The Breakfast Club - INTERVIEW: Andra Day Talks New Album Cassandra (Cherith),' Super Bowl Performance, Billie Holiday + More

Episode Date: May 10, 2024

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Hey y'all, Niminy here. I'm the host of a brand new history podcast for kids and families called Historical Records. Executive produced by Questlove, The Story Pirates, and John Glickman, Historical Records brings history to life through hip-hop. Flash, slam, another one gone. Bash, bam, another one gone. The crack of the bat and another one gone. The tip of the cap, there's another one gone. Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history. Like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it. Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records. Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. that informs and empowers all people. We discuss everything from prejudice to politics to police violence, and we try to give you the tools to create positive change in your home,

workplace, and social circle. We're going to learn how to become better allies to each other. So join us each Saturday for Civic Cipher on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everyone. This is Courtney Thorne-Smith, Laura Layton, and Daphne Zuniga. On July 8, 1992, apartment buildings with pools were never quite the same as Melrose Place was introduced to the world. We are going to be reliving every hookup, every scandal, and every single wig

removal together. So listen to Still the Place on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Welcome to Gracias Come Again, a podcast by Honey German, where we get real and dive straight into todo lo actual y viral. We're talking musica, los premios, el chisme, and all things trending in my cultura. I'm bringing you all the latest happening in our entertainment world and some fun and impactful interviews with your favorite Latin artists, comedians, actors, and influencers. Each week, we get deep and raw life stories, combos on the issues that matter to us, and it's all packed with gems, fun, straight-up comedia, and that's a song that only nuestra gente can sprinkle. Listen to Gracias Come Again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm Dr. Laurie Santos, host of the Happiness Lab podcast. As the U.S. elections approach, it can feel like we're angrier and more divided than ever. But in a new, hopeful season of my podcast, I'll share what the science really shows, that we're surprisingly more united than most people think. We all know something is wrong in our culture, in our politics, and that we need to do better and that we can do better. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Wake that ass up early in the morning. The Breakfast Club.

Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha Guy. morning. The Breakfast Club. Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God. We are The Breakfast Club. We got a special guest in the building this morning, Andra Day. Welcome. How are you? Good morning. I'm so good.

I'm good. I'm blessed. Thank you. Thank you. New album, Cassandra. Yes. How you feeling? I'm good.

I'm excited about it. I think it comes with like the same nerves, you know, that a lot of things come with because I had a heavier hand in producing this record. You know, I just, I wanted to kind of guide the creative direction a little bit more, but I'm excited about it. It feels like, like the name was appropriate. You know what I mean? I feel like I've been multiple people in the last few years because of a lot of different things. And so it felt appropriate. I'm excited. I'm definitely excited, yeah.

And Cassandra's your real name. Yeah. So is this album about you? Like how personal do you get? It is. It's about me. It's also me kind of like showing up. It's me forgiving myself, I think, in a way that I've not before, you know.

And going through like, you know, love and love lost, you know. I think that, like I said, I feel like I've been a lot of different versions of me. The movies had a lot to do with that as well, too. Relationships, you know love and love lost you know i think that like i said i feel like i've been a lot of different versions of me the movies had a lot to do with that as well to relationships you know a lot to do with that and so i feel like i'm always trying to figure out how to show up the right way you know to show up like oh take the high road and take so on this album good luck right yeah exactly so on this album i was like, nah. You know, like for me, this record, usually I'm like, it's okay. Try to be accountable and figure it out. On this record there's a lot of like, nah, it's your fault.

You eat that. You know what I mean? So I don't know. I'm just being very forgiving with myself in this record. What do you mean forgiving? Allowing myself to feel, oftentimes if I'm frustrated or I'm angry or I'm hurt or I'm disappointed by something or a broken heart or whatever it is, or just I'm not getting along with people,

I'm always trying to figure out, well, you must've done something right. You're the common denominator. You know, like I kind of have this fear of not seeing myself, you know what I'm saying? Cause like,

and so I'm always trying to figure out, you know, okay, what did you do? How did you contribute to that? How did you, and so I think for the first time I'm like, yo,

it's okay. Like you're, you don't like this person. You know what I'm saying? You don't like what that? How did you? And so I think for the first time, I'm like, yo, it's okay. Like you're, you don't like this person. You know what I'm saying? You don't like what it is. They bring it to the table. This did not work out. You're mad at them.

