricorn rising.

What’s your weirdest internet obsession? 

Wisp: I’m really into SCP (Special Containment Procedures) videos and those backroom animations. I used to play some SCP games on Stream, but don’t play many games anymore. I still think the lore and animations are so cool, though. I could watch those for hours. 

If you could only listen to one musician for the rest of your life, who would it be? 

Wisp: Whirr. 

What would the line-up be in your nightmare blunt rotation? 

Wisp: My family because I would be in trouble. 

What do you put on your rider? 

Wisp: Gummy worms, gummy bears, matcha, baby carrots, cotton candy grapes, Arizona iced tea, Wheat thins, watermelon and jasmine tea packets.

You encounter a hostile alien race and sound is their only mechanism for communication. What song would you play to them to inspire them to spare you and the rest of the human race? 

Wisp: I would play “Give It Away” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers because I think it’s a good gateway into learning English and a really funky song. It’s just catchy (to me at least), so I feel like the aliens would dance and then want to learn the lyrics because of how satisfying they’re sung. That’s the song I imagine in my head if we were to have a peace party with them.

Pandora is out now via Interscope