Andra Day has been described as “possessed by the ghost of Billie Holiday,” boasting flawless jazz chops that she applies to her varied musical influences with equal ease. She has also been compared to the likes of Amy Winehouse, that longed-for singer with the voice and charisma to single-handedly inspire a rebirth of classic soul.
The San Diego native attended a performing arts high school while working with various producers to develop her musical style. When a tape of a live performance found its way to Stevie Wonder, he was blown away and soon introduced her to producer/writer/musician Adrian Gurvitz of Buskin Records. Day and Gurvitz spent the next year working on her debut album CHEERS TO THE FALL.
The LP's theme is resilience through struggle, the crown jewel of the album being the universally timeless ‘Rise Up,’ which Andra describes as “a song about any type of relationship.” She says, “I look at all of us as brothers and sisters and a body working together. ‘Rise Up’ is saying one piece isn’t better than the other, and when one part is struggling, I’m going to help and lift you up. I will rise up with you.”
CHEERS TO THE FALL has entered the New Zealand top ten albums on iTunes, with the lead single ‘Rise Up’ going top twenty in the singles chart.
Andra has two Grammy Award Nominations: Best R&B Performance for ‘Rise Up’ and Best R&B Album for CHEERS TO THE FALL.
CHEERS TO THE FALL features Raphael Saadiq, Stevie Wonder, The Dap-Kings, ?uestlove and DJ Jazzy Jeff.