1 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:05,920 Speaker 1: I'm Alec Baldwin and you're listening to Here's the Thing 2 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:11,680 Speaker 1: from My Heart Radio. Earlier this year, Andred Day won 3 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:15,319 Speaker 1: a Golden Globe for Best Actress in the Daniels The 4 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: United States Versus Billie Holiday. It's a magnificent acting and 5 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: musical performance. Andre sang all of Billy Holiday's songs in 6 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 1: the film, including Strange Fruit. Holidays celebrated an unflinching song 7 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: about lynching. The film focuses on the battle waged by 8 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 1: the Federal Bureau of Narcotics against the jazz singer in 9 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: the nineteen forties and fifties, ostensibly about her heroin addiction, 10 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 1: but also in an attempt to keep her from performing 11 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 1: Strange Fruit. Prior to the film, Andred Day was known 12 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: as a singer and performer. The United States Versus Billie 13 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 1: Holiday is her first feature film. Amazingly, it's a role 14 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: she nearly turned down. I actually had this idea in 15 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 1: my head that if I did this role, I didn't 16 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: want to be that person like they'd go. Man, Billy 17 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 1: Holliday is so amazing. Oh wow, Diana Ross and Lady 18 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: Sings The Buzz was amazing. Alja McDonald on Broadway and 19 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 1: then they'd be like, oh you remember Andrew Day when 20 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 1: she tried to be I was like, I didn't want 21 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 1: to be that girl. So well, what do you realize? 22 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 1: I think, and this is my opinion, is when you're 23 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:26,120 Speaker 1: Will Smith and you're playing Muhammad Ali, what's tough is 24 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 1: that Ali is one of the great beloved figures in history, 25 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: and so when you play Ali, it's tough because everybody's 26 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 1: got Ali in the head. Same thing with Billie Holliday 27 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: because she's there and people know the music, but they 28 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 1: don't really know her. Yeah. Absolutely, you are a young 29 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 1: actress who's bringing Billy Holliday to people today. So when 30 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: you came and did it, you are stunning in this movie, 31 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: and I mean acting was yes, you can seeing everybody 32 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: knew that you had that card in your hand there, 33 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: But you're so wonderful in this Do you feel like 34 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 1: you're an actress now? You know what it is like? 35 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 1: I think I deal like most people obviously to varying degrees. 36 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 1: I deal with that like imposter syndrome thing, right, Yeah, 37 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 1: I feel more like in this world now. But do 38 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 1: I feel like I fit yet? What if it was 39 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 1: a flu? So what's so you're thinking, is this real? 40 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 1: Is this a fluke? I'm like, go, well, let's see 41 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: you when the Golden Globe for Best Actress, you're nominee 42 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 1: for an Academy Award for Best Actress. That's one hell 43 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 1: of a fluke. Boy, are you really fooling everybody? April 44 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:31,359 Speaker 1: Fools is my favorite holiday so now. But but I'm 45 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: also told that you're dramatically different from Billy Holiday. How 46 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 1: are you most different from Billie Holiday? I think just 47 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: the way that we manifest pain and trauma, you know 48 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:44,959 Speaker 1: what I'm saying, Like, I think the way that shows 49 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 1: up in our lives, obviously, And though I think everybody 50 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 1: is sort of an addict in different ways, my list 51 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 1: does not show up in in addiction, you know, in 52 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:55,360 Speaker 1: that way, that type of addiction, I guess. But there's 53 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 1: a lot just even in our behaviors that's completely different. 54 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 1: You know. The similarities are the fact that we are 55 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 1: both black women living in America. There will be a 56 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,359 Speaker 1: sisterhood and a kinship in that, you know, naturally, But 57 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 1: I am very different. I didn't cuss or smoke, or 58 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 1: drink or do any type of drugs. I was forty 59 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 1: pounds heavier, so I did have to lose a lot 60 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: of weight. I was also abstinent for like almost seven years. 61 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 1: That was like spiritual reasons for me. So I you know, 62 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 1: you've never been married. No, No, never been married. Kids? No, 63 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 1: no kids. Yeah, I'll never forget when I was doing 64 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 1: like a test shoot during the casting process with Lee 65 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:30,640 Speaker 1: and I had to say something like ship or whatever, 66 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: you know, and I was like, oh, what is this ship? 67 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: And He's like, you don't cuss? Do I was like no, 68 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 1: He's like, yeah, you gotta work on that. So I just, yeah, 69 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: smoke cigarettes, started drinking way too much gin. Probably that 70 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 1: you were abstinent right up to the film. Yeah, it's 71 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 1: not that I never drink in my life before. I 72 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: had just stopped drinking like ten years ago, you know, 73 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 1: because I just I was never really a heavy drinker. 74 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 1: So it was never really for me even in my 75 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: younger life. But I did start picking it up for 76 00:03:57,920 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: the film because at least what that did to my 77 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 1: rain and how it slowed me down because I'm fast 78 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 1: and billy holidays like molasses slow, real easy, you know, 79 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: So smoking the cigarettes and drinking the alcohol real cigarettes 80 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: on set that they had the herbal cigarettes, but I 81 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: actually started in my life smoking actual cigarettes, but like 82 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:19,159 Speaker 1: light ones. I tried to find really light cigarettes just 83 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 1: because my brain is so not used to it. So 84 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 1: it would really actually slow me down and almost cause 85 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 1: me to nod in a way that allowed me to 86 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 1: just focus on the emotion of the scene and being 87 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:30,600 Speaker 1: present with the person I'm in the scene with, and 88 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,480 Speaker 1: just trying to listen to the director as opposed to like, now, 89 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 1: be slow. You know, it helped. Honestly, I think if 90 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: it were another character, I might not have had to 91 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:41,279 Speaker 1: do that. But you are hard pressed to find a 92 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 1: candid photo of Billy Holiday without a cigarette in her 93 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:45,920 Speaker 1: hand and a drink either in her hand or nearby, 94 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: Like that woman would wake up and drink a pint 95 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 1: of gym the way you would wake up and drink coffee. 96 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 1: I just felt like there's really no way to fully 97 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,479 Speaker 1: do her character justice without somehow immersing myself in that world, 98 00:04:57,480 --> 00:04:58,919 Speaker 1: and so I was like, I'm not going to do 99 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 1: the heroine, so I'm mine as well make a pop. 100 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:04,359 Speaker 1: So when you're there and you've never acted before in 101 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:06,719 Speaker 1: the film, what do you think they chose you for? 102 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 1: You know, it's funny. I think what got Lee was 103 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 1: that I didn't want the part that I didn't. I 104 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 1: was really like, did not believe. How did he beat you? Through? 