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WASI is an American indie pop, alternative rock band founded by Jessie Meehan (vocals, bass guitar, synthesizer) and Merilou Salazar (vocals, guitar, synthesizer).

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. They have played on the Vans Warped Tour, PRIDE festivals and have shared the stage with artists Shiny Toy Guns, KFLAy, The Mowgli's.

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 ^[1] 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)

WASI 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^[2] 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."^[3] Notable singles include Pussy Grabs Back and Floor Talk which have both been featured on underground hip hop and punk radio stations throughout the US and Canada. The EP was produced by LA band New Beat Fund.

Stranger California EP (2018)

The third independent released EP by WASI.

Activism

The duo are activists and outspoken feminists both through and outside of their music. They focus on girls empowerment, queer visibility and immigration. WASI released a music video in which they went to LA Pride and asked bystanders "What does pride mean to you". The answers were used as lyrics for PRIDE. After a discrimination incident in which an employee at Walgreens wouldn't let Jessie (who identifies as female) use the female restroom, Jessie partnered with the ACLU to create a nationwide Walgreens gender neutral restroom policy. Salazar is also co-founder of charity, feminist music festival Womxn Fuck Shit Up Fest.^[4] This festival bridges music and activism featuring headliners Madame Gandhi, Kimya Dawson and Fuck U Pay Us and organizations such as Girls Rock Camp Alliance and Alexandria House.

Discography

Extended plays

• 
  Bleed Pop (2015)^[5]
  


• 
  COUP (2017)^[6]
  


• 
  Stranger California (2018).^[7]
  

Singles

• 
  Adolescents (2014)^[8]
  


• 
  And the World (2014)^[9]
  


• 
  Mama's Gonna Get You (2016)^[10]
  


• 
  Pussy Grabs Back (2017)^[11]
  


• 
  Stranger California (2018)^[12]
  

Current members

• Merilou Salazar – vocals, guitar, synthesizer (Since 2014)


• Jessie Meehan – vocals, bass, synthesizer (Since 2014)


• Cindy Sukrattanawong – guitar, (Since 2017)


• Kai Nakamura – guitar, (Since 2016)


• Lindsay Martin – drums, (Since 2016)

References

External links

• Official website