Wisp Breaks Down New EP Pandora Track by Track: Exclusive
The post Wisp Breaks Down New EP Pandora Track by Track: Exclusive appeared first on Consequence.
Track by Track is a recurring feature series in which artists guide readers through every song on their latest release. Today, Wisp takes us through her new EP, Pandora.
Wisp has quickly risen within the contemporary shoegaze scene by penning satisfying, hazy songs with an expertise that extends far beyond her 19 years. She is already accomplished for such a young age, and her debut EP, Pandora, affirms what was already known — that she is one of the strongest members of the ongoing shoegaze revival (and for that, we’ve named her our March CoSign!). With heavy dream pop influence, her vocals flow through these atmospheric tracks, while the instrumentals remain grounded, rocking, and utterly drowned in sound.
The EP comes in gently, with the title track’s instrumental slowly seeping into listeners’ ears. The song swells into a massive, all-consuming instrumental that is impossible to ignore. It’s easy to see why this is the title track and the opener, as it sets the stage and states the thesis of not just Pandora, but of Wisp as an artist.
Following “Pandora” is the viral hit “Your face,” which first garnered the artist much-deserved attention. “‘Your face’ was the first song I’ve ever written and the one I owe for everything, including the existence of this EP,” Wisp tells Consequence. Its staying power is clear; this is a hit for a reason.
The rest of the songs carry the momentum established by the first two tracks, as well as Wisp’s influences, which, while clear, are repurposed to create something new and fresh. Pandora is something exciting, something to behold, and not merely a rehash of the past.
Listen to Wisp’s Pandora below, and read her Track by Track breakdown of the album.
Wisp is headed out on a US headlining tour later this month, and you can grab tickets here.
“Pandora”:
“Pandora” started off with the spacey, ambient instrumental you hear at the beginning and some drums. It went through a lot of structure changes, but just the ambient part alone led me to make this the lead track in the EP. Recording vocal melodies for this song came more naturally than usual as well, which is why I think it flows so well as one, although each part has its unique elements. The breakdown after the chorus into verse two is my favorite part, the electronic drums always hype me up.
“Your face”:
“Your face” was the first song I’ve ever written and the one I owe for everything, including the existence of this EP. I wrote it one night after coming home from my college classes. My friend had mentioned recording vocals over a song, so I thought it’d be fun to do the same despite not knowing anything about music production. I recorded my vocals on my Apple earbuds and mixed the track on my phone. The telephone-y vocals on this track have become a staple in my style and my favorite way to differentiate my music from others.
“Enough for you”:
I wrote “Enough for you” back in the fall of 2023. The process of writing this song was the most vulnerable I have ever been when creating music. I think I was just in a mindset where the only thing that could pull me out from that negativity was to put it into song, and I feel like that translates really well into the soundscape of “Enough for you.” [This is] simply a coincidence, but the grunginess of this song with the electronic parts in the chorus contrasts [with] the track “Pandora” so well. While the vibe and sound of each are completely different, to me at least, they correlate with each other in a special way.
“Luna”:
The writing/production process of “Luna” was so enjoyable and some of the most fun I’ve had recording and playing music. Usually, I’ll go into the studio with a reference song, and I think on the day I recorded “Luna,” I showed some folk-rock kind of song as a reference. It ended up completely different and so much better than I initially expected. We ended up with some super cool whammy notes towards the post-chorus, tracks of pure sound, and really cool guitar tones. I remember wanting to add so many more elements to this song, but where it sits is just right, and it is still one of the more detailed songs I have worked on.
“See you soon”:
I figured because most of my songs touch on more negative topics, I wanted to write a happier love song. That’s what “See you soon” was supposed to be, but towards the end of writing the lyrics, I added a last resolve line that goes, “To fall so fast, for someone who may never last,” which I wanted to add as contrast with the happy nature of the song — [capturing] the feeling of doubt and worry. It was around the same time I recorded vocals for “Enough for you,” which is why they both represent vulnerability, one in aching for love and one in undeserving of love.
“Mimi”:
This song was initially named after the sound you make when you’re sleepy, “mimimimi,” but it was so cute and grew on everyone, so we decided to keep it as that. The lyrics are completely unrelated, though, and this is by far the most uplifting and sweet song I’ve written. It’s about being in love with a performer, and seeing them up on stage and admiring their presence as a supporter and their love. I had so much fun making this song in the studio with Max, my producer, and my friends from the band Juggler as well.
Wisp Breaks Down New EP Pandora Track by Track: Exclusive
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