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Ghostly Hare Transforms Trauma Into Gothic Folklore on Haunting New Single “Anhedonia”
Canadian dark folk artist Ghostly Hare has released “Anhedonia,” a haunting new single and accompanying music video that explores depression, emotional paralysis, and the difficult journey toward reclaiming personal power. The release introduces listeners to an atmospheric world where gothic folklore, cinematic storytelling, and deeply personal experiences intertwine.
Canadian songwriter and producer Deanna Faye, known as Dee, Ghostly Hare, combines the dreamlike textures of shoegaze with the intimacy of dark folk and chamber pop. With “Anhedonia,” those influences converge in a deeply introspective composition born from trauma and emotional isolation.
Written and recorded in a bedroom, the song emerged unexpectedly as Ghostly Hare experimented with an alternative guitar tuning. Its haunting chord progression became the foundation for a recording that deliberately preserves small imperfections, including the faint sounds of a portable heater, adding an intimate, almost ghostly quality to the production.
The accompanying self-directed music video expands the song's emotional narrative through the traditional folktale The White Hare, reimagining a betrayed woman's supernatural transformation as a symbol of survival and empowerment. Filmed primarily around the artist's home and community, the visual embraces shadowy imagery and an unmistakable dark fairytale aesthetic.
Remarkably, Ghostly Hare independently handled the songwriting, recording, production, filming, and editing while navigating mobility limitations following hip surgery. The creative process required carefully scheduled filming sessions and frequent periods of rest, making the finished project an especially meaningful achievement.
Rather than offering easy answers, “Anhedonia” acknowledges the complicated nature of healing. Through its atmospheric production and symbolic storytelling, Ghostly Hare creates space for vulnerability while reminding listeners that even the darkest experiences do not have to define who we become.
“Anhedonia” emerged after a period when you struggled to write or sing. Do you remember what it felt like to discover that haunting guitar progression finally, and did creating the song change your relationship with music during your recovery?
When I discovered that guitar chord progression, it felt like breathing again for the first time in a long while. It was a feeling of "Ah, there I am," and also a sense of catharsis that some of the pain I was experiencing could be let go of through the music. I think I cried after writing it. Creating the song reminded me that music could be anything I wanted it to be, and I felt closer to songwriting again than I had for a long time. Sometimes life, or difficult experiences, can get in the way of making art. Making Anhedonia brought me back to the original heart of it. I also feel like it allowed me to expand into darker, more thematic genres which I'd always wanted to create in but felt held back from for different reasons.
You've mentioned deliberately preserving imperfections in your recordings, including the sound of a portable heater. In an industry increasingly focused on polished production, what do you think artists risk losing when they remove those small, human details?
I think that when small, human details are removed from music and art, you risk losing the soul or the life of it. Sometimes a live or demo version of very popular songs is preferred, and I think that's because it's a lot harder to polish and remove "imperfections" from those versions. Music was never meant to be polished and perfect; in its original form, it was meant to be seen and heard from live-playing musicians and singers. I think in a world where AI-generated art and music is increasing, it's even more important to protect the soul of human-made art. A lot of older, classical music that we love still retains some imperfections in the recordings and less polishing, which I believe is part of where its beauty lies.
The music video draws from The White Hare, transforming a story of betrayal into one about reclaiming personal power. What drew you to this particular folktale, and how did you approach translating its symbolism into your visual storytelling?
I was drawn to the folktale of The White Hare because it's the story of a woman who is hurt so much that she returns from beyond the grave as a completely new creature. Something about her transformation, conviction, and strength spoke to me. Right now, there is still unfortunately a stigma against women and all genders who have experienced abuse, especially when they speak up or stand up against it. For me, this story serves as a metaphor for those who have continued to survive even after. I wanted the visual piece of the music video to show the story of a woman who is seemingly irreparably hurt, becoming someone who ultimately reclaims her power. The "fair maiden" is transformed into a white hare who, in the end, is free.
You created the music video while navigating physical limitations following hip surgery. How did those challenges influence your creative decisions, and did working within those boundaries lead to any unexpected artistic discoveries?
The surgery placed a significant number of limitations on what I could do with the music video, for sure. For example, almost all of my mobility had specific limitations and restrictions, such as limits on how long I could sit or stand. There couldn't be any extreme dancing or running, and not very much walking, even. As a result, the video was filmed in mostly one specific location with the exception of a few others. I also had to film the video over several weeks and days, with lots of breaks in between scenes to lie down and rest. What I ended up creating was a blending and layering technique, where different scenes filmed on different days were composited together. I also used the magic of lighting to create different effects, like the effect of moonlight, candlelight, and shadow to make forms, shadows, and cinematic scenes. Some of the visuals as a result were very unique; for example, it looks like I'm inside a mirror with my cat. I also used a very old storytelling technique of traditional shadow puppets to tell the initial part of the story. The result was more ethereal and haunting than I could have hoped for, and I absolutely loved making it.
Your music draws from dark folk, shoegaze, chamber pop, and gothic storytelling. As Ghostly Hare continues to evolve, are there other folklore traditions, literary themes, or cinematic influences you're interested in exploring in future releases?
I'm interested in exploring so much! I am very much drawn to magical realism, traditional folklore, pagan mythology, witchy themes, and Victorian Gothic-inspired art. I would love to create more videos and music that encompass these themes. I would love to explore more mythological themes, particularly in my music and visual pieces. Guillermo del Toro's films in particular are a huge inspiration for me cinematically. The unique way he blends reality with magical, fantastical imagery is something I'd love to aspire to.
