Q&A: Andra Day talks new album, playing a villain and regaining confidence after injuring vocals
Andra Day gained acting acclaim after her starring role in a 2021 Billie Holiday biopic, but the soulful singer nearly lost the strength of her powerful voice during the process
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Andra Day gained acting acclaim after her starring role in a 2021 Billie Holiday biopic, but the soulful singer nearly lost the strength of her powerful voice during the process.
Day injured her vocals after she smoked cigarettes as part of her role in Lee Daniels' film “The United States vs. Billie Holiday.” It took some time to recover after she experienced hemorrhaging in her vocal cords, but now the singer sounds as if she’s returning to form with her latest album “Cassandra,” which released earlier this month.
“Cassandra,” which is Day’s legal first name, is her first album in nine years since her 2015 debut “Cheers to the Fall,” which earned a Grammy nomination along with standout single “Rise Up.” On her new album, she explores the complexities of her past relationships and spiritual walk with God.
Day has been on a journey to regain confidence in her voice since the “Holiday” film, which helped her win a Grammy and Golden Globe for her acting and musical work. She's been training her vocals through studio sessions and on a few big stages including several performances during Grammy week and the Super Bowl pregame, where she performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing" earlier this year.
