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Pandora (Wisp EP)

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Pandora
An angel lying face down in the snow in a forest
EP by
Wisp
ReleasedApril 5, 2024 (2024-04-05)
Recorded2023–2024
Studio
  • Natalie's Room
GenreShoegaze
Length23:36
Label
Producer
  • Photographic Memory
  • Kraus
  • Grayskies
  • Elliott Kozel
Singles from Pandora
  1. "Your Face"
    Released: April 4, 2023
  2. "See You Soon"
    Released: January 24, 2024
  3. "Enough for You"
    Released: March 15, 2024

Pandora is the debut extended play (EP) by the American shoegaze musician Wisp, released on April 5, 2024. After rising to prominence with her debut single "Your Face" and subsequently signing to Music Soup and Interscope Records, Wisp began working on new material in June 2023. She collaborated with producers Photographic Memory, Kraus, Grayskies and Elliott Kozel, and worked on material at home and in Los Angeles.

Pandora is a shoegaze EP that explores themes of romance, greed and sorrow. In addition to "Your Face", the EP was promoted with the singles "See You Soon" and "Enough for You". Between April and May 2024, Wisp embarked on a headlining tour of the United States and supported Panchiko on several dates.

Background and recording

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In 2023, Natalie Lu a.k.a. Wisp released her debut single, "Your Face". She recorded vocals over an instrumental by producer Grayskies using a pair of Apple AirPods.[1] The song went viral on TikTok and brought her a cult following,[2] leading to her signing with Interscope Records.[3] In June 2023, Lu began working on new material that would become Pandora.[4] She worked on material at home[5] and in Los Angeles, until the EP's release.[4]

Lu wrote more than 25 songs for Pandora;[4] she usually went into the studio with a reference song in mind,[6] and wrote lyrics when she felt inspired, usually within 20 minutes.[4] Three of the EP's songs started out as instrumentals by Grayskies, with the rest being produced by Max Epstein (a.k.a. Photographic Memory), Elliott Kozel,[1] and Kraus.[7] Although she had experience playing the guitar since she was 16,[8] Lu initially left the writing of the EP's instrumentals to Kozel and Elliot as she was too shy about her guitar playing. As the recording progressed, she became more involved and began experimenting with guitars, bass, synthesizers, and different tunings.[1] She was most involved in the writing of "Luna".[1]

Composition

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Music journalists have described Pandora as a shoegaze release.[3][9][10] In an interview with Office Magazine, Lu said she considered her music "shoegaze adjacent" and preferred to categorize it as nu gaze.[8] Its songs feature distorted guitar riffs,[11] as well as ethereal textures[7] and vocals.[11] Ian Cohen of Uproxx felt the songs drew more influence from American-inspired shoegaze such as Hum and Deftones,[3] whilst Andrew Sacher of BrooklynVegan said the production applied a "modern spin" on elements of "classic shoegaze".[7] Thematically, Lu has described Pandora as being about the "vulnerability and intensity of romantic relationships",[12] unrequited love,[13] as well as greed and sorrow.[5] The EP was named after its title track, which Lu felt best represented its themes; the song, in turn, was named by co-producer Kraus after the 2004 video game Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow.[5]

Pandora's opening title track begins with an quiet intro before transitioning to a chaotic instrumental[6] featuring "biting" guitars[1] and lyrics exploring unrequited love.[13] "Your Face" was written about a person Lu liked; she said it was about "circumstances that hold you back from expressing your love".[2] "Enough for You" features looping guitars and windy vocals[9] and is presented from the viewpoint of someone who has come to believe their negative self-perception reflects how others see them.[14] Lu said the song depicts a "dialogue of self-doubt" between Lu and her inner self,[5] and considered it the most vulnerable she had written.[6] According to Jonah Krueger of Consequence, "Luna" explores dream pop and recalls the Cocteau Twins;[11] Mia Hughes of NME highlighted its "simple but arresting lead hook".[1] Lu considered it to be thematically similar to Pandora's title track.[8] "See You Soon" details intense feelings of love that are revealed to be unrequited,[15] with its final line—"To fall so fast, for someone who may never last"—intended by Lu to represent feelings of "doubt and worry".[6] The final track on Pandora, "Mimi", is about being both in love and a supporter of a musician performing onstage; Lu felt it was the "most uplifting and sweet song" she had written.[6]

Release and promotion

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On January 24, 2024, Lu released "See You Soon" as the second single from Pandora.[15] On March 15, 2024, Lu announced the EP and released its third and final single "Enough for You".[14] The EP was released on April 5, 2024, with a music video for its title track being released concurrently.[12] Its cover depicts a "bloody snow angel"; Lu said she wanted to retain mythological tones in her aesthetics.[16] Lu embarked on a headlining tour of the United States, supported by Photographic Memory on select dates, between April 19 and May 23, 2024. At the same time, she opened for Panchiko on several dates.[17]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Pitchfork6.4/10[9]
Spectrum Culture55%[13]

