WASI - Riot Pop
Electro-pop-punk outfit WASI dropped their debut album, called Riot Pop, about one month ago.
WASI | Photo: Kat Contreras
WASI was founded by Buena Park natives Merilou Salazar and Jessie Meehan, who first got together in their high school punk band The Midol Poppers, which provided a distraction from the cloying suburban concept known as “normalcy.” Other projects followed, until finally, in 2014 they decided to create an innovative pop platform by taking their electronic venture We Are She Is in a new direction. They compressed We Are She Is to WASI, and began writing punk-flavored synth-pop songs.
The band describes their sound as “riot pop,” a sound blending hip-hop elements with garage punk and electro-pop, while their lyrics speak about love and liberation, along with giving the status quo the third degree.
Enveloping 10-tracks, entry points on the album, from an admittedly subjective viewpoint, include “Run,” which opens on psych-pop synths topped by velvety sonorous vocals riding a contagiously pulsing groove full of hints of bubbly indie-pop.
On 'Riot Pop', WASI delivers scrumptious indie-pop full of sonic attitude, compelling rhythms, and oh so silky vocals jam-packed with swagger.
“I look in the mirror to say who am I / To start so sad just to get so high / Then all the worries come through my mind / Got to have the strength to fight or flight / I found a fuel to fire it all up / It’s all the pain the earth has stocked / Look in my eyes I’m here with you.”
“Mama’s Gonna Get You” rides swirling oscillating synths and jangly guitars flowing into an indie-pop melody with filaments of delicious electro-pop threading through it. Velvety radiant vocal harmonies infuse the lyrics with lustrous textures.
“Money's not my friend / I work too hard to kiss its ass / Are we even free / If we're driven by tomorrow and the corporate greed / Everybody run / Try to reach the sun, try to reach the sun / I'm fighting hard to breathe / But the air's reserved for killing girls like –Mama.”
“What Is Riot Pop” is not only an excellent track but encapsulates WASI’s sound, delivering cool electro-pop flavors amalgamated with bright dreamy vocals, thick droning tones, and tinctures of riot grrrl punk. “Am I Even Doing It Right” features creamy pop textures, a thumping rhythm, and glossy shimmering vocals rife with dreamy colors.
On Riot Pop, WASI delivers scrumptious indie-pop full of sonic attitude, compelling rhythms, and oh so silky vocals jam-packed with swagger.
