Aliza Li’s “Healing” Is a Raw, Haunting Journey Toward Self-Acceptance

There’s a quiet power in vulnerability—and Aliza Li wields it like a seasoned artist. With her latest single, “Healing,” the Atlanta-based R&B singer-songwriter doesn’t just sing about recovery—she lives it in every note.

The track is a glowing testament to emotional growth, guided by her airy, soul-stirring vocals and a willingness to stand face-to-face with her deepest fears. In a world that often romanticizes perfection, “Healing” reminds us that real strength lies in our messiest, most honest moments.

Aliza’s story is one of personal evolution. After moving to Atlanta seven years ago, she began channeling her inner world into rich, intimate songs—each one a step closer to herself. Her voice feels like a soft hand reaching through the darkness, wrapping the listener in a feeling that’s at once delicate and unshakable. She doesn’t hide the pain; she weaves it into the very fabric of her music—transforming fear and anxiety into beauty and release.

In “Healing,” that transformation is on full display. The production is lush and immersive, featuring warm basslines, glimmering synths, and harmonies that seem to echo through emotional caverns. It’s the kind of song that doesn’t just play in the background—it surrounds you, gently asking you to slow down and really listen.

Lyrically, Aliza opens up about her experience with anxiety, detailing the disorienting and often isolating feeling of trying to escape something that lives within. Her delivery is haunting—tinged with weariness, but never hopeless. Every line feels earned like it was pulled directly from a journal entry written in the middle of a sleepless night.

But it’s the music video that takes “Healing” to another level. Directed with cinematic flair, the visual unfolds like a psychological thriller. In a candlelit house, Aliza navigates dimly lit rooms while dancers in ghostlike white stalk her—symbolizing the intangible but very real weight of anxiety. There’s a chilling elegance to it all—reminiscent of her love for horror movies—but also a narrative of transformation.

The moment she stops running and turns to face the “monsters” is incredibly powerful. It’s in that moment the story shifts. No longer just a victim of her pain, Aliza becomes its witness, its partner. She sits, she breathes, she smiles—and in doing so, shows us a different way forward.

“Healing is ugly…but you gotta come back at a certain point,” Aliza says. That line encapsulates everything this song stands for. It’s not about pretending things are okay. It’s about giving yourself the grace to grow, stumble, and rise again. In a genre overflowing with glossy facades and curated confidence, Aliza Li dares to be human. And that’s exactly what makes her a standout.

With “Healing,” she’s not just releasing another single—she’s creating space for people to feel seen, heard, and safe in their own struggles. It’s the kind of work that doesn’t just move you—it changes you. And if this track is any indication of what’s to come, Aliza Li is well on her way to becoming one of the most emotionally resonant voices in R&B.

“Healing” is such a personal and emotional song—what was the hardest part about writing it, and what did you discover about yourself in the process?

The most difficult part about writing “healing” is giving myself permission to be vulnerable with writing how I really feel. I’m always trying to push myself to be as authentic as possible when writing. I discovered that I have the ability to not only write something so personal but to share it with the world as well.

The music video uses horror-inspired imagery in such a beautiful and symbolic way—how did your love for horror films influence the visual concept?

I’m a horror movie fan! And my favorite movies involve haunted houses. Being that the song is about my experience with anxiety and how it haunts me, the horror theme went so well. It was fun to bring my love of horror movies and music into one project!

You talk openly about anxiety in your lyrics and visuals—what role does music play in managing your mental health today?

Music influences everything in all aspects of my life! When I’m having a bad day or even when I have a good day, I listen to music and my whole mood changes. I think it’s about relatability for me. No matter what I am going through, there is always someone else going through the same thing. It’s comforting.

Your sound feels both timeless and deeply modern. Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your approach to songwriting?

My musical influences are Erykah Badu and Jill Scott. My first musical love, as far as genres go, is Neo Soul. Any project I work on will always have to have a soulful aspect to it. It’s a calming baseline for creativity for me.

As you continue to grow artistically, what message do you hope listeners take away from “Healing” and your work as a whole?

Just breathe, healing is a continuous process and while we are all constantly evolving to become better versions of ourselves, give yourself grace. There are no rules to this thing we call life, and you are doing great!