Cohen of Uproxx called Pandora a "assured, reverent collection of sultry shoegaze".[3] KEXP-FM's Chris Sanley called it an "impressive set of maximalist shoegaze [...] showcasing an artist whose love of the genre runs deep".[10] Chandler Kennedy of Clash said that the EP "hinges on matters of the heart while also teasing out different aspects of Wisp’s work as a producer and songwriter."[12] Andrew Sacher of BrooklynVegan praised the EP's "immediacy" and felt it had broad appeal across older and newer fans of shoegaze.[7] In a more mixed review, Ashely Bardhan of Pitchfork criticized the EP's lack of depth, stating that it failed to go above "delicate acts of shoegaze worship" and was repetitious at points.[9] Expressing similar sentiments, Spectrum Culture's Bill Cooper felt that Wisp's performances were lackluster and that the EP was overall forgettable.[13]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Pandora"
  • Photographic Memory
  • Kraus
4:21
2."Your Face"LuGrayskies3:49
3."Enough for You"LuGrayskies3:05
4."Luna"
  • Lu
  • Elliott Kozel
Elliott Kozel3:55
5."See You Soon"
  • Lu
  • grayskies
Grayskies3:40
6."Mimi"
  • Lu
  • Epstein
  • Zach CapittiFenton
Photographic Memory4:43
Total length:23:36

Personnel

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Credits adapted from Tidal.[18]

  • Natalie R. Lu - engineering, mastering, mixing, production, composition, lyricist
  • Sonny DiPerri - mixer, engineer (all tracks, except "Your Face")
  • Kraus - programming, recording engineer
  • Max Epstein (a.k.a. Photographic Memory) - production
  • Grayskies - producer, composition, lyricist

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Hughes, Mia (May 6, 2024). "Wisp: the DIY-minded star who wants to make shoegaze fans proud | The Cover". NME. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Wang, Steffanee (November 21, 2023). "Who Is Wisp, The 19-Year-Old Making Top-Notch Shoegaze?". Nylon. Archived from the original on March 27, 2025. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d Cohen, Ian (April 3, 2024). "Wisp Is Pushing Her Shoegaze Beyond Its TikTok Moment". Uproxx. Archived from the original on March 27, 2025. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d Gallaway, Mattea (November 6, 2024). "Wisp Dives Into Her Sensational Shoegaze Craft | Features". KVRX. Archived from the original on December 11, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2025. I started going to LA frequently to write music around last June or July [2023] ... it was within the span of that up until when [Pandora] was released, which was early this year.
  5. ^ a b c d Salvadó, Arnau (April 5, 2024). "Wisp: Shoegaze that Eases the Spirit". Metal Magazine (in Spanish). Archived from the original on February 18, 2025. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e Rittenberg, Venus (April 5, 2024). "Wisp Breaks Down New EP Pandora Track by Track: Exclusive". Consequence. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d Sacher, Andrew (April 5, 2024). "Notable Releases of the Week (4/5)". BrooklynVegan. Archived from the original on March 27, 2025. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c Capulong, Izzy (May 30, 2024). "Breaking News: Wisp Isn't Shoegaze". Office Magazine. Archived from the original on September 15, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d Bardhan, Ashley (April 9, 2024). "Wisp: Pandora EP". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on April 21, 2024. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Sanley, Chris (April 29, 2024). "New Music Reviews (4/29)". KEXP-FM. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  11. ^ a b c Krueger, Jonah (March 28, 2024). "CoSign: Wisp Is the Next Leader of the Shoegaze Revival". Consequence. Archived from the original on September 15, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  12. ^ a b c Murray, Robin (April 5, 2024). "Wisp's Pandora Feels Like A Moment". Clash. Archived from the original on April 21, 2024. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  13. ^ a b c d Cooper, Bill (April 22, 2024). "Wisp: Pandora". Spectrum Culture. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Murray, Robin (March 15, 2024). "Wisp Confirms Debut EP Pandora". Clash. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Fu, Eddie (January 24, 2024). "Wisp shares new song "See you soon": Stream". Consequence. Archived from the original on March 22, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  16. ^ "Q&A: Shoegaze Revival: Wisp on Her "Pandora" EP and Lollapalooza Performance". The Luna Collective. Archived from the original on September 15, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  17. ^ Fu, Eddie (March 15, 2024). "Wisp Announces Debut EP Pandora, 2024 US Tour". Consequence. Archived from the original on April 21, 2024. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  18. ^ Lu, Natalie (April 5, 2024). "Wisp - Pandora (EP)". Tidal. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
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