You're hurt, you know? And like, it's okay to express that. So I've, I've actually struggled with that probably for most of my life. You know what I mean? I think one of the biggest issues is,

uh, if you keep attracting, I guess, fucked up people, you start looking inward to see what is it about you that keeps attracting these type of people. Which I think is like, I don't know that that's fully unhealthy, right? Because you do want to figure out like, what is the thing?

You know what I'm saying? That's like drawing this type of person to me. But what I don't want to do is take on their things anymore. You know what I'm saying? That's the thing. I'm always trying to, it's okay. okay now i'm just like it's not okay i was gonna say how many f the people have there been that like it doesn't seem like it's just been one it seems like it's been numerous i mean i could be the common denominator you have a big heart yeah yeah yeah for sure but you know

and that's that's why i say i'm like i mean it's not like it's been i have a lot of really good people in my life too you know what i mean um mean, it's not like it's been, I have a lot of really good people in my life, too. You know what I mean? But, yeah, it's kind of that imposter syndrome thing, I think, a little bit. So, yeah, I have good people in my life, but, yeah. And it's been nine years? Nine years since the last record. What the hell? Because I didn't plan, okay, okay, I didn't plan that.

You know, I was like, it's funny because they asked me, I remember in the beginning when I first signed to the label, they were like, whose career do you want to emulate? You know they ask you like weird questions like that. You said Laur Hill. I didn't know. Jesus Christ. I actually said, I was like, oh, you know, I think, I just was, people that I love, I actually said Sade, and they were like, you know she only releases albums

like every like nine years. I was like, I'm going to release more albums. I'll do like every two to three years. So it just ended up working out like that because of the movies and because of like I was like, I'm going to release more albums. I'll do every two to three years. It just ended up working out like that because of the movies and because of, you know what I'm saying? I'm a slow burn, you know what I'm saying? I'm really detail-oriented. I can procrastinate because I can be a perfectionist.

I was like, you know, all those things. Yeah, and all that is fine. You have a project on the record, Empty. Yeah, Empty. And you say, I'm running on Empty. I can't give you what it says. I can't give love until my cup is full. Until my cup is full.

Break that down. Does that speak to what you were just saying? Yeah, absolutely. And I think that's, like I said, that's the season that I'm in. And so Empty is, it's exactly, I mean, at first I really wrote it for the ladies. Because, like, we are constantly pouring out. We are constantly giving. But I said, but everybody's, you know, tank is on the, everybody's cup becomes empty.

Yeah, it really is just about just saying, like, things that people know. You know, like, I can't show up and be my best self. I can't actually help. I can't serve. I can't, until I actually fill me up. You know what I'm saying? Like, which is a concept, I think, that can feel selfish sometimes, you know what I mean? Like I grew up in church.

I don't know about anybody else who I grew up in church. And some of those themes like taking care of yourself first are kind of looked down upon. But I think as you get older, you begin to understand like, no, I need to be full spiritually, all these things, before I can actually do that. So, yeah, I mean, it's also about a relationship. You you know this person who just wants so much you know what i'm saying from you but it's like and realizing too like you know this person this this dude that i was talking to you're not pouring into me you know the way i'm pouring into you so so it's really about taking your space and your time and accepting the fact that like the scary part about doing that is that you can lose people sometimes you know what i mean like when you're actually taking your space and stepping into your

power and taking time to fill up it's foreign like people get comfortable with you functioning yeah in a way that helps and serves them and so um you know the scary part for me is like i don't want to lose people but sometimes you have to be willing for them to grow and for you to grow you know so that's exactly right i'm glad you resonated with that. That's cool. You know. When you talk about the nine years, right, and you're making a personal album, you're so many different people within nine years.

