A Conversation With Wisp: Levitation Festival 2024

Evelyn Lopez

Music Journalist

20-year-old Natalie Wu, who goes by Wisp, experienced something unique to a new generation of artists. Her song “Your face” off her first EP Pandora had blown up overnight. I haven’t downloaded Tiktok for almost a year now, but even I remember her song being used in videos all over my timeline. Since then, she has joined Panchiko for a few shows on their third tour. A rarity for upcoming artists to get thrown into a tour the same year they release their first single. Like many, I too became involved in this fascination for Wisp and her beautiful yet heavy songs. 

At Levitation Festival this past weekend, Wisp played her set in between Alison’s Halo and Panchiko at Stubb’s. I was presented with the opportunity to interview Natalie before doors opened at the venue.

How would you describe yourself and what you do?

My name is Natalie. I would describe my music or Wisp as kind of a mysterious entity, but Natalie, myself, I am pretty introverted, and so I feel like a lot of my emotions and how I speak show myself through my music. 

Yeah, I definitely hear the introvert in the way you sing and your vocal technique, which is beautiful.

Thank you.

So, how do you feel about Austin?

I love Austin. I played here in April of this year, and it was one of my favorite concerts, I think. The people were so, so sweet. Some of the nicest crowds.

Ugh, but this weather, do you mind it?

Right now, the weather is great, but when I was here in April, it was kind of hot. Yeah, but right now, it’s incredible. Like, this is my favorite kind of weather.

Have you ever been on stage feeling like you are about to pass out? I almost passed out at Stubb’s like three times now.

No. Actually, once. It was in Tennessee, but it was because I got food poisoning.

And I was throwing up, like, 10 minutes before my set, so I kind of had to just go on stage and perform, and I was like, Oh, my God.

You’re a trooper.

It was bad.

That’s baddie behavior.

Yeah, I know.

Have you had any time to explore the city?

Well, our flight is at 6 a.m. tomorrow. I don’t think so, but I think we are going to catch another show after.

From Levitation? What show?

The Dare, but damon r. is performing, and we really want to see damon r. and probably won’t stay for The Dare.

You once said that you make music from Monday to Sunday; is that still true?

Ummm…*giggles* I mean it varies, but during this summer and a few other times this year I was going to the studio around three times a day. But now that I’m on the road, I am in the mindset that I need to be zen and give myself a lot more time off.

Do you do anything on your time off that nobody would think you do?

I go swimming sometimes on my time off, which isn’t really surprising because I think I have mentioned that I used to swim in high school. Besides that, I just stay at home and watch stuff.

Any other creative outlets?

I think since I put so much time into music that I don’t have enough to fulfill other creative arts. I used to draw a lot, but that was during COVID, so it was a faze that I used to have but would love to get back into.

What about fashion? Do you take any creativity from certain designers or inspirations?

Oh fashion, I shop so much.-Oh gosh, me too. I’ll be in class sometimes and just shopping online.- I know, me too. It’s bad.

Any favorite designers?

Ooh, favorite big designer would be Maison Margiela. But some smaller ones, or not small, they’re pretty big, but I love Ann Demeulemeester. She’s an archival designer. Marc Le Bihan is one of my favorites currently. He makes these very beautiful, flowy, avant-garde, like kind of ballet-inspired pieces. So I’d say those are my top three.

What are your pre-show rituals, if you have any?

There’s this thing I drink. It’s a recent thing I added to my ritual, but I drink this thing called kava. It’s like this root that’s supposed to relax you. And I think it helps. Yeah, it helps if I have anxiety about going on stage and performing. But besides that, just talking to my band really helps, and hyping myself up. Sometimes I feel like you have to be really delusional. Even if you’re nervous, you have to be like, Oh, this is going to be so fun and stuff. Because if you say it out loud and you say stuff like, Oh, I’m scared, then you’re actually scared.

It’s like you’re manifesting that for yourself. My mom always says that to me. She tells me to stop saying I’m poor as a joke and tells me to always say “I’m rich.”

I’m rich.

I’m rich…I wish.

One day, girl.

Have you seen any haters from before you blew up that have been in the crowds or have tried to come back into your life being like, Oh, my God, I love your song?

Not really. I have gotten a couple weird DMs from people from my high school that I used to go to. And I was very, very much a weird kid. People did not f**k with me or my friends. And honestly, I think a big part of that was there were a lot of people in my school that were super judgmental and very judgmental of neurodivergent people, which threw me off a lot. And for them to message me now that I’m doing music and stuff did rub me in the wrong way.

Has anyone in your family had an influence on what you listen to?

My parents wouldn’t listen to anything. I feel like I found all the music that I liked on SoundCloud. My dad loves Gorillaz though. That’s his favorite band, and that’s the only thing he’ll play in the car on road trips. It’s so funny, but Gorillaz are great. I think some of that did influence me. Just because “On Melancholy Hill” was my favorite Gorillaz song. And it has a lot of dream pop elements that I loved. I feel like that’s how I found out about dream pop as well.

Where are your parents from?

My mom is from Thailand, and my dad is from Taiwan.

So you’re first generation?

Yeah, I’m first gen.

Omg twin. I have so much respect for children of immigrants.

I think immigrants are the hardest working people ever just because they are not used to the privileges that people in America have. And so they have to work two times as hard to get to where people are.

I agree with you. Lastly, do you listen to any other genres that people would be shocked to think that you listen to?

I listen to a lot of hardcore music, and I know a couple people in the L.A. scene. Besides that, I do listen to rap sometimes.

Like what?

I like Glokk40spaz.

During her set, she played her new single, “I remember how your hands felt on mine,” live for the first time since it had dropped on Halloween. A beautiful display of her dreamy vocals blending with the hardcore elements in her band.

My conversation with Natalie felt very calming, like I was getting to know the cool, quiet girl that rarely spoke in class. Her presence was very light, and I felt comfortable being silly around her. I am grateful to get to talk to her so early in her career, and I am excited to see where she takes herself.