Music is the one thing that relaxes me, no matter what the situation is. It has a significant impact on our human culture. I believe that many emotions and feelings can be communicated through music, which is sometimes not even possible to do through words. Music has shaped into different kinds of genres over the years. We have some popular genres like rock, classical, pop, hip-hop, jazz, and R&B. People have different kinds of tastes and preferences in music. Some enjoy rock while some enjoy EDM, but we all felt the pain when the song ‘Rise Up’ was released. This instant chartbuster by Andra Day moved millions across the globe.
Early Life
Andra Day is well-known for her R&B and soul songs. She was born in Edmonds, Washington, as Cassandra Monique Batie to a Christian parents on December 30th, 1984. Soon, Andra and her family moved to San Diego, California. They were a church-going family, and she started singing in choirs every Sunday. Her father was a big fan of jazz, and he got her introduced to the music of Billie Holiday, whose work inspired Andra immensely.
She finished her graduation in 2003 from the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts in Paradise Hills. Post graduation, she wanted to explore and pursue her passion for music in the field of R&B and pop but was eventually drawn back to her roots, jazz.
Music: The Rise to Fame
Andra Day is a big fan of jazz, soul, and blues, but little did she know that her work would be recognized by one of the legends in the music industry. A small video clip changed Andra’s life.
The pioneer of jazz music and other genres, Stevie Wonder, called Andra Day to work with her. Thanks to Stevie Wonders’ wife, Kai Millard Morris, who was the reason he got to know about Andra. Kai Millard saw a short video clip of Day performing in front of a strip mall in Malibu, California. Though the conversation with Stevie was very brief, it gave all the inspiration to Andra, leading her to success.
Because of Andra’s manager, it took more than a year to reconnect with Stevie. Stevie introduced Andra to his long-time producer, Adrian Guruvitz, leading her to sign with his label Buskin Records. Even after signing the records, she used to upload music covers and mashups of famous songs from artists like Eminem and Muse, which garnered attention from Warner Bros. They signed a record deal with Andra, leading to the release of her debut R&B album, Cheers To The Fall in 2015. The album met with critical acclaim, especially the song, Rise Up, which moved millions of people across the globe.
Rise Up
Rise Up was from the critically acclaimed album ‘Cheers To The Fall’. The song was well received by the audience, becoming an instant hit. The song gives out a message based on themes of hope, perseverance, and strength, making people relate to and understand the deeper meaning.
– What Inspired Her to Write ‘Rise UP’?
In an interview, Andra Day said that she took inspiration from the things she had faced. Her music career stagnated at a certain point in life and during those crucial times, her friend was diagnosed with cancer. Andra felt like she had to listen to something which made her get back on her feet. This led to the writing of the spiritually uplifting song.
A Well-Appreciated Acting Career
Andra Day didn’t just limit herself to singing, she made a significant name with her acting skills. She appeared as a singer in the film Marshall (2017), starring late Chadwick Boseman. It was followed by Cars 3, where she voiced the role of Sweet Tea. Her next was the biographical drama The United States vs Billie Holliday (2021), where she played the role of an iconic jazz singer Billie Holiday. She also composed and performed the soundtrack for the film.
Awards
- Her album ‘Cheers To The Fall’ was nominated for best R&B album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. The song ‘Rise Up’ itself was nominated for Best R&B Performance.
- Andra won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress-Drama and a BET Award for Best Actress.
- She received her first Academy Award nomination for the role of Billie Holliday at the 93rd Academy Awards
- Won the Grammy Award for Best Soundtrack, for the film The United States vs Billie Holliday.
Activism
Andra Day showcased her views on the oppression faced by Black People through the social and political campaign Black Lives Matter. She supports the charities Unlikely Heroes and Global Fund for Women, supporting gender equality and rights for women. Andra is on the artistic member’s board for The Samburu Project and American for the Arts and uses her profession to address social issues and motivate people to fight.
Latest and Future Projects
- Andra recently released an album, Cassandra (Cherith) on 10th May 2024
- Her upcoming Indie film, Exhibiting Forgiveness is set to release this October
- The Deliverance, an American supernatural horror film with Andra in the lead, is set to be released on Netflix this August.
Andra Day’s Top 5 Songs
- Rise UP
- Stand Up For Something
- Tigress & Tweed
- Forever Mine
- Where Do We Go
Conclusion
Andra Day has proved that no matter what our goal is, we should give our all to achieve. She became a voice for people who started from nothing and proved that it is never too late for anything. Andra’s music is well celebrated by the audience, her voice can move millions. She can turn a simple lyric song into a soul-searching process for people in this depressed world. The song ‘Rise Up’ gives us a new perspective on life by making us find the light during times of hopelessness and darkness.
Her talent wasn’t just confined to music, she made a significant impact with her acting abilities. The critically acclaimed film, The United States vs Billie Holiday earned her a Golden Globe and an Academy nomination. Her fight for social issues like gender equality, and women’s rights, and her active involvement in the charities made a strong impact on the society.