Yeah. That's so many different seasons. You had to make more than one project. Maybe the project took a bunch of different lives. No, you're right about that, actually, because we do. We have a lot of songs. You know what I mean? I mean, 15 of them, technically, it reads as 16, made the record,

but it's a lot, you know what I'm saying? And I think for me, once we kind of came down to putting the record together, it was just about what songs still stand, you know what I'm saying? What songs still represent me, what songs still feel like timeless, you know what I'm saying? But you're right, you are a lot of different people. In nine years, relationships change you, you know what I'm saying but you're right you are a lot of different people in nine years relationships change you you know what I'm saying like relationships that hurt relationships where I made mistakes and I'm like oh I've learned from that

the movie definitely changed me Billie Holiday had a huge impact in my life and her toxic ass you had to be her toxic ass you know what I would say though I would say toxic and beautiful both very much you know what I'm saying, though? I will say toxic and beautiful, both. Very much. You know what I'm saying?

Like, we don't, we do understand, but, like, women of that time, black women of that time, you know what I mean? So many limited options. And people really hated her because she was like, those options, nah. You know what I'm saying? Like, she has this quote where she said, like, I don't want to be anybody's damn maid. You know what I mean? And that always really stuck with me. So it was not just like her, the drugs and the, but it was like the government hounding her.

But the other intoxicating thing for me was how people loved her. Like they were very, very attracted to her, you know? So that transformed me. I lost a relationship because I changed drastically. You know what I'm saying? When I came back, things were the same. And so not that he did anything wrong. He was you know but I had changed and I got to deep in character yeah because it was how she loved to yeah she actually infiltrated

my life it had to you know to me like so I was definitely changed by that and you'll hear some of that on the record too and hmm and so and there's a few other movies we did Lee and I filmed another one called the deliverance we filmed another one with titus um called exhibiting forgiveness so all of that information you know um and like i said love gains love loss my relationship with god growing and changing like it's a lot of different people hopefully it just gels when y'all hear it but yeah so this is the first time you you're up here so for people that don't know, how did you get into this entertainment world? I know you started out at a high school, started doing all types of odd jobs.

Yeah, yes. Start from some of that. Yeah, no, oh my God. I was talking about this the other night too. I've had like 25 jobs. And I feel like when people check your references, that's a lie. Because like they would stop hiring me

after like job 12 or like 13. But yeah, so it was I've always wanted to do this like this has always been I went to a performing arts school you know um and so but for me it was really deciding like do I want to do Broadway you know because that's kind of what the school trains you for um or do I actually want to be like an artist and then you know around 16 I feel like I finally decided like okay recording music is what I actually want to do and be an artist create kind of my own you know what I'm saying journey and um and so I just I was you know it's so funny sometimes it's hard to you know somebody said to me the other day you didn't skip any steps and I'm like yeah

definitely no steps skipped but you wanted to though i definitely wanted to i don't want you right now you know what i mean right so um no but it was uh so it was everything i mean working regular jobs you know i did everything from like cleaning old apartments that people moved out of to a paper route to like an account manager you know to i used to i used to show up to kids birthday parties as like you know know, entertainment. Yeah, exactly. Which to be honest with you, at the time I was like, this is late, you know what I mean?

Yeah. The kids, I played Elmo, I played Dora, I played Mickey Mouse, I played Minnie Mouse. You had to do the voices and everything? I had to do the voices. Let's hear the Elmo voice. Not you, not me. Oh, I don't even remember the Elmo voice.

I know the Minnie voice was like, it was like a laugh. My voice is gone from last night. Did you get high before you did it? No, I didn't. I got high when I got there. How you smoking a costume? You know what I can't.

No, no, no. I can't do that. No, I can't. I'm like one of those paranoid people. You never want to be high with me. I realized that early on. Oh, anxiety going through the roof? Yeah.

Oh, I got you. Some people be like, oh, I'd love to smoke with you. And they'd be like, oh my God. No, no. Never mind. Never, yeah. But no, so that was actually one of my probably most memorable jobs. Because honestly, kids sometimes aren't that excited to see you pop up.

You know what I mean? Like, they had a birthday party for a one-year-old one time. And they hired me. And I was like, this is amazing. First gig. Kids are going to love me. Wow. Amazing.

