Demonic Musicians?

Are artists like Doja Cat and Sam Smith truly attempting to appear “devilish,” or are there other intentions behind their rambunctious change of music style?

Recently, rapper-singer Doja Cat’s latest track “Paint the Town Red” has sparked controversy among listeners for its inconsiderate undertones; however, regardless of the backlash, the song has continued to soar on the charts, becoming the fastest solo female rap song to amass over 100 million Spotify streams. This divide leaves one speculating what it is about the track that has aroused such polarized opinions among people.

Viewers can certainly sense a shift in Doja’s artistic intentions. When watching the official music video for “Paint the Town Red,” one can immediately perceive a foreboding ambiance, since it opens with Doja, portrayed as a devilish character smothered in a red blood-like substance, eerily sitting in a dark room. Other scenes depict her riding through the sky on a green demon and communicating with the Grim Reaper, all displayed to the viewer while she sings lyrics like “Mm, she the devil, She a bad lil’ b***h, she a rebel.” Evident from her lyrics and the content of her video, Doja has been accused by many of worshiping the devil and incorporating satanic elements into her music; this is not a new phenomenon, however: the same can be said for artists like Lil Nas X, Sam Smith, and Playboi Carti, who have all communicated demonic undertones in their music videos.

This apparent trend in modern music leaves several possibilities for the true intentions of these devilish artists. One motive behind this trend may be to invoke the attention of audiences. Undeniably, the works of these musicians have received numerous accolades and immense listening and viewing. For example, Sam Smith’s “Unholy” and Lil Nas X’s “Montero” have both been No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs chart and the aforementioned “Paint the Town Red” by Doja Cat is also remarkably popular, especially on Tiktok. Why then does this music, surrounded by controversy, end up being the most popular? This phenomenon can be attributed to our paradoxical human nature, as we are naturally drawn to novel and unique subjects, no matter their ethics. Furthermore, the novelty of this style is captivating for young audiences. By incorporating controversial topics like Satanism into their music, artists are actively appealing to content-seeking viewers, thus gaining unprecedented prominence. Maybe demonic elements will even constitute a new era in the music industry. 

Another underlying rationale behind this trend is the artists' desire to express their own beliefs, no matter how rebellious. After Doja shaved her head, she received many negative comments on social media, some even comparing her new look to the devil; later, she defiantly capitalized on this publicity, boosting backlash with her devilish appearance in the video. Many interpret her song “Paint the Town Red” as an attempt to combat her haters’ remarks: with lyrics like “I let all that get to my head, I don’t care, I paint the town red,” Doja declares that she refuses to let the haters affect her spirit. Similarly, in Sam Smith’s “Unholy,” Smith uses the image of the devil to express his own criticism of infidelity in relationships. In an increasingly polarized society, social conflicts arise rapidly, and artists are seeking abstract ways to express their thoughts and convey their ideas. In this sense, musicians like Doja Cat, Sam Smith, and many others employ what is thought to be sacrilege in their music as an outlet to vocalize their dissatisfaction with certain aspects of society. 

Ultimately, this change to “unholy” music is a focal point for those both inside and outside of the music industry; however, the negative effects of promoting demonism in music have yet to be truly unveiled, and we must be heedful of how this trend progresses. 

Jessica Wu