During the past year, Andra Day’s voice -- a stunning alto recalling her idols Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald -- has felt inescapable. Her rousing aria “Rise Up,” the certified gold lead single from her soulful 2015 debut, Cheers to the Fall, peaked at No. 6 on the Adult R&B Songs chart, earned a Grammy nomination and became a de facto anthem for the Black Lives Matter and equal rights movements. “I pray about all the songs I do,” says 31-year-old San Diego native Day, “but with this one in particular, I’ve watched it affect things on both macro and micro levels. I’ve always wanted my music to be honest, and this year I see it truly changing the trajectory of people’s lives.”
Personal Powerhouse:
“Michelle Obama’s zeal for women, education and health has changed the way I look at myself and at my ability to accomplish things, my capacity to effect change. I’m grateful to her on so many levels.”
Her Leading Ladies:
“Adele is absolutely a bright spot; she dances to the beat of her own drum and connects with people in such a spiritual way. And I love Laura Mvula’s new album, The Dreaming Room; she’s like a modern-day Nina Simone to me.”
