Andra Day rises up to music stardom
Fresh from her strong Grammy Awards performance, the San Diego-bred singer, songwriter and Stevie Wonder duet partner discusses her life and career
How dizzying have the last six months been for fast-rising singer and songwriter Andra Day, who delivered a standout performance during the 2016 Grammy Awards telecast?
Indeed, many music-biz veterans would be envious about the events that followed the Aug. 28 release of her 2015 Warner Bros. debut album, the vintage-soul-, jazz-, blues-, doo-wop- and gospel-fueled “Cheers to the Fall.”
In August and September, the smoky-voiced Day did her first national tour, opening for Lenny Kravitz.
In October, she performed her inspirational song “Rise Up” at the White House. Her appearance accompanied first lady Michelle Obama announcing “Better Make Room,” a public awareness campaign for teenagers to embrace education.
On Dec. 7, Day earned two Grammy Award nominations: Best R&B Performance (for “Rise Up”); and Best R&B Album (for “Cheers to the Fall”).
Day didn’t win a Grammy. But she sang “Rise Up” with such élan and passion that she stood out in a big way at the Grammys.
On Wednesday, she performed at the White House with Usher, Demi Lovato, The Band Perry and an all-star lineup to film “Smithsonian Salutes Ray Charles: In Performance at the White House” released on PBS.
Day’s musical epiphany came at 12 when she was introduced to the work of such iconic jazz singers as Billie Holiday (who was also known as “Lady Day”), Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Washington.
Day’s music is not jazz, in any conventional sense. But her vocal phrasing is clearly inspired by the singing of Holiday, Nina Simone and other enduring greats, including the trumpet playing of Miles Davis in his ballad work.
Day’s fashion sense also harkens back to an earlier era.
She favors large hoop earrings, head scarves, retro-chic dresses or rockabilly-inspired ensembles. The gardenia she sometimes wears in in her hair onstage is a direct homage to Holiday.
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Link: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/feb/25/andra-day-interview/