And I walked in. They started screaming. Because they hired a seven-foot rat for a one-year-old's birthday party. I was mini. Like, I was like, so they were super terrified. So, yeah. I mean, I did a lot of jobs. And then I was doing shows as well, too, and recording music, just trying to get in every

studio, every little hood studio I could, you know what I'm saying? And just meet people record music and work with them and and um and then i finally got this like demo take you know because we were burning cds at the time you had to go to kinko's and get all your artwork printed and um and so i would do shows uh at mission beach which was like a beach in san diego where i'm from and i would pass out like cds and all that stuff well i was trying to sell them at first but nobody would buy them so I just had to get my yeah exactly I'll just just listen um you know and then eventually there was like this kind of local sort of manager there he was working with artists um and so he was helping me do some things and um and and then I

ended up meeting this other manager uh in LA because I would come would come up to L.A. to try and do shows. At the time, it's like you want to get into parties. When you're young, you just think, if I can get in the face of this person, then I can get their attention or whatever. So you don't realize it doesn't exactly work like that, but sometimes it can. So I would try to get up to parties.

You know what I'm saying? Artists would have parties. I'd try to get in and give them my CD. Their tour bus would be there, and you'd try to give it to the security and all know all the things that's all oh my god everything yes you know what i'm saying definitely like on the street groundwork yeah all of that so like um and then finally i got in the hands of like this one manager who was one of the people we was talking about but um but the good thing that did come from it is after all those years, I sang in a strip mall, actually, in this little strip mall,

and they just recorded it in front of a shoe store. And then he found himself in a pastry shop with Stevie Wonder's wife at the time, who was Kyah Miller Morris, who was amazing. And she heard it, and she was like, wow, I really like her voice. I like her sound. It's so different. She was like, I want to play it for my husband. He's like, who's your husband? She said Stevie Wonder. And so she played it for him he loved the sound and then they orchestrated a call and like y'all when i tell you i was like well it's just like one of those

like when worlds collide you know did he facetime you no he didn't yo shut up man first of all what's wrong with you man it was a good one though he got a good sense of humor about that, though, so that's good. But, yeah, no, so I was, it was like the worlds collided. Like, I was living with my mom at the time in this tiny little, like, studio one-bedroom apartment behind 7-Eleven next to a dumpster. Like, and it was, I mean, this apartment was just, like, no square foot. And then he calls, and it's just's just like the biggest name in the world to me called and you know what i mean he talked about he did talk about my sign he was asking me like you know what i was and and he talked about a song he wanted to write at the time and and then asked

me about my music and if i was intentional at the time i was making songs that were like like it was kind of retro pop sound and i was making songs that were like maybe two minutes max because like all those old records used to be real short like that and so he he picked up on that and um it didn't work out at the time and I always share the story so people know like you'll have moments like this but like just you never know what's actually happening behind the scenes so you thought you made it you was like I just spoke to Stevie Wonder but then I heard when I heard back from the manager that I was working with at the time he was like like, hey, they didn't really like you. You're not, it sounded like they did.

But he was like, they didn't really like you. You weren't really good enough. You didn't, you know, speak well enough, all of the things. And yeah, all this stuff. What kind of manager is that? And so, but I found out a year later when him and I stopped working together, Kai and Stevie reached out again and were like, hey, we just wanted to check and see, are you still working with that guy? Blah, blah, blah. And I said, no., hey, we just wanted to check and see, are you still working with that guy?

And I said, no. They said, we held on to your information. So they brought me up and told me that he asked for, I think they said $20 or $50, something like that, $1,000 in order for me to actually just get in the studio and meet them and talk with them. That they had to pay him that before I could get with them. And that's what made them be like, the business is great. Let me move on. But fortunately, God's so amazing. And he put that on you. Yeah, literally. Yeah, so that's what made them be like, the business is great. Let me move on. But fortunately, God's so amazing. And he put that on you.

Yeah, literally. Yeah, so that's exactly it. So, you know, for me, it was just a closed door. Keep grinding, keep hustling. Damn. Yeah, so that's why I say, like, I always share that because I'm like, you just never actually know what's happening behind the scenes. You know what I'm saying?