105 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:17,280 Speaker 1: My manager? It was funny because he was like, oh, 106 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:19,359 Speaker 1: they want you to do Billy Holliday. Hey. I was like, 107 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 1: first time on an actor beat this is terrible idea 108 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: through and through, you know. And then he didn't want 109 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: to work with me either, and his managers they just 110 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:28,720 Speaker 1: lied to us. Basically, it was like, Lee really wants 111 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 1: to meet you, Angel really wants to meet I was like, 112 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:34,719 Speaker 1: y'all was so full of ship. Everybody does that exactly exactly. 113 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 1: But we met and I was like, you know, he 114 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:39,160 Speaker 1: describes it and I describe it. It's kind of love 115 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 1: at first sight. Like he could see in me. I 116 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: didn't really have a desire to have the part, but 117 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: I did love her, and I was excited about the 118 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 1: story and the script and I just wanted to do 119 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 1: her justice. She deserves that. And I could see in 120 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: him he had a chip on his shoulder about the 121 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 1: government successfully being able to keep this piece about the 122 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 1: early war on drugs, her singing strange fruit, her being 123 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:05,480 Speaker 1: really the great godmother of the reinvigorated civil rights movement. 124 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:07,840 Speaker 1: He hated that they were able to keep that from him. 125 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:09,719 Speaker 1: So it was like a vendetta that he had to 126 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 1: like kind of fulfill to to actually tell her stories. 127 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 1: So I was intrigued by that. I would imagined that 128 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 1: popular stars who crossed over from white and black audiences 129 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: like Diana Ross. Diana Ross is an icon of entertainment, 130 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: and when she makes the film, I would imagine, there's 131 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 1: only so far they want to go about how harsh 132 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 1: they make that racial reality for her. Did you feel 133 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:34,560 Speaker 1: that you wanted to do it more? Honestly? Absolutely, I 134 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:37,840 Speaker 1: actually would venture to say it wasn't so far they 135 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:39,720 Speaker 1: wanted to go. It was as far as they could go. 136 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:42,560 Speaker 1: You know. That was two and they were making that film. 137 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: So Harry janns Linger still alive. He had just been 138 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 1: awarded a Medal of honor, you know what I mean. 139 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 1: We actually we still use Harry janns Lingers blueprint in 140 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:53,359 Speaker 1: the War on drugs today, you know. So these people 141 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 1: were still alive, they were still in power. And also 142 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 1: I think the thing that most people don't know is 143 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 1: that Billy's husband and when she died, he was awful, 144 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:06,159 Speaker 1: was played by Billy d Williams, and it was. I 145 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:08,799 Speaker 1: think it was just a necessary, beautiful black love story. 146 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 1: But the real Lewis Mackay was the actual technical director 147 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 1: on the film, so of course he portrays himself as 148 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:17,119 Speaker 1: this hero and I'm trying to save her from Judge. 149 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 1: I'm smooth and I'm light skinned, you know what I 150 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: mean all of that, Like only one man could play me. Yeah, exactly, 151 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 1: the handsomest after in Hollywood right now that's available. Get 152 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 1: Billy d in here these so interestingly enough, it's like, 153 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 1: I think, to me, it's an incredible feat that they 154 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 1: even made that film at all. You know that Berry 155 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 1: Gordy got involved and made sure to push that forward. 156 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 1: So but now it was necessary for the world, especially 157 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 1: as we're having all of well, I would say all 158 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 1: of them, but some of the conversations we need to 159 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 1: be having, you know, it's necessary. To me, it's a 160 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 1: tragedy that when we talk about civil rights and great 161 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 1: civil rights leaders, we do not mention her name. You 162 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 1: know what I mean that that they were able to 163 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 1: successfully spin her narrative into one of just wasted life, 164 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 1: troubled drug addict, and you wanted to bring that to 165 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: the four that she was a civil rights leader, absolutely. 166 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 1: We're familiar with protest songs now, but that was not 167 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: a thing when she was singing Strange Fruit, and that 168 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 1: was probably one of the most just visceral protest songs 169 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 1: you know about lynching black people in America, they would 170 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:21,679 Speaker 1: actually we didn't see it in the film, but Billy 171 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 1: would sing the song and then her band would hustle 172 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:26,239 Speaker 1: her out of the club because they would actually chase 173 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 1: her and shoot into her car with the intent to 174 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 1: kill her multiple times. So, like, we're familiar with protest songs, 175 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:33,960 Speaker 1: but I don't know what it's like to get on 176 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 1: stage and sing, rise up and say, if I do 177 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 1: this song tonight, it will probably be my last night 178 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 1: on Earth. And that's what she faced every time she 179 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:43,320 Speaker 1: got up and did that. So she reinvigorated Thurgod Marshall 180 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: along with the death of Himmett too, and the movement. 181 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: I don't think it would look the way it did 182 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:51,080 Speaker 1: without her emboldening the civil rights leaders that we know of. 183 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:53,680 Speaker 1: So she definitely deserves her do when it comes to that, 184 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 1: I think when you think about someone like her, was 185 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 1: it that awareness, was it that passion for civil rights 186 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 1: that made her want to numb herself and check out. Yeah, 187 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 1: I think it was all of that. I think it 188 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:07,680 Speaker 1: was her upbringing. You know, when you think about the 189 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 1: life that this woman lived. You know, she was raped 190 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 1: when she was ten, and she was actually sent to 191 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 1: basically like Prison for Young Girls, which is a reform 192 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 1: school for girls. You know, she was punished for being 193 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:19,840 Speaker 1: raped by a forty year old man. She was sent 194 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:22,079 Speaker 1: into a brothel at a very young age because at 195 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 1: the time, as she says, in her own worlds, black 196 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 1: women could only be maids or whores. You know. The 197 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 1: first time Billy Holliday went to prison, actually she was 198 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:31,199 Speaker 1: like fourteen or something like that, and it was because 199 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 1: she wouldn't sleep with one of the clients that came in, 200 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:36,040 Speaker 1: of course, you know, an older man looking for a 201 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:39,559 Speaker 1: very young girl, and she wouldn't sleep with him because 202 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 1: that wasn't usually her clientele. And he was so bitter 203 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 1: by it that he actually sent the police and sent 204 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:47,200 Speaker 1: her and her mother to jail. She had a super 205 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 1: rough upbringing. She lost her father to Jim Crow. Like 206 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:51,559 