At Black Box, we have the very good fortune of working with artists who are at the beginning of their journey. Our quarterly priority artist feature is a way of singling out some of our developing talent, and sharing their progress with our network of creatives and supporters.
To kick off our first quarterly artist feature, please meet Andra Day.
“Andra Day walks the line between reverence and revelation, using both to her advantage. The soul, jazz and R&B singer cultivates an aesthetic with clear reference points in the past, but she tells stories firmly rooted in her present. It’s a jarring and compelling combination” —NPR
You may have heard Andra Day as the musical backdrop to Serena Williams’ Beats Commercial; or during the end credit of the critically-acclaimed film Meru; or in the compilation Nina Revisited: A Tribute To Nina Simone, along with Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige and Common.
Named one of Rolling Stone’s “10 Artists You Need to Know”, Andra Day is the kind of artist whose performance is so compelling, she had Spike Lee announcing that he was going to direct her first video right in the middle of her show at Sundance earlier this year. And that is exactly what he did.
Everything about Andra communicates artistry, authenticity, and approachability. This is why artists like Raphael Saadiq, ?uestlove and Aloe Blac feel drawn to her. But what strikes me the most about Andra, apart from her undeniable talents, are her values. Rooted in purpose and compassion, Andra places truth above all. Her Warner Bros. Records debut Cheers To The Fall is an album dedicated to learning from failure, and embracing vulnerability with grace and joy.
We have made and promoted a lot of content by Andra Day. We have followed her on the road, and documented her moments through social media. But through it all, it is this piece, a raw acoustic performance of her single “Rise Up” (produced by Warner Bros Records), that speaks to me the most.