So that was a part of how everything kicked off. What have you learned from Stevie Wonder? Sadly, Stevie's one of those people that nobody's going to truly appreciate till he's no longer you think so really absolutely like fully fully like that man should be celebrated in a whole yeah different way yeah it's actually funny you say that because i think i see him like that all the time you know what i'm saying but it's only like recently where sometimes i run into people they're like oh yeah okay you know what i mean i'm kind of like i don't i've always seen him like that because like we grew up with him you know what I'm saying like and so and he was one of my dad's favorite singers my favorite singer so

um I've learned I've actually learned quite a bit from him I will say I think the thing I've learned the most from him is less about what he says even though he does say this and more about how he moves you know but it's to stay hungry like always always you know him and i actually went to well myself and his family we went to like brunch you know a while back it was like right after church and um and it's funny because he was working on music you know what i'm saying at the time and and so he had his headphones he always keeps it on him just like listening and so he sits down and he tells me he puts it in my face he was like you know Andrew I really want you to listen to this

like tell me what you think and he was so nervous like genuinely you know what I'm saying and like really asking my opinion which you know when certain people ask for your opinion you're like why would you you don't need my opinion you have done this to the highest level and the highest degree like you you said, your whole life.

Since you were, what, nine? You know what I'm saying? But he's still, like, I just don't know if it'll resonate with people, if they'll like it. And I just thought it was really beautiful in that moment, like, his humility of, like, I wonder how people will receive this and how they'll like it. And so he's really taught me to just always stay hungry. You know, to not let it cripple you, but to always have that, those butterflies a little bit about what you do, you know what I'm saying?

That's probably how you keep that longevity by it. Yeah. Asking those kind of questions. I think so, exactly. I think once you feel like you got it, you know what I'm saying? Like, you know, it's good to be confident, but time changes constantly.

Seasons change, tastes change so much, you know, so. And I think as artists, if we're truly being ourselves, we have to evolve, otherwise you can't live, you know what I'm saying as artists if we're truly being ourselves we have to evolve otherwise you can't live you know what i'm saying what did you learn about yourself and lose about yourself playing billy holiday oh i learned about myself that i'm a lot more like her maybe in ways that i wouldn't necessarily want to be you know what i'm saying like i'm actually i learned good things and i learned bad things right like one of the tougher things to deal with is that like I'm not good with relationships you know what I'm saying I don't make good decisions I can be very selfish you know what I'm saying like and um and so uh I think that was it's funny because I feel like a lot of

that I put down before the movie but I had to reopen a lot of that and acting is very interesting because people think that you're like pretending right you're faking you're acting you're putting on a show I think if you really really want to do well you actually have to be more honest with yourself and most people are comfortable being you know what I mean and I learned that from Tasha and from Lee um so playing Billie just it showed me that like yeah we're not different from her right she came from a different time period. She didn't, but she was still a woman who wanted love.

You know what I'm saying? And it was like, you know, willing to do whatever, you know what I mean, with whoever to get it. But I also learned about her that like, like I said, referencing earlier that as a woman standing in my power, it will intimidate some people. Some people will be uncomfortable. They'll want you to either come up to where they are or come down to where they are um when you just kind of stay where you are where you're supposed to be vibrating resonating that can be uncomfortable for people um you know and for her it was dangerous right you know what i'm saying like for us it can be dangerous it's not quite the same but yeah it'd be dangerous so I learned um

I learned that in a good way right you know I learned that like um I and and then like I said from the negative side just learning that like oh wow I need to when it comes to relationships I need I need to examine self you know spend more time there in prayer and therapy you know about all of of that and gosh there's there's really a lot of things I learned from her also you know I'm really what I love about the movie is that people got to know her as like a godmother of the neo-civil rights movement right instead of just a tragic drug addict or tragic, like, you know, those things were. Hey, everyone, this is Courtney Thorne Smith, Laura Layton and Daphne Zuniga. On July 8,

