Houeida Hedfi
Biography
Houeida Hedfi is a Tunisian composer and multi-instrumentalist whose work bridges traditional North African rhythms with contemporary electronic and orchestral soundscapes. With a background in classical percussion and a deep reverence for Sufi and Andalusian music, she crafts sonic experiences that transcend genres and borders. Her debut solo album, « Fleuves de l’Âme », received international acclaim for its meditative intensity and richly textured compositions, establishing her as a powerful new voice in experimental and world music.
Origins & Musical Language
Houeida came to music late, getting her first drum kit aged 27 when she was already established as an academic in the field of economics / mathematics. Alongside teaching she toured playing a contemporary spin on stambeli, a genre of Afro-Arab sufi trance music heavy on rhythms. “I Ioved it,” she recalls,“but I had this need for melody. There was no room for that within our group, so I realised I had to start my own project.” She enlisted the help of Tunisian violin player Radhi Chaouali and Palestinian bouzouk player Jalal Nader and began rehearsals. Over nine years of travel between Tunisia, France, and Dreijer’s Berlin studio, Hedfi refined each composition with a perfectionist’s ear and found a home in melody.
During composition it was essential to Houeida that the songs contained the quarter tones characteristic of Tunisian/Arabic music. “I wanted it to sound like me. In my mind, if you delete these quarter tones, it’s like deleting all the verbs from a sentence”. While her musical influences are not limited to Tunisia, she still views her album as a modern take on Tunisian music. “It’s not just Tunisian,” she adds, “it’s also made by a woman. That makes a difference. My music doesn’t take up so much space, it has nuance. If I have to put a nationality to my music, I would also put a gender to it”.
Each track is named for a different river, referencing both the safety found in the sound of water and the sinuous drama of each composition, which often starts peacefully, before evolving to encompass drama and tension, conflict and resolution.
Collaborations & Global Reach
Houeida has collaborated with musicians and producers across the globe, merging North African percussion with modular synths, classical strings, and ambient electronics. Her sound transcends borders and genres — performed on stages from Paris to Cairo, Berlin to Tunis.
Notable collaborators include:
Olof Dreijer (The Knife) – co-producer of her acclaimed debut album
International musicians from diverse traditions (strings, modular synths, spoken word)
Debut Album : « Fleuves de l’Âme »
Released to critical acclaim, Fleuves de l’Âme (« Rivers of the Soul ») is a poetic and layered exploration of womanhood, time, and ancestral memory. The album, a long-form composition in multiple movements, flows like a sacred rite — one where percussion leads the way into uncharted inner landscapes.
It was praised by The Guardian, Pitchfork, France Musique, and Pan African Music and described as « meditative, hypnotic, and cinematic ».
Where She Is Now
Houeida currently lives between Tunis and Paris, continuing her research in music, collaborating with artists from different disciplines, and preparing her second major release. She also contributes to projects that explore the feminine voice in Arab music, healing through sound, and transcultural creation.
© 2025 Houeida Hedfi. All Rights Reserved.
Crafted by BWP