“You all know Judith [Hill] is my absolute best friend, right?” Andra Day says with a smile as she joins us on a video call. Both she and Hill, connecting from their separate locations, are clearly delighted to combine their PAPER interview with some much-needed catch-up time.
Earlier this year, Hill released *Letters From a Black Widow*, an album reflecting the rich tapestry of experiences she's encountered as she’s explored her creativity. Hill, who began her career touring with legends like Prince and Michael Jackson, explains, “This record emerged from my therapy sessions, where I started confronting the darker aspects of my life. My therapist encouraged me to express these emotions as a personal exercise. As I began writing more deeply personal material, I felt a breakthrough that led to healing and self-expression. *Letters From a Black Widow* is about navigating shame and the shadows in my life, finding drama and theater within, and ultimately discovering a path to healing.”
Day, laughing, responds in a similar vein. “I guess we’re in the same space, Judy, because my album deals with a lot of guilt and shame, too,” she says. Her album, *Cassandra*, also released this year, delves into themes of loss, love, and reclaiming personal power. “Creating this album was about living and praying, and exploring parts of myself I hadn’t before. I made some more selfish decisions over the last few years, dealing with love and loss while reflecting on my true self. It’s about being present in both the highs and the lows, understanding that life is full of peaks and valleys. Sometimes you’re the victim; sometimes you’re the perpetrator.”
Both artists are currently on tour, with Hill having started her run in Indianapolis last Wednesday and Day beginning her dates today at the Richmond Jazz Festival. For now, though, they’re relishing the chance to reminisce about their friendship, discuss recent insights, and celebrate each other’s creativity.
**Judith Hill:** A lot of the content on my album revolves around overcoming and reconciling my public image. After Prince’s death, I was thrust into chaos with many media accusations and was given the derogatory label "Black Widow." I really struggled with this and internalized the negativity. Writing the song "Black Widow" was my way of distancing myself from that label and expressing the emotional turmoil I experienced. It required a lot of courage to confront those feelings, but doing so helped diminish their power over me. It was a difficult and frightening process, but ultimately, it was essential for my growth.
**Judith:** The main emotion was deep hurt. Performing the song was a powerful experience because it allowed me to find a safe space on stage to express what I had been feeling internally. It was very emotional to share something so personal with the audience.
**Andra Day:** Right now, I’m more focused on supporting Judith [laughs]. But personally, I've learned a lot about myself and relationships recently. I've made some poor decisions and allowed a lot of things to happen, especially in love. I have a fear of not being good enough or interesting enough for others, which made letting go of a relationship terrifying. I worried that I’d never be loved again. This fear inspired my song "Chasing" on the album. Additionally, after portraying Billie Holiday, I faced a lot of personal struggles, including losing a relationship due to my own selfishness. The thought of finding love or self-acceptance again felt overwhelming. This led to the song "Still," which reflects on feeling stuck and eventually finding solace and purpose through prayer and meditation. What once seemed futile started to reveal its significance and helped me move from feeling paralyzed to simply being present.
**Turning that on its head, what are some of the songs that resonate with you during high moments?**
**Andra:** I find it really rewarding to see how different people connect with my music. I remember moments in the studio where the response was incredibly positive and encouraging. There are also personal moments when you finish a song and just fall in love with it. It’s a powerful feeling when you realize: "This is exactly what I wanted to create." At that point, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks—you’re just proud of the song you’ve made.
**Judith:** I completely agree. For me, finishing the album was a major highlight. The process of shaping and creating the music was deeply healing. It’s been fulfilling to hear from people who say, "This song really resonates with me during a tough time." Even though my work is darker and not for everyone, knowing that it has a profound impact on some listeners is incredibly rewarding.
**Judith:** We often hang out while working on our projects and end up saying, "Let’s go to the movies and watch something completely mindless," and then grab a bite to eat. It’s a fun break from everything...
**Andra:** I remember one movie night at my place where we joked that Netflix needed a "Fine Niggas" category because we just wanted to watch something eye-catching without scrolling through endless options! We’re like sisters in that way—we’ve been working on these projects for so long. I’ve seen Judith perform live and know her style. We do discuss deep topics like spirituality and the music industry, but we also enjoy lighthearted moments and silly conversations.
**Judith:** Exactly. With Andra, it’s like having a spiritual sister. We don’t need to say much to understand each other. Being with her feels like a refreshing break from the demands of our work and all the questions we constantly face.
**Andra:** I feel the same way. It’s like having the best of both worlds—great company that also feels like solitude. It’s the perfect blend of connection and personal space.
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