1992, apartment buildings with pools were never quite the same as Melrose Place was introduced to the world. It took drama and mayhem to an entirely new level. We are going to be reliving every hookup, every scandal, every backstab, blackmail and explosion, and every single wig removal together. Secrets are revealed as we rewatch every moment with you. Special guests from back in the day will be dropping by. You know who they are. Sydney, Allison, and Joe are back together on Still the Place with a trip down memory lane and back to Melrose Place. So listen to Still the Place on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High High is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. You know that rush of endorphins you feel after a great workout? Well, that's when the real magic happens. So if you love hearing real, inspiring stories from the people you know, follow, and admire, join me every week for Post Run High. It's where we take the conversation beyond the run and get into the heart of it all.

It's lighthearted, pretty crazy, and very fun. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On Thanksgiving Day, 1999, a five-year-old boy floated alone in the ocean. He had lost his mother trying to reach Florida from Cuba. He looked like a little angel. I mean, he looked so fresh. And his name, Elian Gonzalez, will make headlines everywhere. Elian Gonzalez. Elian. Elian. Elian. El will make headlines everywhere. Elian Gonzalez. Elian.

Elian. Elian. Elian. Elian Gonzalez. At the heart of the story is a young boy and the question of who he belongs with. His father in Cuba. Mr. Gonzalez wanted to go home and he wanted to take his son with him. Or his relatives in Miami. Imagine that your mother died trying to get you to freedom.

At the heart of it all is still this painful family separation. Something that as a Cuban, I know all too well. Listen to Chess Peace, the Elian Gonzalez story, as part of the My Cultura podcast network, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's up? This is Ramses Jha. And I go by the name Q Ward. And we'd like you to join us each week for our show Civic Cipher. That's right. We're going to discuss social issues, especially those that affect black and brown people, but in a way that informs and empowers all people to hopefully create better allies. Think of it as a black show for non-black people.

We discuss everything from prejudice to politics to police violence, and we try to give you the tools to create positive change in your home, workplace, and social circle. Exactly. Whether you're black, Asian, white, Latinx, indigenous, LGBTQIA+, you name it. If you stand with us, then we stand with you. Let's discuss the stories and conduct the interviews that will help us create a more empathetic, accountable and equitable America. You are all our brothers and sisters, and we're inviting you to join us for Civic Cipher each and every Saturday with myself, Ramses Jha, Q Ward and some of the greatest minds in America.

Listen to Civic Cipher every Saturday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Justin Richmond, host of the Broken Record Podcast. Every week, I or my co-host, Leah Rose, sit down with the artists you love to get unparalleled creative insight. Now we have a special series

where we speak with the artists behind one of the most influential jazz labels of the 20th century, Blue Note Records. You'll hear from artists like nine-time Grammy award-winning Norah Jones, John Mellencamp, and Madonna collaborator Michelle Indegiocello, and from the legendary Ron Carter, a former member of the Miles Davis Quintet, who's also played with Herbie Hancock, and on Gil Scott Heron's The Revolution will not be televised. Join us over at Broken Record to hear stories behind the legendary label. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Planted on her, those things were imposed upon her because of her circumstances, because of her singing Strange Fruit.

But her willingness to give up her life for what she knew was right and, you know, regardless of the drugs or anything, for her, like, her sharpness, to be able to still be clear about that, even with everything that was in her body, how her body was breaking down, how people were attacking her. Like, I want to touch that. Like, I want that. You know what I'm saying? And so I learned a lot, a lot from her.

I loved being her. I from her I loved being her I really really loved being her and you seemed definitely so connected with the character like yo you healed you were so phenomenal

and she's from Baltimore City I am too so all I knew was her as a singer and the drugs and everything and I really learned her story

through watching you play her so I'm like damn it just made me want to girl listen after I watched. So I'm like, damn, it just made me want to, girl, listen, after I watched the movie, I'm like researching and doing it. I'm like, damn. So she went through so much. So much.

