Andra Day

Andra Day is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter born Cassandra Monique Batie in 1984 in San Diego, California, and raised largely in Southeast San Diego and later Spring Valley. She rose to wide attention with her 2015 breakthrough single «Rise Up», an anthem of resilience that became a staple at civil-rights events and was later used in political and social campaigns; the song earned her a Grammy nomination and helped define her sound as a bridge between classic soul phrasing and contemporary R&B production.

Her voice is often compared to golden-age soul and jazz vocalists for its smoky timbre and phrasing, drawing on influences like Billie Holiday and Nina Simone while working with modern producers to keep the arrangements current. Her debut album Cheers to the Fall (2015) established this blend, and songs such as «Forever Mine» and the title track showcased her range between vulnerable balladry and uplifting anthems.

Day expanded into film in 2021, portraying Billie Holiday in «The United States vs. Billie Holiday», a role that earned her a Golden Globe for Best Actress and an Academy Award nomination, and for which she also contributed original music including «Tigress & Tweed». She has since released additional singles and soundtrack contributions, including work for the film «Stand Up for Something», cementing her reputation as both a vocalist rooted in soul tradition and a socially engaged artist.