Speaker 1: he would have survived, there's no reason he should have died. 207 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 1: It's just that there was no hospital that would take 208 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 1: him because he was black. So she saw people taken down. 209 00:09:56,440 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 1: She had no family, she had no one, you know. 210 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 1: And then add to that the fact that she is 211 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 1: a black queer woman trying to live freely in the thirties, 212 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:07,079 Speaker 1: forties and fifties, that the entire government's coming after her 213 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 1: for singing this song, and she knows the truth. I 214 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 1: think it's also understanding with addicts, and she's not just 215 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:15,360 Speaker 1: getting high anymore. She's actually trying to get well stave 216 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 1: off dope sickness on top of all the other cultural 217 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 1: and personal traumas. So it's actually a pretty incredible feat 218 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:22,960 Speaker 1: that she was able to do it given all of that. 219 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:27,559 Speaker 1: You wrote a song Tigress and Tweed I did, yeah, 220 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:30,319 Speaker 1: which is an updated version of Strange Fruit. Is that 221 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: fair to say? Yeah? Yeah, it's in evolved in involve 222 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:36,959 Speaker 1: the Strange Fruit and a conversation between you and her. Yeah, 223 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 1: it's absolutely a conversation between me and her. So that 224 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 1: song was really birthed. Actually, so I I Raphael Satig 225 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: actually sent the track. I reached out to him, so 226 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 1: he sent over this beautiful track. But I struggled to 227 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 1: write the lyrics and melle for a long time, and 228 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:53,439 Speaker 1: it wasn't until I really prayed about it, and that 229 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:55,319 Speaker 1: it all kind of came pouring out in the first 230 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: thing that was like flip strange fruit, you know what 231 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:00,600 Speaker 1: I mean, like flip it. You know. If Billy Holiday 232 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: were alive today, how was she wanted to see strange 233 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: fruit evolved? You know? And I think one of the 234 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 1: first things that I believe was spoken to me about 235 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:10,160 Speaker 1: it was take them off the tree, like I don't 236 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 1: want a tragic story anymore of them. That song is 237 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 1: safe for people now because we're still hanging on a tree. 238 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:18,599 Speaker 1: But what about when we're educated, and we have ownership 239 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:23,319 Speaker 1: and sort of dominion and influence and authority, and are 240 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 1: armed and are unified and are mobilized. You know, well, 241 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:28,440 Speaker 1: we're not ready for that fruit. So I I thought 242 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 1: about the blood of our ancestors not being wasted but 243 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 1: used as like a fertilizer, right what Billy Holliday gave up. 244 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:36,320 Speaker 1: And then I thought about the scent of victory. You know, 245 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:38,640 Speaker 1: you hear that phrase all the time, you know, And 246 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: I thought, well, what does that smell like to us? 247 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 1: And I thought it would be the scent of our ancestors, 248 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:45,720 Speaker 1: And so her favorite perfumes later in her life were 249 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:48,960 Speaker 1: a tweet and tigress, and that's where the title came from. 250 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 1: So I just wanted it updated. I wanted it for us. 251 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 1: I wanted it culturally to understand it, and I wanted 252 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 1: us to see her kind of as like, actually a 253 00:11:57,160 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 1: little bit gangster, you know what I mean, because that's 254 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 1: who she was to me, you know. Actor and singer 255 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 1: Andrew Day, another musician I spoke with who's known for 256 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 1: his respect for the musical ancestors, is a mere quest 257 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 1: Love Thompson, the drummer and frontman for The Roots, now 258 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:21,079 Speaker 1: Jimmy Fallon's house band. The Roots had a winding path 259 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:23,960 Speaker 1: to fame. Something tells me, and I'm not saying this 260 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 1: to be kind, you could write a number one single 261 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: in the car on the way to the office right 262 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,960 Speaker 1: now when you leave here, and you didn't do that 263 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:35,719 Speaker 1: because fear. This is what happens. Okay. So when we 264 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 1: started in the idea of The Roots, we would be 265 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:44,320 Speaker 1: pegged into alternative hip hop. Now, when we first came out, 266 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 1: they were like or they asked jazz. It was like basically, 267 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 1: if you weren't holding your middle finger out to the camera, 268 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:53,280 Speaker 1: you know, saying singing straight out of Compton. If you 269 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 1: weren't in way, you weren't the status quo of what 270 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:02,840 Speaker 1: people perceived to be as hip hop. Here the rest 271 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: of my conversation with quest love that Here's the Thing 272 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:09,960 Speaker 1: dot org. After the break, andrew Day talks about why 273 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:13,600 Speaker 1: she found it impossible to relax during the making of 274 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:29,680 Speaker 1: the United States versus Billy Holiday. I'm Alec Baldwin and 275 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 1: you were listening to Here's the Thing. When andrew Day 276 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:37,199 Speaker 1: won her Golden Globe for Best Actress, she burst into 277 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 1: tears and was consoled by her parents, who were sitting 278 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 1: on either side of her for the virtual ceremony. I 279 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:47,560 Speaker 1: was born Seattle, Washington, but like, we moved down to 280 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:50,839 Speaker 1: California when I was like six months old. So San Diego, Yes, 281 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:52,960 Speaker 1: Southeast San Diego is where I was raised. Was your 282 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:55,079 Speaker 1: dad in the military, Yeah he was. He was to 283 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:57,480 Speaker 1: twenty six years. He was in the Navy. Yeah, so 284 00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 1: that's why we were stationed in San Diego. And and siblings. Yeah, 285 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 1: I have two younger brothers, one older sister. We have 286 00:14:04,120 --> 00:14:06,960 Speaker 1: a full house. And what was music in your life 287 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 1: when you were a child. Oh, I mean everything is 288 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 1: the soundtrack to everything that we did when I think 289 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:15,559 Speaker 1: about music, I always think about like my mom's dance moves. 290 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:17,680 Speaker 1: She has like this sort of shake bounce dance moves, 291 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 1: she always says. And then my dad washing the cars 292 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 1: or cleaning the cars or working on the engines, are 293 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 1: working on something out in the yard, and we'd sing together, 294 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:30,400 Speaker 1: you know, he loved jazz, and then singing Stevie together, 295 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 1: singing Luther together. But Billie Holiday, my introduction to her 296 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 1: was actually, I know I heard her when I was young, 297 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 1: but my real memory of her is when my musical 298 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 1: theater instructor at the school I was going to introduced 299 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:44,080 Speaker 1: me to her when I was like eleven years old, 300 00:14:44,720 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 1: and he gave me two singers. He said, you need 301 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 1: to listen to Billy Holiday. You need to listen to 302 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:51,120 Speaker 1: Janis Joplin. I was like, okay, le fut out perfect? 303 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 1: And when did you first get up in front of people? 304 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:55,200 Speaker 1: And most of the guests we've had on this show 305 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 1: who are musicians and singers, especially vocalists, have talked about 306 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 1: the choir or some choruses were some of the beginnings. 