POP GOES THE MOZART - Wasabi

When I sat down with Shawn Wasabi for my first interview, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Known for his custom midi fighter, a 10″x10″ square device with 64 circular keypads, Shawn Wasabi took the internet by storm with the musical performances he designed in high school. Many know him for his avant garde instagram and TikTok shorts, where he easily amasses millions of views and likes per post. Despite the casual demeanor of his socials, his collaborations are far from coincidental. Wasabi has worked in collaboration with major players across sectors including the World Health Organization, Facebook, Instagram, and more. Recently, he has been featured on multiple global pop hits. With star-studded releases under his belt, Wasabi has worked with Kpop artists like Jihyo on her album, to Saweetie’s “Nani” which rose to #1 on Rhythmic Radio. Yet, he’s surprisingly humble as I speak to him. Dressed in an animal-print jacket and sweats, he offers me a glass of sparkling water. There’s a major rap artist waiting for him in the next room, but he stays present- and patient. And his response when we ask him how he plans his midi fighter performances? Shrug. “Oh, I just push buttons.” How did such a global pop producer and inventor come to be? Is there something special in the water of his hometown, Salinas? What few know about Wasabi is that his origin in music started with classical piano. “I started the piano at a young age, and then switched to violin. But the piano taught me the fundamentals of melody, harmony, and rhythm.” As Wasabi progressed in his classical music studies, he began to recognize his other talents and inventive abilities. And while his career progressed as an artist and producer, he kept classical music close to his heart. “I still play the violin. Even a few months ago, I was still taking lessons and practicing. It’s meditative for me.”

That bridge between structure and spontaneity runs through everything he does. In his world, a fugue can coexist with a future-bass drop, and a Chopin-inspired cadence can lead into a hyperpop chorus. It is all part of the same creative universe.

“I think classical music gave me the courage to build worlds. When you understand how form works, you realize you can break it, but with intention.”

That intention shows. His latest projects mix orchestral textures with glitched-out percussion, weaving together analog and digital, past and future. It is not nostalgia. It is conversation. A dialogue between centuries, reimagined in real time.

As we wrap up, Wasabi turns back to his laptop and loads a new session. A violin loop flickers across the screen. He hits a few pads, layering synth bells over a soft arpeggio. “This one’s inspired by Vivaldi...But if Vivaldi had a TikTok.”

That is Shawn Wasabi. Equal parts prodigy, tinkerer, and perpetual student. Someone who is not afraid to keep learning, even when the world is already listening.