"Sword" is a song by the American musician Wisp from her debut studio album, If Not Winter (2025). It was released by Music Soup and Interscope Records on March 14, 2025, as the album's lead single. Wisp wrote the song alongside its record producers and engineers, Stint, Aldn, and Gabe Greenland. "Sword" is a shoegaze song with elements of nu gaze built around breathy melodies, soft-brushed snares, acoustic swirls. It was deemed a standout track from If Not Winter by reviewers; upon release, the song received generally positive reviews from critics. A music video directed by Rudy Grazziani and Valeriya Dyatko had premiered alongside the song's release and depicts Wisp in a medieval-themed setting.
| "Sword" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Wisp | ||||
| from the album If Not Winter | ||||
| Released | March 14, 2025 | |||
| Genre | Shoegaze • nu gaze | |||
| Length | 2:21 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Songwriter | Natalie Lu | |||
| Producers | ||||
| Wisp singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Sword" on YouTube | ||||
Background and release
editFollowing the virality of her debut single "Your Face," in 2023, Wisp had released her debut extended play (EP), Pandora in April 2024,[1] and announced that she was working on a studio album.[2] She began working on material at home and in Los Angeles, until the EP's release,[3][4] with two of the album's singles—"Enough For You" and "See You Soon" being written in late 2023.[5] Following a tour in support of the EP in April and May 2024, she began working on her debut album. "Sword" was released on March 14, 2025,[6][7] through Music Soup and Interscope Records as the lead single and opening track of Wisp's debut studio album, If Not Winter (2025).[8][9] Wisp discussed the concept of the song, saying that it constituted the shame and confusion people feel when they're hidden from the world by a loved one.[1][7]
Production and composition
edit
The track was written and performed by Wisp, with production handled by Stint, Gabe Greenland, and Aldn.[10] It has a runtime of 2 minutes and 21 seconds,[11] and was created with an electric guitar and drums, Zach Fenton playing the latter and Maximilian Epstein playing the former. Alessandra Rin at Ones to Watch wrote that amid "ethereal and distortion-gauzy instrumentation", Wisp "reflects on people getting lost in interpersonal strife".[12] While Melodic Magazine's Kira Imani Andrews said the song introduced listeners to a "mellowed alarm-like melody; complemented by the start of an acoustic guitar".[13] The chorus has percussion that "comes into the mix in the most satisfying, brain-scratching way", alongside a "delicate yet foreboding guitar and bass" taking on a "blizzardy" effect.[12] Lars Stalfors and Ruairi O'Flaherty handled the song's mixing and mastering, respectively.[11][14]
Critical reception
editUpon its release, "Sword" had received positive reviews from music critics. Kieran Press-Reynolds of Pitchfork commented on the song's "cresting grunge-gaze volcanoes."[15] While NME's Kristen S. Hé felt that it had more "precise arrangements", a "much clearer mix" and a chorus that "sets up the album’s emotional stakes".[16] Gregory Adams at Revolver said the song had "ultra-breathy" melodies "above a bedrock of soft-brushed snare hits and acoustic swirls".[2] While the staff at Consequence called it "aggressively pretty" and "dreamlike".[17] John Lonsdale of Rolling Stone had regarded it as one of the standout tracks on If Not Winter.[18]
Music video
editRudy Grazziani and Valeriya Dyatko directed the music video for "Sword" in Latvia,[19] which then premiered on the same day as the song's release.[2][20] The music video mainly takes place in a medieval-themed setting.[1][19][20] Wisp is first spotted close to a palatial building before moving in its direction.[2] She is then shown in a white gown roaming through rural areas and opulent settings with an enigmatic knight.[18] At end of the video, Wisp is shown holding a sword and wearing armor,[18] which Revolver's Gregory Adams had called a "role reversal".[2]
Personnel
editCredits adapted from Tidal and Apple Music.[11][14]
References
edit- 1 2 3 Chelosky, Danielle (March 14, 2025). "Wisp Shares New Song "Sword": Listen". Stereogum. Archived from the original on April 6, 2025. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Adams, Gregory (March 14, 2025). "Hear System of a Down-approved nu-gazer Wisp's new song Sword". Revolver. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
- ↑ Gallaway, Mattea (November 6, 2024). "Wisp Dives Into Her Sensational Shoegaze Craft | Features". KVRX. Archived from the original on December 11, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
I started going to LA frequently to write music around last June or July [2023] ... it was within the span of that up until when [Pandora] was released, which was early this year.
- ↑ Salvadó, Arnau (April 5, 2024). "Wisp: Shoegaze that Eases the Spirit". Metal Magazine. Archived from the original on February 18, 2025. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
- ↑ Rittenberg, Venus (April 5, 2024). "Wisp Breaks Down New EP Pandora Track by Track: Exclusive". Consequence. Archived from the original on April 21, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
- ↑ Garner, Emily (March 14, 2025). "Wisp has released a new single and video, Sword". Kerrang!. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- 1 2 Marotta, Michael O'Connor (March 18, 2025). "Wisp points her nu-gazing 'Sword' towards an eternal light". Vanyaland. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ↑ "Hear nu-gaze rising star Wisp's debut album If Not Winter". Revolver. August 1, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
- ↑ Murray, Robin (August 1, 2025). "Wisp – If Not Winter". Clash. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
- ↑ Lu, Natalie (2025). If Not Winter (CD liner notes). Interscope Records. 602478175268.
- 1 2 3 Lu, Natalie (March 14, 2025). "Sword". Apple Music. Archived from the original on March 16, 2025. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
- 1 2 Rincon, Alessandra (March 18, 2025). "Wisp Unsheathes the Painfully Beautifully "Sword" Ahead System of a Down Tour". Ones to Watch. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
- ↑ Imani Andrews, Kira (August 1, 2025). "Wisp brings the warmth on debut album 'If Not Winter' — Album Review". Melodic Magazine. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
- 1 2 "If Not Winter / Wisp / Credits". Tidal. August 1, 2025. Archived from the original on August 3, 2025. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
- ↑ Press-Reynolds, Kieran (August 1, 2025). "Wisp: If Not Winter". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
- ↑ Hé, Kristen S. (July 30, 2025). "Wisp–'If Not Winter' review: pop shoegaze with ambition and vulnerability". NME. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
- ↑ "Song of the Week: Chappell Roan's Queer Country Anthem "The Giver" Gets the Job Done". Consequence. March 14, 2025. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Lonsdale, John (September 30, 2025). "Inside the Dreamy Fantasy World of Wisp, Alt-Rock's New Star". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
- 1 2 Hé, Kristen S. (July 30, 2025). "Wisp – 'If Not Winter' review: pop shoegaze with ambition and vulnerability". NME. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
- 1 2 Taylor, Sam (March 14, 2025). "Wisp explores a fantasy world with her new single 'Sword' ahead of the System of a Down tour". Dork. Retrieved April 16, 2025.