307 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 1: Is that true for you as well? Yeah? I think 308 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 1: it was, Well, I guess because I was inquired when 309 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:08,360 Speaker 1: I was in high school, but before that, I was 310 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 1: like at the church we went to, it was more 311 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 1: like a praise band. But yeah, so I think probably 312 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 1: the first time I got up and sang in front 313 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 1: of people was maybe like twelve twelve or thirteen because 314 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 1: musical theater, and then I was singing in church as 315 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 1: well too, and then choire at school. So I think 316 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 1: that's I knew I could sing when I was about six, 317 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:26,360 Speaker 1: but really in front of people and other than my family, 318 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: seeing if it was not a fluke. That was like 319 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 1: around that age when people were starting to say, oh, 320 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:34,520 Speaker 1: you can actually do this. Were you confident in music, 321 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:37,480 Speaker 1: like like right away up in front of people singing, 322 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 1: and then later on recording music where you confident in 323 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 1: a way that you weren't about acting. This sounds so 324 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: weird to say, and I and I think I need 325 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 1: to excavate this more and like actually understand it. But 326 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:49,040 Speaker 1: I knew that I could sing, but I did not 327 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 1: like the tone of my own voice. I think in 328 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 1: the very beginning I wasn't fully confident in it because 329 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 1: I wanted it to sound like Whitney and I wanted 330 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 1: it to sound like I. Still I still would like that, 331 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 1: so I still love that shower trying to hit that 332 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 1: Wetney Man exactly hasn't gone away at all. Then the 333 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 1: singers of the time too, you know, like they was 334 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 1: listening to Destiny's Child at that time, and then like 335 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:16,400 Speaker 1: Lauren Hill. So I was like, god, I want to 336 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: sound like them. But it was actually Billie Holiday, which 337 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 1: is why I think I have such a special connection 338 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 1: with her. Bill Doyle was my musical theater instructor, and 339 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 1: he said, listen to her. So I heard a song 340 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 1: called Sugar, and then the next one was Strange Fruit. 341 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 1: But Sugar like shook me, you know, because she sounded 342 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 1: so different. I'm like, this is the greatest jazz singer, 343 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 1: Like this is the mother of jazz. Her tone is 344 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:41,040 Speaker 1: so different, like she's not It didn't sound like a rething, 345 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 1: it didn't sound like Whitney. But I was so transfixed. 346 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 1: I was enamored. Like her voice, you know what it 347 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 1: feels like like almost like a rickety roller coaster that 348 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:50,800 Speaker 1: never falls off the tracks. You know what I'm saying, 349 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 1: Like you're almost waiting exactly exactly it was her, But 350 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 1: you grew up singing and you felt confidencing and it 351 00:16:57,680 --> 00:16:59,600 Speaker 1: just was natural, that all kind of evolved in a 352 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 1: very very natural way. Yeah, yeah, that definitely. And so 353 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 1: the very first day, now you've obviously had prepped and 354 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 1: there's wardrobe fittings, and you're around people on talk talk talk, 355 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: I mean, when you're doing a really serious role and 356 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:13,919 Speaker 1: you're working with a serious group of people. I mean, 357 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:17,119 Speaker 1: Daniels is a really heavy duty director. And then the 358 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:23,600 Speaker 1: first day of shooting, how do you feel the first shooting? 359 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:28,879 Speaker 1: Oh my god, the first day of shooting. I literally 360 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:31,600 Speaker 1: thought my heart was going to Like I thought, it 361 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 1: doesn't have a heart attack, Like I couldn't stop it. 362 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:37,640 Speaker 1: And I was also like email, what though I had 363 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 1: made up in my mind, I said, it's fine, They're 364 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:42,199 Speaker 1: going to discover today that I'm terrible, and they'll have 365 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 1: plenty of time to like find an actress that can 366 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:48,280 Speaker 1: come into it. So I was nervous. I was almost 367 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 1: like I had resigned, you know what I'm saying, Like 368 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 1: it was just like complete resignation, Like that's fine, They're 369 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:56,160 Speaker 1: totally going to realize this is I'm here to take 370 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:59,679 Speaker 1: the crew pretty much exactly. And I think it was 371 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 1: it was like bizarre because I mean, he was nervous 372 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:04,120 Speaker 1: to Lee was terrified. He didn't know if I could 373 00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:05,640 Speaker 1: do it, but he just he was in and he 374 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:08,160 Speaker 1: was he believed it. But you know, it's different when 375 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:09,960 Speaker 1: you're on the first day. And so my first day 376 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:11,800 Speaker 1: of shooting, I was so grateful that it was actually 377 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:14,719 Speaker 1: with Natasha Leone, who was just like it was amazing 378 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:16,960 Speaker 1: to be able to watch her work. And so we 379 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 1: do the first scene and so Lee comes up to 380 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 1: us and I guess to give us notes, but in 381 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:24,439 Speaker 1: my mind, I was like, great. I looking at Miriam, 382 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 1: who is my assistant on said I was like, let's 383 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 1: just make sure we're ready to go, like when they 384 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: kick us out. And so he comes up and he 385 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:32,719 Speaker 1: starts giving notes, you know, and he's telling Natasha something, 386 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 1: and then he's telling me something in Bobla and he's 387 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 1: like believe that was great, and then he like takes 388 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 1: off and I was like, so I do it was 389 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:43,160 Speaker 1: so like, wait a minute, am I still in the game. 390 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:46,440 Speaker 1: Like it was a really really crazy feeling, like and 391 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:48,640 Speaker 1: so you know, because I'm kind of looking at him 392 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:51,919 Speaker 1: for more, like do you need more and more notes? More? No, 393 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:54,120 Speaker 1: that was perfect. One of the worst places you can 394 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 1: be in a film. It seems it's not true, but 395 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: it just seems to echo. This way is when you 396 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 1: think the director is happy with what you're doing and 397 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:05,080 Speaker 1: he just he just floats on yeah exactly, gives all 398 00:19:05,119 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 1: these notes all these people and he's like, okay, you 399 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:09,159 Speaker 1: you're great now, Roger, Yeah, I want to do this 400 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:10,399 Speaker 1: and come in here. Then you sit there and you 401 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:13,360 Speaker 1: pick up the drinking Wendy hold that line, and everyone's 402 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 1: getting over your notes and they give you nothing, and 403 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 1: you feel like a minute act. And I was like, well, 404 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 1: do you want me? Don't change anything, don't change anything. 