And like you said, willing to give up her life for, you know, things that she believed. One of the things they didn't show in the movie, which we shot, is like she would leave the club and multiple times police would be shooting into her car. You know what I'm saying? Like it was very like, so she, but she would still go on and actually sing the song and she had her hesitations but I love that you from Baltimore because I love I was able to finally see the statue of her that I

think is in point right like where she's from you know what I'm saying like and when I was there like I could see her and picture her as a little girl like cleaning steps and doing all that stuff you know so yeah no she she was she's and i'm and actually the fact that even you being from baltimore didn't know that like she was really the civil rights hero like before the movement had really kicked up it was her singing this song and the death of matilda really kind of sparked everything um but just think everybody over 50 was not in the city that's why I get tired of being a P in New York with them

need to go home but yeah I love that you know that now people are acquainted because that was that was the Federal Bureau

of Narcotics or Investigation I don't even I don't like them so I don't really know their name FBI there's the FBI

there was the Narcotics was back in the yeah but yeah so that was their goal. She was way, way, way too famous, way too loved. They were trying to really kind of like get rid of her legacy entirely, and they couldn't.

But there were a lot of interviews that went missing, all the things. So they just changed the narrative. It was like, hey, she was just some tragic drug addict, like a failure in life. Successful in music, but a failure in life, which is not true. So I'm happy to be a part of telling that legacy. So what did you lose about yourself? What did I lose?

Yeah. About yourself. About myself. Yeah. Well, physically, I lost part of my voice. I know. She was so raspy. It took like, oh.

Which is, you know, here's the truth. I would do it again. You know what I'm saying? Because I do feel like she deserved that level of commitment. You know what I mean? And so I will tell you along with that it's so weird I gained a confidence you know what I'm saying like once I was done playing her it was there was I don't want to say a carelessness but it was you know I was sort of walking into rooms a little less worried about how it would go you know what I'm saying but i think because of the toll after a few years that it kind of took on my voice me changing as a singer then my confidence was actually rocked you know what i mean because

then i start getting back in performance spaces working on the record i can't hit notes i hit before i can't you know what i'm saying like so my confidence actually kind of you know took a hit you know what i'm saying and then in relationships right like I was in a relationship for four years you know before I did that movie and um and I thought I thought that I was I thought I was good you know what I'm saying and I thought like wow you know like how I used to be in relationships more selfish and did all this stuff cool I don't function like that. I don't move no more, blah, blah, blah, all this stuff.

So it kind of really opened this can of worms that was like, hey, there's still stuff underneath that you're not dealing with. Like we're capable of these things all the time. You know what I'm saying? Like being unfaithful, being dishonest, all of that stuff. I'm absolutely capable of all of that and have done it and do it. But so I think it kind of popped a lid on that you know what I mean and I realized there was more work to be done deeper work to be done and I realized at the time I think I was just getting by you know what I'm saying performing well you

know yeah so it kind of took away the confidence in that took away the confidence in like singing and showing up but the good thing about it is that I feel like I'm rebuilding a foundation on solid ground. You know what I'm saying? So I kind of feel myself coming back to a place of wholeness and groundedness. Does that make sense? Absolutely. 100%. I can kind of ramble, so I'll make sure I was answering that.

Is there any song on the album that you would consider your favorite? Ooh. Ooh. It's so hard. You had the most fun making this one. This the one you was in there like. You know, I think, yeah, maybe next time is one of them.

Maybe next time is definitely one of them. Because maybe next time is just to read. Like I said, I just had to tell this nigga by himself. And like, that's, you know. I was just like, I just had to get it off my chest I was trying to write to be like I've learned lessons

I was like yeah no this is what you did you know what I'm saying and I was like and I kind of like so okay so I used to do this thing

do not ask me about I do not have them no more because they were sitting right next to my devotion journal and God was like really

and I was like okay I'll delete it but I used to write like diss raps for like rappers I felt like didn't come back hard enough and like uh you know in beefs you know so did you write one for Drake or Kendrick oh my god I I wrote one for him like earlier in the like did you beef yeah yeah but it was like yeah I did one for like I did I did I used to do it was like my thing it was just me in my notes like I would never record them I'll never I'll just write them down I'm like they could have I did, I used to do, it was like my thing. It was just me in my notes. Like, I would never record them.

