With hypnotic beats and fearless lyricism, HEDONA’s “Voodoo” casts a spell where desire and power collide
With her new single “Voodoo,” Toronto-based HEDONA deepens her signature exploration of moody, boundary-pushing soundscapes. Melding dark, hypnotic beats with evocative, tongue-in-cheek lyrics that blur the lines between desire and submission, “Voodoo” invites listeners into a world where vulnerability becomes power.
Drawing inspiration from an eclectic mix of influences—from Björk and Kanye to Billie Eilish and Fiona Apple—this Chinese Canadian artist and self-taught producer transforms raw emotion into art.
Born from a journey of carving out space for underrepresented voices in North American media, HEDONA’s latest track is both an intimate confession and a bold declaration, daring us all to embrace our own spellbound dualities.
In “Voodoo,” the lyrics weave a narrative of surrender and control, capturing the intense push and pull of desire. The recurring motif of being a “voodoo doll” suggests a willing submission—a dance between giving in and holding on. HEDONA’s playful yet raw delivery brings to life the struggle between self-worth and the allure of deep connection, revealing the bittersweet nature of love where devotion can border on self-sacrifice. With every verse, the song unravels layers of emotional complexity, inviting listeners to question how far one might go for passion, even when it means bearing the pain for two.
HEDONA shares,
“I wanted the VOODOO music video to be captivating and provocative, mirroring the vulnerability, darkness, and emotional turmoil in the song. Every detail was chosen with intention. The warehouse backdrop represents the isolation and abandonment I felt within myself. The mask reflects my frustration and anger with the situation, while the revealing clothing represents how I used sex as a tool to try and keep the relationship alive. But honestly, as intense as the video is, it was so much fun to make. The energy on set was electric, and I loved pushing boundaries, trying new things, and bringing my vision to life.”
Please introduce yourself and tell us about your artistic journey as self-taught Producer, Songwriter, and Artist.
My name is HEDONA, and I’m a Chinese-Canadian electropop artist and producer. My journey into music really began about five years ago, when I decided it was finally time to pursue my passion. For decades, I had been trying to fit into molds that weren’t true to who I am, and I realized I couldn’t keep doing that. Producing my own music was an act of self-liberation—confronting my fears of judgment and stepping into the spotlight in a way I had never done before. It was a challenge, but on the other side of those fears, I found something incredibly fulfilling. The process of learning how to produce, write songs, and navigate the often overwhelming world of being an artist has been intense, but it’s also been the most rewarding part of my journey. I’m so grateful to finally be able to express myself authentically in a way I never imagined I could.
“VOOODOO” has a very unique sound with dark beats and powerful lyrics that explore themes of giving up control and holding onto it at the same time. What made you want to write about this, and how does it connect to your personal experiences with vulnerability and strength?
I think the beauty of making music is that it offers us a way to process our past. With “VOODOO,” I wanted to confront and release the part of myself that kept choosing others over my own well-being, specifically in relationships. It was my way of closing a chapter in my life that no longer served me.
While the song focuses on a particular relationship, the truth is, it reflects a much larger pattern in my past. I repeatedly found myself in relationships with men who didn’t respect me because, deep down, I didn’t respect myself. I’d surrender all control, terrified of being abandoned, but at the same time, I’d try to manipulate the situation by molding myself into what I thought they wanted just to keep them around.
Growing up, I learned that being vulnerable and showing emotion was seen as weakness, while holding power and winning were considered signs of strength. I built this story for myself that no one really understood me, but how could they? I wasn’t allowing myself to be seen for who I truly was, because I couldn’t embrace vulnerability. As I’ve gotten older, I’m slowly learning to change that perspective. Music, especially, has become a powerful tool in helping me open up in ways I never thought possible.
You credit artists like Björk, Billie Eilish, and Fiona Apple as influences. How have those artists shaped your music so far?
Björk is one of my biggest influences when it comes to my music and production. I love everything about her and her fingerprints are on almost all of my songs. Her song Crystalline is the reason the bridge in VOODOO has drum n bass influences to it, though it’s a watered-down version of it. I love how Björk, Billie Eilish, and Fiona Apple all do their own thing unapologetically. They’ve given me permission to be completely authentic to my vision and that it’s ok to not fit into one genre. If Billie Eilish can have crazy 808s in one song and then a ukulele in the next, then I can do whatever I want, too.
“VOODOO” really digs into the emotional side of desire, self-worth, and love. How do you think the song reflects the idea of embracing both the light and dark sides of ourselves? What do you hope people take away from it?
I love that you mention embracing the light and dark sides of ourselves because it’s the key to self-love, really. I think as a society, we hurt ourselves and others because we try to suppress and hide our shadow side. The reason why I kept choosing the wrong men back then was because I lacked self-love and self-respect; I was so unaware of how much pain I was carrying inside myself which was being reflected to me in my relationships. During the bridge I sing, ‘but I’m sick of this ride,’ which is me finally coming to the realisation that something is wrong and that I need to wake up; it’s a turning point, a small flickering of a lightbulb moment, but I go back to being a voodoo doll in some sorts. But there was that slight moment of awareness.
My hope is that listeners focus on self-love and knowing that the most important relationship we have is with ourselves. A big hope of mine is that women will stop placing their worth in their relationships. We’ve been so conditioned to believe our self-worth comes from being with someone, but that needs to stop. I know these are very big hopes, but my songs don’t deal with ‘light’ topics.
What are your hopes for this track, and what is next for you?
My hope is that people love this song as much as I do! I’m very proud of VOODOO and it has a very special place in my heart. I’m working on more songs and will be releasing another one in a couple of months to round out my first EP, BEAUTY. There will be more songs coming after that too. 2025 is going to be a busy year for me and I’m super excited!