405 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:23,480 Speaker 1: And I was like, so in my mind it was like, oh, 406 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:25,360 Speaker 1: maybe he's happy. And then I was like, nah, he's 407 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:27,199 Speaker 1: probably just like let's just get through the scene so 408 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:29,320 Speaker 1: we can get the like literally, and I will tell 409 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:31,639 Speaker 1: you people like when did you get comfortable? I'm like, 410 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:35,119 Speaker 1: I know this sounds insane. Never never ever ever, I 411 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:37,200 Speaker 1: think every day I got to set was like this 412 00:19:37,359 --> 00:19:40,760 Speaker 1: anxiety of like today's the day that I'm out, you 413 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:42,919 Speaker 1: know what I mean. So you know, it's like just 414 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:45,720 Speaker 1: operating off of pure adrenaline for like three and a 415 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:49,040 Speaker 1: half month straight. That's basically what it was. There's a click. 416 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:52,160 Speaker 1: That's the old Tennessee Williams line. That's what Brick says. 417 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 1: He says, I'm not going to stop drinking, Maggie, because 418 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 1: I haven't felt that click yet. And there was there 419 00:19:56,840 --> 00:19:58,719 Speaker 1: a click for you when you went I got it, 420 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:03,680 Speaker 1: got it, I'm Billie Holiday. Now. This is really interesting 421 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 1: because I realized, because it's my first film, I don't 422 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 1: know what that feels like yet. So that was the 423 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 1: thing where I was like, I don't have like a 424 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 1: frame of reference of when I got it, So I 425 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 1: literally truly had to rely on Lead, which is first 426 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 1: of all, it is great because he is an incredible directory. 427 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:20,359 Speaker 1: But I think the only moment was like maybe the 428 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 1: first time we were in wardrobe. It wasn't like I 429 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:24,120 Speaker 1: looked in the mirror. I was like, oh my god, 430 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:26,159 Speaker 1: I look just like her now and it's great. It 431 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 1: just felt like the clothes and the environment caught up 432 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 1: to my mind. If that does that make sense, you 433 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:32,520 Speaker 1: know what I mean? Like, well, I think that there 434 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 1: are externals that can help you. Yeah, you know, if 435 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:37,880 Speaker 1: you put the wrong jacket on me, I can still 436 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:40,399 Speaker 1: probably give the performance, hopefully, But if you put the 437 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:42,640 Speaker 1: right jacket on me, We're going to get there quicker, right, 438 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 1: exactly exactly. I'm usually somebody who I'm like a day 439 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 1: three person. Yeah, day one, Day one, I literally stand 440 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:50,840 Speaker 1: there in front of a camera. No matter how many 441 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:53,399 Speaker 1: movies I've done, I literally go on my trailer, I 442 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 1: look at myself in the mirror, and I go, I 443 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:59,240 Speaker 1: forgot what to do. I hate that feeling because that's 444 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:00,760 Speaker 1: the thing that I'm like, I don't think I've like 445 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 1: reconciled that yet. But it's funny because that's my acting coaches, 446 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:06,439 Speaker 1: Like she taught me this like twelve Stepdean, you know, 447 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 1: and she's like, you have to just trust that it's there. 448 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:10,879 Speaker 1: Just trust that it's there. So that was like the 449 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 1: hardest thing for me. I was like, oh, I don't 450 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:15,600 Speaker 1: like that feeling of like you just did all this work, 451 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:17,640 Speaker 1: and like then as soon as you get in front 452 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:19,359 Speaker 1: of camera, you get nervous. You're like, where did it go? 453 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:22,800 Speaker 1: Day one, I go, I forgot what to do? Do? 454 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,240 Speaker 1: I go, I remember what to do? And then by 455 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:27,600 Speaker 1: day three I'm like, I got it. I think I'm 456 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:29,119 Speaker 1: gonna say ice skating. I'm like, I don't think I 457 00:21:29,119 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 1: got it again now, so I'm assuming because I'm not 458 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:34,720 Speaker 1: a musician. Did you lay down all the music tracks first, 459 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:37,280 Speaker 1: and then your lip sync on stage? We actually did both. 460 00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:39,800 Speaker 1: We laid down the music in August before we flew 461 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 1: out there with salam REMI how many songs did you record? 462 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 1: I think like fifteen or sixteen songs. But the thing is, 463 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 1: I guess Lee had seen so we did it and 464 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 1: he was super happy with the pre recorded music. But 465 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:52,960 Speaker 1: the music in the movie, some of it is the 466 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:55,879 Speaker 1: pre record and some of the songs are actual live takes. 467 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:58,639 Speaker 1: So like obviously Strange Fruit was live, you know, I 468 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:01,880 Speaker 1: think it was maybe God Bless the Child. I think 469 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:05,639 Speaker 1: that was live because Lee said he realized that, Okay, 470 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:07,880 Speaker 1: we I think we're going to get something more magical 471 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 1: in the performance if we actually record live. So some 472 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:12,439 Speaker 1: it's it's actually a balance of like live songs and 473 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:15,239 Speaker 1: then some prerecorded And as a singer, there was an 474 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 1: exchange that happens with you and your audience that's live 475 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:21,480 Speaker 1: that with prerecorded music, it will never be the same. 476 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 1: You can kind of get close, but it will never 477 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:25,480 Speaker 1: be the same. There's something that happens when the audience 478 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:29,199 Speaker 1: experiences you and you experience their reaction to it. That is, 479 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:31,399 Speaker 1: it's a spiritual thing, you know, And so he he 480 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:33,560 Speaker 1: actually did a couple of them live for for that 481 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 1: reason in the headspace, so I was really happy with that. 482 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 1: I guess it's also hard, maybe I would guess because 483 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 1: I don't really know, but to lip sync becomes something 484 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:43,920 Speaker 1: that's not acting, because there's a self consciousness that you're 485 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:46,920 Speaker 1: staying with as opposed to all of a sudden, something 486 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:48,399 Speaker 1: comes up inside you when you go I want to 487 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:50,480 Speaker 1: go that way, and if you're lip syncing, there's no 488 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:54,480 Speaker 1: room for your change. Yeah, yeah, exactly, because even the 489 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:56,920 Speaker 1: songs that we would lip sync, I'd still actually sing 490 00:22:57,080 --> 00:22:59,359 Speaker 1: just because I needed to actually feel it because my 491 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:01,520 Speaker 1: face will not make the same face. But it's still 492 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 1: is difficult because I'm locked into what I did before, 493 00:23:04,359 --> 00:23:08,880 Speaker 1: whereas someone like myself and Billie Holiday musically, her freeform phrasing, 494 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:10,920 Speaker 1: the fact that she would never return to the same 495 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 1: way that she sung something is a part of the performance. 