Indian singer, rapper, producer, entrepreneur and all-around superstar Badshah links with Latinx global superstar, music icon and entrepreneur, J Balvin, for the international hit Voodoo, out today via Capitol Records. A trilingual anthem — Hindi, Spanish, and English — produced by top hit-making producer/ artist Tainy (who has churned out hits with Bad Bunny, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, Anuel, Rosalía, Daddy Yankee to name a few), Voodoo is a cautionary tale of lust and magic. The song’s supernatural theme is reflected in the striking, effects-filled video.
Badshah is ready for the world to catch his light and has been on a mission to take Desi-Pop global, bridging Indian and Western cultures through jubilant rhythms and hooks that transcend language. Born in Delhi, Badshah is India’s most successful musical artist of his generation, having generated more than 15 billion streams worldwide, performed more than 700 live shows and become an ambassador for global brands. He is one of the few artists to have 18 songs cross over 200 Million + views on YouTube.
Voodoo marks the first proper collaboration between Badshah and Latinx icon, J Balvin. “J Balvin is like an idol to me,” says Badshah. “He's been doing what I have been trying to do in my own space, and the way he's made a way for himself despite the language, despite the odds, really inspired me.” Over eerie synths and swinging dembow drums, Badshah and J Balvin trade verses about being spellbound by a woman. An alluring mosaic of international influences and otherworldly references, Voodoo captures the sultriness, danger, and desperation of being lovestruck. The single’s eerie aesthetic is matched by the music video, which features sharp choreography and an intricate, candle-lit ceremony invoking spirits.
“One of the many reasons I was drawn to creating music is because it’s universal. It connects people despite language barriers,” said J Balvin. “Badshah and Tainy are tremendous artists, and this collaboration is just another example of how we’re able to unite people of different cultures to find common ground and vibe together.”
Voodoo follows Badshah’s latest EP Retropanda - Part 1, that released last month. The four-track set includes smash hits Tabahi and Jugnu, which thus far have accrued over 290 million combined views on YouTube and over 47 million Spotify streams. Badshah’s 2021 viral hit Bachpan Ka Pyaar has over 415M Views on YouTube in just about 8 months. In 2021, Badshah inked an exclusive agreement with Universal Music Group to be led by Capitol Records. Voodoo continues the groundbreaking artist’s mission, ultimately leading Desi-Pop and Indian non-film music to a global stage.