Dreamy, daring and stylistically dexterous, wilo wilde’s long-awaited new EP “what is a heart?” is a sonic manifesto that you should read the small print of. The California-born, Taiwanese-Mexican singer-songwriter has been making an impression since emerging in 2022, and with this new EP she traverses into a new realm of authenticity and striking musical vision.

Written on divergent sides of the Atlantic in LA and London, the body of work draws on a plethora of generic characteristics, brushing strokes of UKG, 90s trance, bubblegum pop and DnB onto an evolving and marauding palette. “I pushed myself out of my comfort zone,” the artist tells Wonderland. “Challenging myself to try new techniques and explore different sounds.” An entertaining and endoscopic talent who epitomises pop’s progressive outlook and convergence with dance, wilde’s new EP is worth diving beneath the surface for. We spoke with the rising star, chatting her diverse cultural background, and the conceptualisation and creation of her new project.

Listen to “what is a heart?”…

Read the interview…

Hey wilo! How are you? How has your summer been? 
Hii! My summer has been great! I’ve got to spend some time with family and friends and reset a bit which has helped creatively. I’m also making a ton of new music that I’m super excited about.

How did you first find yourself making music? What are your musical origins?
I was always surrounded by music and art growing up. I was raised in a household of classical music enthusiasts, both of my parents loved to sing and my grandfather was a Chinese opera singer. My mom encouraged me to learn the piano from a young age but it all really began when I stumbled upon a Martin Garrix vlog on YouTube. I saw that he was doing this strange thing called ’music production’ and I had never known such a concept. I was so intrigued and immediately downloaded a free trial of Ableton that day. Eight years later and I’m still hooked! 

You’ve got a diverse cultural background, in what ways have your heritage and experiences shaped your approach to musical creation?
I grew up moving around a lot but living in Taiwan had a huge impact on me. The sense of community there was everywhere – from the friendly interactions at late-night snack stands to the vibrant vibe of the city. I was an only child growing up so was naturally drawn to that sense of togetherness. California was different, much larger and more sprawling. Eventually I found myself in LA’s electronic music scene, which surprisingly echoed the communal vibe I experienced in Taiwan. It reminded me of a time when I felt part of something bigger than myself, a sense of belonging. I feel like these experiences of connection and community have majorly influenced my approach to creating music. 

How would you describe yourself as a songwriting?
I describe myself as a songwriter who turns real life experiences into sounds. Kind of like therapy but with catchy hooks.

Define the essence of your sound? Do you feel you fit with genre-based boundaries?
My sound to me is essentially me at my purest form. Music has truly been the one thing in life where I have always felt like I can be vulnerable, honest, and have fun. So to me, defining and hearing my sound is an audio representation of how I feel inside. I feel like I fit in the space of emotional house music. I just want to create an intimate space where people can come as they are and feel music on a deeper level while still staying in the groove.

Since achieving success on social media and the internet, have you altered the way you approach creation? Is there an added pressure to fulfil the wishes of your fanbase?
No, I think it’s easy to assume that you need to replicate what “worked” in the past. But ultimately I think the music succeeded because it was created authentically and it felt right. I believe the most important thing is to follow your inner voice, compass, and curiosity to continue creating what feels best. 

Congratulations on your new EP, “what is a heart?”! How are you feeling about the release?
Thank you! I’m feeling very excited and proud. I worked hard on this and spent hours making sure everything was sounding exactly as I envisioned it. I feel like this EP has allowed me to grow overall as an artist and a person.  

Talk us through the creative process of the new EP. How did you go about conceptualising and then making the project? 
I don’t think too hard about the concept usually when making the music. I just let myself create whatever feels genuine and instinctive. Most of my songs start on the computer in my bedroom, but late last year, I took a trip to London to collaborate with some incredibly talented producers and songwriters. It was such such a special experience to share that energy with other creatives and bring it into the project. They did an amazing job of helping me, while still maintaining and sonically understanding the cohesiveness of my production.

What shaped the direction of the EP, sonically? Where does the influence of trance originate? 
My love for dance music! I wanted to explore different flavours of the dance genre— DnB, UKG, trance, house – while still keeping the ‘wilo wilde’ sound I suppose. I have a soft spot for the 90s and 2000s so bringing a bit of that nostalgia into the mix was really satisfying for me. I love music from that era, especially artists like Alice Deejay, Eiffel 65, Robin S, DJ Sammy.  

Thematically, what are you saying across the EP? What are you trying to convey? 
Love is everything. Love is the centr and ultimately ‘what is a heart, if it ain’t for loving?’

What do you hope the EP achieves? 
My hope is that the EP connects with people – even if it’s just one person who deeply relates and feels some healing and relief. 

What’s next for you, this year and beyond? 
More music! And live shows!