496 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:16,119 Speaker 1: So it's it's difficult too because now I'm in lockstep 497 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:18,320 Speaker 1: with what we prerecorded, and it's like I don't have 498 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:20,280 Speaker 1: the freedom to look at an audience member and let 499 00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 1: them sway how it is I deliver that next line, 500 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:25,439 Speaker 1: so it's it's um. It was a little more challenging 501 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:26,960 Speaker 1: and away. So I'm glad we did some of them 502 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:29,560 Speaker 1: live because I think we got some more interesting things, 503 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:33,240 Speaker 1: you know, for those parts. Obviously, we're in this surge 504 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:34,920 Speaker 1: of change in this country in a lot of ways 505 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:39,479 Speaker 1: in terms of diversity, racism, and I'm wondering what was 506 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:43,360 Speaker 1: your civil rights consciousness before you made this and where 507 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:46,199 Speaker 1: you always involved in causes related to this when I 508 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:49,880 Speaker 1: became sort of of age right, and actually, interestingly enough, 509 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:53,560 Speaker 1: Billie Holiday was it was a big sort of lighthouse 510 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:57,360 Speaker 1: kind of into that world. And then just like studying, 511 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 1: just like Harlem Renaissance, you know, the poetry of Linkston 512 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:03,000 Speaker 1: use and through art and which is why it's such 513 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:05,800 Speaker 1: a powerful vessel, is sort of how I became aware 514 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:09,000 Speaker 1: of everything I was not aware of or meant to 515 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:11,000 Speaker 1: be aware of, if that makes sense. You know. Actually 516 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:12,919 Speaker 1: the first time I sang strange fruit was for the 517 00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:15,840 Speaker 1: Equal Justice Initiative. Brian Stephenson, he was a guest on 518 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:19,080 Speaker 1: our show. Yeah, oh god, he is so so brilliant, 519 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:21,919 Speaker 1: like a real, actual modern day hero, and so I 520 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:24,280 Speaker 1: learned so much just from him and being able to 521 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:26,959 Speaker 1: speak with him, especially when he talks about the narrative 522 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:29,840 Speaker 1: war with regard to race, you know, because I think 523 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:33,920 Speaker 1: people often go, well, you know, we won the Civil War, 524 00:24:34,080 --> 00:24:35,960 Speaker 1: but the truth of the matter is, first of all, 525 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:37,640 Speaker 1: we didn't even know we were free until like two 526 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:40,440 Speaker 1: years later, you know, and just says, if you lose 527 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:43,640 Speaker 1: the narrative war, that's what we lost. And that's why 528 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:46,160 Speaker 1: things like racial terror were allowed to persist. That's why 529 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:49,840 Speaker 1: most people don't know that these monuments to Confederate leaders 530 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:52,680 Speaker 1: right too. And these streets in these schools, in these cities, 531 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:56,760 Speaker 1: they were all named actually you know, during like segregation, 532 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,719 Speaker 1: during Jim Crow. They were erected later, right, for intimidation. 533 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:02,960 Speaker 1: For this is so I've definitely known since I was 534 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:05,960 Speaker 1: a young adult. Is when I started to study and realize, like, hey, 535 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:09,119 Speaker 1: you know, my textbooks didn't actually teach me the truth 536 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 1: about slavery. They didn't teach me the truth about reconstruction, 537 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:17,480 Speaker 1: about segregation, about Jim Crow, about mass incarceration, about the 538 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:19,639 Speaker 1: war on drugs. When I was young growing up, it 539 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:22,840 Speaker 1: was that Abraham Lincoln, solely by himself, freed the slaves. 540 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 1: So I didn't learn how Abraham Lincoln actually felt about 541 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:29,480 Speaker 1: black people or slavery. I didn't learn about I'd be wells, 542 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:32,680 Speaker 1: you know until later, or the hand that black people 543 00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:35,119 Speaker 1: had in their own liberation and their own freedom, you know, 544 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:39,480 Speaker 1: and so or learning about incredible freedom fighters that were criminalized, 545 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:42,440 Speaker 1: like Angela Davis and like Asada Shakur when we talk 546 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:46,280 Speaker 1: about great civil rights leaders and that's your next movie, listen. 547 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:50,399 Speaker 1: I received that, Actually, I received that whisper. I was like, 548 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:52,320 Speaker 1: if somebody asked me the other day, They're like, really, 549 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:53,919 Speaker 1: think about who you would want to play, and I 550 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:57,360 Speaker 1: was like, yeah, yeah, it's definitely Angela. But I want 551 00:25:57,400 --> 00:25:59,840 Speaker 1: to know what were some of your experiences in terms 552 00:25:59,880 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 1: of prejudice racism, because down there behind the Orange Curtain there, 553 00:26:04,040 --> 00:26:06,720 Speaker 1: which I know, I mean maybe on a military base, 554 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:10,399 Speaker 1: it's a little more racially integrated, but but that area 555 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:14,119 Speaker 1: is not known as a racially mixed community. No. No, 556 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 1: first of all, I'm glad you know that, because I 557 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:18,239 Speaker 1: think most people don't. I think most people think that 558 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:20,679 Speaker 1: San Diego is more like Los Angeles, and I'm like, 559 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:23,760 Speaker 1: it's more like the outskirts of Los Angeles, those sort 560 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:26,159 Speaker 1: of flips. It's very interesting and So I grew up 561 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 1: in Southeast San Diego, which we always say we grew 562 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:31,680 Speaker 1: up mainly around like black Mexican, Filipino people, Samoan people. 563 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:33,359 Speaker 1: So I think most people when they go down to 564 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:35,440 Speaker 1: San Diego, they're like, wow, we don't really see color 565 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:37,760 Speaker 1: like that. You know. I love my city. I love 566 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:40,320 Speaker 1: people that raised me, particularly Southeast where I grew up, 567 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:43,320 Speaker 1: But it is a city that I think is not 568 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:46,280 Speaker 1: as progressive as people think. And there's certain areas in 569 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:49,359 Speaker 1: particular that are really rough. There's like one area that 570 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:53,359 Speaker 1: we joke about that we call clant What is that 571 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:57,159 Speaker 1: it's actually Sante in San Diego, and it is a 572 00:26:57,160 --> 00:26:59,440 Speaker 1: place that you still see Confederate flags and it is 573 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:01,600 Speaker 1: still you know. Actually I went to a school called 574 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:04,040 Speaker 1: Valencia Park, but all of my other siblings went to 575 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:06,480 Speaker 1: Robert Elie Elementary School, and this is smack in the 576 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:10,399 Speaker 1: middle of like the black community of San Diego, and 577 00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:13,119 Speaker 1: so most of those students were black or were Latino 578 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:16,240 Speaker 1: and spoke Spanish. And they just recently changed it a 579 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:19,399 Speaker 1: few years ago because of the amazing councilwoman Letting and Gonzalez. 580 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:22,359 Speaker 1: But I think in general, just dealing with the idea 581 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:24,240 Speaker 1: that I was other, you know what I mean, or 582 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:26,879 Speaker 1: maybe friends parents that didn't live in my neighborhood. That 583 00:27:27,320 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 1: I didn't find out un till later that they said 584 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:30,840 Speaker 1: my mom would always tell me that she would lock 585 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:32,560 Speaker 1: her things up when you came over to the house. 586 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 1: And I was like wow, like you know, like why 587 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:37,600 Speaker 1: is that? And it was like did she do that 588 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:40,400 Speaker 1: with all your friends? And she was like no, just you, 589 00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:42,600 Speaker 1: you know, I guess because she thought I was poor 590 00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:45,160 Speaker 1: or whatever. I was like, all right, cool. And then 591 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:48,199 Speaker 1: I also felt always from my father a pride in 592 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:49,600 Speaker 1: being who we are, you know what I'm saying, a 593 00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 1: pride and being black. My mother had her own experience, right, 594 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:55,400 Speaker 1: She was mixed, you know, her mother's white, her her father, 595 00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:58,160 Speaker 1: my grandfather, was black, and so she had a rough 596 00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:00,440 Speaker 1: experience as well too, where they were really poor and 597 00:28:00,480 --> 00:28:02,880 Speaker 1: they couldn't get food assistants, right because our kids were mixed. 