Polartropica is the music endeavor of Los Angeles based, dreamy space-pop artist Cherise Wu. Born in Taiwan yet raised in California, Wu has created a fantastical dreamland, successfully combining quirky pop melodies, futuristic synths and classical string arrangements, resulting in a genre of ethereal fantasy dream rock that you’ve never heard before.
Polartropica fuses elements of complete opposites together with the outcome resulting in a unique, ethereal sound that defies all sonic worlds. Using both organic and synthetic instruments, Wu conceived a visionary dream world for listeners to escape to. Wu professes, “I wanted to create a healing, inspiring and empowering space with just the right amount of disco-party!”
Her debut album, Dreams Come True, perfectly encapsulates Polartropica’s entire ethos, creating a soundtrack to her very own magical intergalactic space. Wu shares, “I get to play and work with some of the most incredibly wonderful people in the entire universe, and we always try to have as much fun as possible.” Sonically the album is a delicious concoction of dreamy synth rock, fueled by stories of people, animals, world news and Wu’s experiences as a queer Asian-American living in California.
Her highly anticipated single “Serial Killer Slayer- Give Them Hell” is about brave people who fight back when faced with kidnappers, serial killers, and predators. The infectious and bold track fuses pop punk, garage rock and electropop for an empowering anthem of self defense.
Tell us about the genesis of your project. How did you get to where you are now?
As a young blue forest fairy , I started writing songs by myself in my room, and finessed my skills by touring, recording and playing in local bands when I moved to LA. I went through an entire transformative caterpillar fairy to butterfly phase – we started small, playing living rooms and DIY venues, recorded my Polartropica songs with friends after work shifts at local restaurant Pine and Crane and the rest is history!
What should a song or piece of art communicate in your opinion?
Art can communicate whatever your heart wishes to express, in any way that your creativity manifests and soul envisions.
Who were your top 3 artists last year?
Lil Nas X, Lolo Zouaï, Doja Cat
What are your 2022 projects and goals?
Tour Japan, Taiwan, Spain, Portugal, UK, Mexico, Columbia, play Festivals all over the world, work on collaborations with all of my favorite artists of my dreams, release our next set of fire singles with my music videos, finish tracking the new record, grow @squidtropica, get better at boxing, write more music for film, learn how to wrestle, martial arts, gymnastics tumbling, roller skate and skateboarding with my Boos Cruise friends.
Favorite movie or TV show?
The Handmaiden directed by Park Chan-wook, Euphoria, Take Out, Shang-Chi, Anita – following the life of Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actress Anita Mui, My Neighbor Totoro, Queer Eye, The Half Of It, The Great British Bake-Off.
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about
I was watching a 20/20 special about the Yosemite Killer and was frustrated that there is so much glorification and time spent on the killers vs commemorating and honoring the incredible women whose lives were stolen, or helping their families that were completely devastated by the loss of a member of their family. Too often, women, queers and people of color are treated like another statistic when they are harmed, murdered or killed and we really need to change this dangerous unbalanced narrative as well as media’s obsession with serial killers. My talented friend, Director Yoko Okumura was throwing a release party for award-winning short film Lexical Gap with a riot girl punk soundtrack that we composed – and asked us to perform! I thought of 2 things that made me most frustrated and angry, to write 2 brand new punk songs for that premiere party and this is one of them 🙂
What is something you would want to change in the music and entertainment industry?
A sustainable income model and art/music grants for all musicians and artists so that we can all have stability and feel supported to make the most magical beautiful meaningful art for the world.
Can you outline your creative process?
I recently saw this quote that inspires my creative process currently, in We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power by Rachel Rodgers –
“First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won’t. Habit is persistence in practice.” – Octavia Butler
Who inspires your style and aesthetics?
Most recently, I’ve been so inspired by Achuray’s motion art worlds and characters, Björk’s live stage setups and costuming, Kelsey Lu, Designer L.O.C.A’s custom pieces, Dawang, Peter Lai, artists Stephanie Priscilla, Jessica Luna and Tran Nguyen, boxers, fighters and wrestlers.
What is the achievement or moment in your career you are the most proud of and why?
Making our queer superhero fightclub music video with some of our favorite collaborators and friends, our new single, and headlining Rituals Fest in October and helping to produce the most epic QTBIPOC focused festival in San Gabriel Valley with the most incredible crew. Also becoming an avid beginner boxer, was something I never even thought was in my realm 🙂
Do you have any regrets?
Never! Life is an epic journey – I’m eternally grateful for all of the lessons, proud of how far I’ve come, and so excited for all of the incredible things we get to make and do.
What is some piece of advice you would give to yourself right now?
Send this back to ya’ll and go take a walk outside!! Enjoy the beautiful California sunset and cute little insects buzzing around!!
