Women of Rock: HEDONA Shares Some of Her Greatest Female Inspirations

As an artist and musician, HEDONA is out to push boundaries. She is not content with being just an everyday songwriter and performer. She wants to make a statement and shake up the current musical order. HEDONA released her latest single “Voodoo” and its accompanying music video in February.

The song emphasizes her original take on moody, electronic soundscapes, while still very much appealing to the sensibilities of pop music. The beats are dark and hypnotic, and the lyrics are evocative and playful. The music video is captivating and provocative, reflecting the darkness and emotional turmoil evident in the song.

Based in Toronto, HEDONA is a young, up-and-coming Chinese Canadian artist. She is just as talented as a producer as she is as a vocalist, which is all the more impressive when you learn that she is almost completely self-taught. Her studio and songcrafting skills are primarily the result of her own efforts and experimentation. Growing up in Canada, she rightfully points out the lack of Asian representation in music and North American media. She is here to represent her background and her culture, and demonstrate to children of immigrants that their stories are important and deserve to be heard.

We are pleased to have HEDONA join us today for a Women of Rock feature. She selects five artists who have been of particular influence on her in shaping her own sound and style.

HEDONA “Voodoo” single artwork

1. Björk

HEDONA: “I refer to Björk as my Queen B. I love everything about her, and she’s one of my biggest influences. Period. In my eyes, she’s a visionary and one of the most unique artists of our generation. Björk’s been revolutionizing music since the 1990s, and she’s probably the reason why I started listening to electronica and trip hop. She’s definitely the reason why I create electropop music, and her fingerprints are all over my songs. Her unwavering authenticity and defiance to abide by societal expectations are values that really speak to me, especially now, because it’s so easy to lose yourself during this age of social media and wanting to be ‘liked.’ I love that her music crosses so many different genres, that she produces her own stuff, and despite her massive success, she’s never stopped being exactly who she is.”

2. Mariah Carey

“I’ve wanted to be able to sing like Mariah ever since I was little, and I remember how I would stare up at the TV wishing I were her as a kid. My sisters and I used to choreograph dances to her music, but I never really appreciated her lyricism until I started listening to the Butterfly and Rainbow albums more intently in high school. They were on repeat for years, and I would sing along to the lyrics in the CD case booklets. Everyone talks about Taylor (Swift) being an amazing songwriter, but Mariah’s lyricism is impeccable; even with the insane amount of success she’s had throughout her career, I feel like she’s been completely slept on as a songwriter, which is such a crime!

“Mariah calls herself a lyricist first and a singer second, even though she’s known for her powerhouse vocals. I really appreciate how much she puts into her storytelling; she can go from being super vulnerable and intimate, like on ‘Petals’ and then throw down a scathing diss track such as ‘Obsessed.’ She’s truly remarkable.”

3. Robyn

“Robyn is a pop queen icon. She figured out the formula for pop, which is why she and her songs have been so influential for over a decade. Her Body Talk trilogy changed the shape of contemporary pop music, and the fact that she’s influenced such huge artists as Maggie Rogers, Charlie XCX, Taylor Swift, and more goes to show how far-reaching her impact on pop has been. I remember seeing Robyn live for the first time over a decade ago, and I can’t tell you how in awe of her I was. She was dancing all over the stage, twirling and doing body rolls on the floor while hitting every single note perfectly. Her albums are still on heavy rotation for me because they’re so classic and she’s one of the few artists that you can listen to whether you’re happy or sad.”

4. NEAVV

“NEAVV isn’t just an incredible producer, artist, and songwriter, she’s also a really good friend of mine. Since day one, she’s supported my pursuit of becoming an artist and producer, and she’s taught me so much over the last five years about songwriting, production, singing, and the music industry. I say this all the time, but I would not be here if it weren’t for NEAVV. She’s always the first person I show my songs to because she gives invaluable advice to make them so much stronger; my lyrics would not be at this level if it weren’t for her. Without NEAVV, this version of HEDONA would not exist, and I’m so grateful to have such a generous and supportive friend like her.”

5. Kelly Clarkson

“This might be super random, but I absolutely love and adore Kelly Clarkson. My top three artists are Björk, Kanye, and Kelly Clarkson, and people are always so surprised when I say her name. I’m obsessed with her voice and her ability to bring so much raw power and emotion to every song. I’ve listened to her entire catalogue, and I honestly believe there’s a Kelly Clarkson album for whatever life phase you’re in. I remember being at her show for her ‘Piece by Piece’ tour, and she got me so emotional cause she’s so honest and vulnerable; I just love how down-to-earth she is despite her immense success.”