gemma short writings

We just about got there in time. I drove for hours to get to where we were staying, rushed around to get ready and get something to eat, made another half-an-hour drive to Sunderland, then made the half-an-hour walk from the car to the park in a more intense heat than I had anticipated, and then made a further walk to the other side of the park to get to the festival. We just about got to the New Music tent to see the final few songs of Wasia Project’s set, and they did not disappoint.

I stood near the back and observed, feeling too guilty about not being overly familiar with their music to attempt and manoeuvring into the crowd. Still, I found myself being sucked in. While Will Gao was excellent on piano, it was his sister, Olivia Hardy, who drew me in with her stage presence. Her vocals were mostly soft but were also powerful, and watching her command the stage both with her voice and the way she glided was a joy. The duo’s performance made me wish I had managed to get there earlier, and had me excited for their debut album Nocturne, which is due to come out this September.