598 00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:06,480 Speaker 1: So they both my parents have different experiences with racism. 599 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:09,360 Speaker 1: But my father also had his experiences with his mother 600 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:11,960 Speaker 1: and father about being proud about being black and his 601 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:13,639 Speaker 1: culture and who he is, and he instilled that in 602 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:16,880 Speaker 1: us as well too. So it's it's both of those things. 603 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:18,359 Speaker 1: I always like to say, I said, you know, I 604 00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:21,960 Speaker 1: know that we hear about how we've been born with 605 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 1: PTSD in our DNA now, but I like to also 606 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:26,959 Speaker 1: think that we have the triumph right and the strength 607 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:29,200 Speaker 1: and the resilience of our ancestors in our DNA as 608 00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:32,720 Speaker 1: well too. But you know, it's it's having conversations like these, 609 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:36,080 Speaker 1: and it's actually telling stories like you know, Billie Holidays 610 00:28:36,119 --> 00:28:38,800 Speaker 1: or Angela Davis, or like Fred Hampton's or Asta Shakur, 611 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:41,680 Speaker 1: or I go back to say, you know, I wonder 612 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:45,640 Speaker 1: what would happen if America knew that a slave was 613 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:48,680 Speaker 1: hugely responsible for netting us are very independents as a nation, 614 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:51,720 Speaker 1: you know. Or during the Depression, you know that Carver 615 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:54,360 Speaker 1: didn't just make peanut butter, but he actually saved the 616 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:57,719 Speaker 1: American economy, you know, Or as Hidden Figures showed us 617 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:00,040 Speaker 1: that three black women their math was largely responsive for 618 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:02,480 Speaker 1: forgetting us to space or programming the first computer. So 619 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 1: it's like, we need to know the truth about the struggle, 620 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:08,440 Speaker 1: the truth about the contribution, and the truth about the 621 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:10,960 Speaker 1: triumph so that we can actually have a real conversation 622 00:29:11,040 --> 00:29:15,440 Speaker 1: about not just how black people struggle, but how they contributed. 623 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:18,560 Speaker 1: Do you think that African American people, black people in 624 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:21,920 Speaker 1: this country, do you think that the idea of integration 625 00:29:22,040 --> 00:29:25,000 Speaker 1: is quaint to them? I think it's just like, you know, 626 00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:31,520 Speaker 1: what integration should be is just a natural offshoot of 627 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:37,440 Speaker 1: actual equality, like actual you know, seeing not mothering people 628 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:39,040 Speaker 1: all the time. You know what I'm saying, the way 629 00:29:39,080 --> 00:29:40,680 Speaker 1: we always have to do the things that we don't 630 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:43,680 Speaker 1: understand people of other cultures or the l g B 631 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:46,520 Speaker 1: t Q plus community, it's the not other ring all 632 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:49,200 Speaker 1: the time. I think it's just generally saying like, Okay, 633 00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:51,480 Speaker 1: I want to know the truth. I want to walk 634 00:29:51,480 --> 00:29:55,360 Speaker 1: in the truth about my history, about other people's history, 635 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 1: I want to know the truth about this nation. And 636 00:29:57,640 --> 00:30:02,760 Speaker 1: I think that integration just become is a normal byproduct 637 00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:07,600 Speaker 1: of that. How they wanted integrated audiences and absolutely absolutely 638 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:10,240 Speaker 1: why do you think there was Again, it goes back 639 00:30:10,280 --> 00:30:13,600 Speaker 1: to like seeing that we are not different, our difference 640 00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:16,040 Speaker 1: should be celebrated. I think our differences are what make 641 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:18,080 Speaker 1: us one or what makes us the same. For her, 642 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:22,240 Speaker 1: she just she had a very mentality in in the 643 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:25,880 Speaker 1: nineties and fifties of just why does different have to 644 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:33,160 Speaker 1: be bad? Actor? And singer Andrew Day. When We Come Back, 645 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:36,960 Speaker 1: Andrew talks about her song rise Up. It's become an 646 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:41,720 Speaker 1: anthem of the Black Lives Matter movement. Follow Here's the 647 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:45,400 Speaker 1: Thing on the I Heart radio app, Apple Podcasts or 648 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:49,040 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts. While you're there, leave us 649 00:30:49,080 --> 00:31:00,240 Speaker 1: a review. I'm Alec Baldwin, and you're listening to Here's 650 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:07,440 Speaker 1: the Thing. You're broken down, that entire living life on 651 00:31:07,520 --> 00:31:12,240 Speaker 1: the Merry go Round. You can't find out, fight out, 652 00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:16,320 Speaker 1: but I see it in you. So we're gonna log 653 00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:30,760 Speaker 1: it out, Mountay, We're gonna log it out and move on. 654 00:31:31,120 --> 00:31:40,680 Speaker 1: Day all eyes like the day, our eyes, our eyes afraid. 655 00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:46,800 Speaker 1: Andrew Day wrote this song rise Up, for her first album, 656 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:50,560 Speaker 1: Cheers from the Fall, in two thousand and fifteen. Both 657 00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:56,640 Speaker 1: the album and this song received Grammy nominations for Andrew. 658 00:31:57,120 --> 00:32:00,680 Speaker 1: Rise Up helped to start new conversations out her art 659 00:32:01,080 --> 00:32:04,600 Speaker 1: and her sense of herself as an activist. I sang 660 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:07,120 Speaker 1: rise Up, which is a song I wrote a few 661 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:09,720 Speaker 1: years ago, and it was adopted by the Black Lives 662 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:12,480 Speaker 1: Matter movement, which was probably my greatest honor With the song, 663 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:15,480 Speaker 1: the Obama's had become singing it at the White house. 664 00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:17,480 Speaker 1: I've had people literally looking me in the face and 665 00:32:17,520 --> 00:32:19,520 Speaker 1: said I was going to kill myself until I listened 666 00:32:19,520 --> 00:32:22,320 Speaker 1: to rise up. Like stuff like that makes you go like, 667 00:32:22,480 --> 00:32:24,560 Speaker 1: WHOA I love. I was speaking to somebody the other 668 00:32:24,640 --> 00:32:27,240 Speaker 1: day that was said they were doing this thing where 669 00:32:27,240 --> 00:32:30,320 Speaker 1: they're asking the question instead of what's wrong with you, 670 00:32:30,320 --> 00:32:32,880 Speaker 1: the question is what happened to you? Like what are 671 00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:35,480 Speaker 1: you going through? And so we did this song for 672 00:32:35,520 --> 00:32:37,960 Speaker 1: the inauguration. It was just amazing. See the young figure 673 00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:41,480 Speaker 1: skater Caitlin Saunders just I don't even know she realized 674 00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:44,200 Speaker 1: is how impactful her just being a young black girl 675 00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:47,160 Speaker 1: and being free and loving figure skating in a realm 676 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:50,080 Speaker 1: that we're not always represented in. How much that just 677 00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:52,800 Speaker 1: makes me go like this is why we do what 678 00:32:52,840 --> 00:32:56,640 Speaker 1: we do, you know. And to see Kamala Harris, you know, elected, 679 00:32:56,680 --> 00:33:00,200 Speaker 1: to to hear about Joe Biden talk about supporting people 680 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:02,520 Speaker 1: who didn't support him, I just feel like, regardless of 681 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:04,800 Speaker 1: how people feel, those are the conversations we need to 682 00:33:04,840 --> 00:33:07,959 Speaker 1: be having right now. You know, Like it sounds so simple, 683 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:09,840 Speaker 1: but I was like taking my cousin's shopping the other 684 00:33:09,920 --> 00:33:12,360 Speaker 1: day and I bought all of these dude's sweaters, so 685 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:14,680 Speaker 1: it just moved from Jersey and me his brother, I think, 686 00:33:14,720 --> 00:33:17,280 Speaker 1: and we're trying to get their business off the ground. 687 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:20,160 Speaker 1: But the message was so simple. It said, God bless 688 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:22,240 Speaker 1: anybody who's ever hated on me, And I was like, 689 00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:24,440 Speaker 1: I love that. Like to me, I think we just 690 00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:27,880 Speaker 1: need more of those conversations of a lot letting offense 691 00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:32,440 Speaker 1: necessarily rule our world, but actually being constructive and intentional 692 00:33:32,480 --> 00:33:35,720 Speaker 1: about kindness. And I think that that's what we're hopefully 693 00:33:35,800 --> 00:33:37,480 Speaker 1: beginning to see. And that's why I think that the 694 00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:40,560 Speaker 1: inauguration was really impacted me like that because it just 695 00:33:40,600 --> 00:33:44,400 Speaker 1: felt like we could finally breathe, and it was I 696 00:33:44,440 --> 00:33:48,720 Speaker 1: won't mention unmentionables, but it just felt like finally after 697 00:33:49,840 --> 00:33:53,160 Speaker 1: it just felt like finally after four years of just 698 00:33:53,320 --> 00:33:57,360 Speaker 1: like pain. Yeah, no one felt that pain as richly 699 00:33:57,400 --> 00:34:02,120 Speaker 1: as I did. Trust me, thank you for every Saturday 700 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:05,120 Speaker 1: night I went to hell he came back again. Also, 701 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:07,720 Speaker 1: can I just thank you on behalf of everybody for 702 00:34:07,760 --> 00:34:09,960 Speaker 1: biting the bullet for us and doing that for us, 703 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:15,240 Speaker 1: because it was actually magical, So thank you for that sacrifice. 