Wasi (duo)

WASI is an American dance-punk-pop aka "riot-pop" duo formed in 2013 between Orange County, California natives Jessie Meehan (vocals), (bass guitar), (synthesizer) and Merilou Salazar (vocals), (guitar), (synthesizer). They combine their influences of electro-pop with dance-punk.

History

Origins and Formation

Jessie and Merilou met at Savanna High School. They booked a show before they had a band. This show lead them to write 45 minutes worth of garage punk songs under the moniker The Midol Poppers. They later created WASI to showcase their energetic pop anthems wrapped in their activist approach for social change.

"Double Single" (2013)

WASI released their singles And the World and Adolescents. This garnered much attention in the pop punk community leading them to be invited to play the Vans Warped Tour 2014.

Bleed Pop EP (2015)

WASI released their debut EP in the spring of 2015 with then band-mates Garrett Harney and Dylan Robin. The EP achieved success with support from Billboard and San Diego's 91X. The band was invited to play Long Beach PRIDE and have opened for artists such as Shiny Toy Guns, Moving Units and The Dollyrots.

COUP EP (2017)

WAS released their sophomore EP Spring 2017. This EP honed in on their activism, from writing songs during their attendance at the riots in Portland in the 2016 election to their optimistic outlook inspired by their time volunteering with LA and OC's Girls Rock Camp. The band combines their influences of The Clash and MIA and with a premiere of COUP on Paste Magazine This release has also been associated with the Pop punk and riot grrrl genre. "Feminist Pop Punk Band ‘We Are She Is’ Smashes Patriarchy Introducing a more poppish Sleater-Kinney for the next generation." Notable singles include [...] Grabs Back and Floor Talk which have both been featured on underground hip hop and punk radio stations throughout the US and Canada.

Discography

Extended plays
  • Bleed Pop (2013)
  • COUP (2017)
Singles
  • Adolescents (2013)
  • And the World (2013)
  • Mama's Gonna Get You (2016)
  • [...] Grabs Back (2017)

Current members

  • Merilou Salazar - vocals, guitar, synthesizer (Since 2013)
  • Jessie Meehan - vocals, bass, synthesizer (Since 2013)
  • Live - Cindy Sukrattanawong - guitar, (Since 2017)
  • Live - Kai Nakamura - guitar, (Since 2016)