704 00:34:15,960 --> 00:34:19,320 Speaker 1: I also like to be clear about this sort of misconception. 705 00:34:19,400 --> 00:34:20,960 Speaker 1: One of the things that people would say to me, 706 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:24,600 Speaker 1: and it's naively, you know, just so, isn't this so crazy? 707 00:34:24,640 --> 00:34:27,040 Speaker 1: With Trump in office? I mean, America literally has an 708 00:34:27,080 --> 00:34:32,280 Speaker 1: openly racist president, and I'm like, well, America's had mostly 709 00:34:32,719 --> 00:34:36,120 Speaker 1: openly racist presidents, So it's I think this just brought 710 00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:38,360 Speaker 1: it into the awareness of other people who had a 711 00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:42,439 Speaker 1: matter of a Yeah. Also, it just made people who 712 00:34:42,440 --> 00:34:45,560 Speaker 1: hadn't had to pay attention before, maybe didn't care, really 713 00:34:45,560 --> 00:34:49,359 Speaker 1: had to pay attention. Tell me quickly, Stevie Wonders ex 714 00:34:49,400 --> 00:34:52,400 Speaker 1: wife had a role in your career. How did that? Yeah? Yeah, yeah, 715 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:54,600 Speaker 1: her and Stevie kay Miller Morris is her name. I 716 00:34:54,640 --> 00:34:57,120 Speaker 1: love her so much. She was like my godmother in 717 00:34:57,120 --> 00:34:59,319 Speaker 1: the business. But there was somebody I was working with 718 00:34:59,480 --> 00:35:02,160 Speaker 1: years ago. He was like this producer manager, and I 719 00:35:02,160 --> 00:35:04,279 Speaker 1: don't I don't like talking negatively about people, so I'm 720 00:35:04,320 --> 00:35:07,399 Speaker 1: gonna just say God bless him. But but the one 721 00:35:07,440 --> 00:35:09,440 Speaker 1: good thing that came out of that situation was I 722 00:35:09,480 --> 00:35:14,160 Speaker 1: was just singing in a strip mall in Malibu, right 723 00:35:14,600 --> 00:35:18,879 Speaker 1: right where where are you singing in the parking lot where? Yeah, 724 00:35:18,920 --> 00:35:21,520 Speaker 1: it was just like this little common area where you 725 00:35:21,640 --> 00:35:23,640 Speaker 1: just sitting there some chairs and stuff. It was like 726 00:35:23,680 --> 00:35:25,920 Speaker 1: just this little strip mall and Malibu and the shoes started. 727 00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:29,799 Speaker 1: So I was just saying and uh, and so he 728 00:35:29,920 --> 00:35:32,080 Speaker 1: I guess he filmed it, and then he found himself, 729 00:35:32,120 --> 00:35:33,799 Speaker 1: I don't know, maybe a week a couple of weeks later, 730 00:35:33,840 --> 00:35:36,280 Speaker 1: in a pastry shop with this woman kaymer Lett Morris, 731 00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:38,399 Speaker 1: and he played it for her and she was like, oh, 732 00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:40,320 Speaker 1: I really like her voice. And that's when she revealed 733 00:35:40,320 --> 00:35:42,560 Speaker 1: that she was Stevie's wife at the time, and so 734 00:35:42,640 --> 00:35:44,640 Speaker 1: she played it for Stevie, who liked the way I sounded, 735 00:35:44,640 --> 00:35:46,919 Speaker 1: and so they orchestrated a call and I would say, 736 00:35:46,960 --> 00:35:51,120 Speaker 1: like it was honestly, that's what it felt like, and 737 00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:54,439 Speaker 1: it felt like the weirdest because I was like, dang, 738 00:35:54,560 --> 00:35:56,840 Speaker 1: it's so crazy. I don't wonder where Stevie's talking to 739 00:35:56,880 --> 00:35:58,600 Speaker 1: me from, because he has no idea that I'm in 740 00:35:58,640 --> 00:36:01,319 Speaker 1: a tiny studio apartment behind a seven eleven, next to 741 00:36:01,320 --> 00:36:06,160 Speaker 1: a dumpster, sing in front of the shoestore anymore. I 742 00:36:06,200 --> 00:36:08,160 Speaker 1: beg of you now. I want to just say this. 743 00:36:08,280 --> 00:36:10,879 Speaker 1: I know people don't really in their careers. We go 744 00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:12,560 Speaker 1: day by day and then all of a sudden, this 745 00:36:12,640 --> 00:36:17,160 Speaker 1: miracle happens. Where your talent intersects with an opportunity, and 746 00:36:17,200 --> 00:36:20,840 Speaker 1: you've got so many opportunities ahead of you work wise, 747 00:36:20,840 --> 00:36:24,160 Speaker 1: I mean, to do have this be your first film 748 00:36:24,200 --> 00:36:27,520 Speaker 1: that's really really really rare to hit the ball out 749 00:36:27,520 --> 00:36:29,360 Speaker 1: of the park like that. I mean, do you feel 750 00:36:29,400 --> 00:36:33,880 Speaker 1: excited about the future? Oh? Absolutely, yeah, I still scared. 751 00:36:34,320 --> 00:36:37,600 Speaker 1: I mean, okay, listen, Okay, I'm excited about the future. 752 00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:40,080 Speaker 1: But God yes, And you know, it's so funny. I 753 00:36:40,080 --> 00:36:42,280 Speaker 1: do like a round table with all these just amazing 754 00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:44,719 Speaker 1: actresses that I'm like, whoa, I grew up watching them. 755 00:36:44,719 --> 00:36:47,160 Speaker 1: It's so crazy, you know. And so I was like 756 00:36:47,239 --> 00:36:49,760 Speaker 1: just wondering about like when that kind of fear goes away, 757 00:36:49,840 --> 00:36:53,160 Speaker 1: and Michelle fIF was like never. I was like, oh damn, Okay, 758 00:36:53,440 --> 00:36:56,120 Speaker 1: it's like the whole time you just feel that way. Yeah. 759 00:36:56,120 --> 00:36:58,279 Speaker 1: I was like, okay, but it does feel you. I 760 00:36:58,360 --> 00:37:00,440 Speaker 1: was saying, Okay, you know, maybe I don't wanted to 761 00:37:00,560 --> 00:37:03,040 Speaker 1: like I'm excited about the future, and I think it's 762 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:05,839 Speaker 1: a blessing. That's my my spiritual compare life, just how 763 00:37:05,880 --> 00:37:09,560 Speaker 1: God has expanded the platform with Billy Holliday, this new 764 00:37:09,600 --> 00:37:13,000 Speaker 1: family I have in Lee in in my cast, Like 765 00:37:13,040 --> 00:37:15,240 Speaker 1: I talked to these people every day. We are family 766 00:37:15,280 --> 00:37:17,480 Speaker 1: and we're going to stay that way. And then I'm 767 00:37:17,560 --> 00:37:21,160 Speaker 1: happy for the extended family in your guys community that 768 00:37:21,200 --> 00:37:23,200 Speaker 1: has embraced me in such a way. So it makes 769 00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:27,640 Speaker 1: me excited because I have really a really specific desire 770 00:37:27,800 --> 00:37:30,840 Speaker 1: to tell Black stories that haven't been told before, stories 771 00:37:30,840 --> 00:37:33,760 Speaker 1: of Black celebrations and stories of black struggle and trump 772 00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:36,279 Speaker 1: the ones though that have been intentionally hid and like 773 00:37:36,440 --> 00:37:41,040 Speaker 1: Fred Hamptons like, yeah, there's so much and this idea 774 00:37:41,120 --> 00:37:43,760 Speaker 1: that I hear that well, there's not really needy roles 775 00:37:43,800 --> 00:37:47,359 Speaker 1: for black people, especially black women. I go, well, then 776 00:37:47,360 --> 00:37:50,240 Speaker 1: we just haven't tapped it correctly, because the stories are there, 777 00:37:50,320 --> 00:37:52,160 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, Sarah Bartman, You know I've 778 00:37:52,840 --> 00:37:54,960 Speaker 1: of course read Oh toa Bango, right, you know I 779 00:37:55,080 --> 00:37:56,959 Speaker 1: I I keep hearing now about a lot of people. 780 00:37:56,960 --> 00:37:58,319 Speaker 1: I don't want to hear about black paint. I don't 781 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:00,000 Speaker 1: want to hear about black stroke. And I totally under 782 00:38:00,360 --> 00:38:02,520 Speaker 1: and I think we need that world. But I think 783 00:38:02,560 --> 00:38:05,560 Speaker 1: we need both because if there was such a concerted 784 00:38:05,680 --> 00:38:08,400 Speaker 1: effort to keep these stories from coming to the surface, 785 00:38:08,600 --> 00:38:11,640 Speaker 1: then we absolutely, I think need to make more of 786 00:38:11,680 --> 00:38:14,120 Speaker 1: an effort to make sure that these stories are actually told, 787 00:38:14,160 --> 00:38:15,960 Speaker 1: you know, so that we can actually get a full picture. 788 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:19,400 Speaker 1: So I'm excited that the platform seems to have opened 789 00:38:19,480 --> 00:38:21,759 Speaker 1: up in a way that will hopefully allow me to 790 00:38:21,800 --> 00:38:23,720 Speaker 1: dive in and start to tell more of these stories. 791 00:38:24,360 --> 00:38:27,600 Speaker 1: I must say in all honestly, I've rarely been as 792 00:38:27,680 --> 00:38:31,600 Speaker 1: excited to see what someone does next as I am 793 00:38:31,719 --> 00:38:34,279 Speaker 1: to see what you do next. I know a lot 794 00:38:34,320 --> 00:38:36,000 Speaker 1: of people feel that way. This has been a great Yeah, 795 00:38:36,120 --> 00:38:40,320 Speaker 1: stay stay fearful, stay scared. I'm dropped in the fear. 796 00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:43,520 Speaker 1: Thank you for doing this. Thank God, bless you for 797 00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:45,920 Speaker 1: all this work you're doing, and all how thoughtful you've 798 00:38:45,920 --> 00:38:49,080 Speaker 1: been about all of this. Your instincts got you where 799 00:38:49,120 --> 00:38:53,439 Speaker 1: you are now. Don't betray those instincts. Cool, Then we're 800 00:38:53,440 --> 00:38:58,000 Speaker 1: going to work together next. Give me one day. Do 801 00:38:58,040 --> 00:38:59,640 Speaker 1: whatever you want to do. You do you name it. 802 00:38:59,680 --> 00:39:02,200 Speaker 1: I'll be either well, my best to you, my love 803 00:39:02,239 --> 00:39:04,840 Speaker 1: to you. If I don't see you playing, Angela Davis, 804 00:39:05,080 --> 00:39:08,840 Speaker 1: I'm calling the Hollywood police. Thank you as a blessing. 805 00:39:08,880 --> 00:39:18,480 Speaker 1: Talk to you, singer and Golden Globe winner and a day. 806 00:39:18,719 --> 00:39:21,879 Speaker 1: I'm like Baldwin and this is here's the thing from 807 00:39:21,960 --> 00:39:31,080 Speaker 1: my heart radio, rise like the riser, in spite of 808 00:39:31,239 --> 00:39:39,640 Speaker 1: the A. I will ride a thousand times again and 809 00:39:39,840 --> 00:39:46,600 Speaker 1: will rise, I like the ways will rise. It's right 810 00:39:46,800 --> 00:39:53,720 Speaker 1: on the A and we'll do it a thousand times again. 811 00:40:00,239 --> 00:40:25,120 Speaker 1: He call O. Heel heel t mm hmmm.