I'll never, I'll just write them down. I'm like, they could have said this. They could have talked about this person. They didn't even talk about the whole team and the squad and da-da-da, all that stuff. So, I used to do that all the time. So, like, I think with Maybe Next Time, I was kind of tapping into that because I was like, I'm not a rapper like that. So, I was like, I'll just like sing flow. You know what I'm saying?

And just like speak what's on my chest. And so, that's probably one of my favorite because I got a lot off my chest. You know what I'm saying? And I like speak what's on my chest. And so that's probably one of my favorite cause I got a lot off my chest. You know what I'm saying? And I'm just being pettier in that song. And that is just necessary sometimes. How much accountability are you taking though? In this record?

None. That's for everybody else. Right, right. I did enough of that. I did enough accountability. Y'all have it now. You know what I'm saying? Like, yeah.

No, I think for me, this record is like, there's always accountability. I think it's like this record is like, there's always accountability. I think it's like growth. But like, which is why I was going to say Still at the end of the record is one of my favorite songs. And a song called Nervous. Okay. Because Still is like, it's not necessarily just taking accountability. It's just accepting that like all of this stuff you went through and you did. You know what I'm saying?

Like the stuff that I feel not proud of and the stuff that I'm hurt by or whatever. All of that stuff is was a part of the journey. I'm saying like I feel like life is cyclical and we can kind of but in a cycle like, you know, sometimes you're going up, you're going forward. Sometimes it feels like you're going down. Sometimes you're going backwards. But you're always moving forward.

Yeah. And so I feel like still is a reminder that, like, I do devotion every morning, right? So I pray, you know, read scripture, meditate on the word, and then, you know, try to live my life, you know, according to that. But, like, realizing that, like, sometimes it doesn't feel good, but that process, like working out in the gym, eventually it will develop.

Yeah, that's right. Eventually it will the gym, eventually it will develop. Yeah. Eventually it will pay off. You know what I'm saying? So the song goes from being stuck still to actually being still and having peace. You know what I mean? So it's less about accountability. It's more about just accepting that the journey is what it is.

Every single version of yourself ever deserves exactly what the version of you is getting now, which is feeling point. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. That's a good point. Can we expect, absolutely, absolutely, that's a good point.

Can we expect any visuals? Yes, yes, no visuals. You about to give me in trouble, girl. Oh my God, all right. Y'all sitting there. Nevermind, y'all. Y'all know I'm just kidding, right? No, we are, we have music videos, actually.

That's my creative director, actually, right here, too. I can do it. That we're working on. I just wanna, my thing for this record is everything I want to be cinematic and immersive. You know what I mean? Because that's like, I feel like that's the best. For me, like when you go to a show and you feel like as soon as you walk through the

doors, the atmosphere changes. Yes. Like you're transported, you know. I still love Disneyland. Like I'm a child. You know what I mean? So I like feeling like, and so that's the thing. So the album is called Cassandra, parentheses, Cherith.

And I'm examining through love, you know what I'm saying, through work, through career, through confidence, my spiritual walk. You know, I'm examining this journey from, like, the desert to the water, which for me represents the journey from operating from a place of lack, right, you know, which is like what consumerism brings, right? You don't pretty enough. So you need to do this to your body. You don't have enough.

So you need these clothes or this money. You need, you need this money so you can be loved and you can feel worthy. And I go like, what happens if I like really believe God, right? Like what happens if God says that everything I need, I have, not just in me, but like in my community, right? In the people that I've been blessed to meet and encounter. What happens if I live life from a place of abundance and fullness

and actually operate in that place? So I'm examining that journey and all the bumps along the way. And so I want the experience of that to be really immersive and fun. And so I want the videos to be really cinematic so I'm

kind of taking my time with it yeah to everybody behind me this may what they face is looking like they look like come on now but but I really I'm taking my time with it because I want the right people like I would like to have you know actors in the video and I want the right people in it I want the right creative like I just want to make sure everything is there. So I'm a slow burn. So I'm taking my time with it. Well, I don't do it. I'm pretty sure it's going to be amazing.

Thank you so much. I appreciate that. And you won a Grammy and a Golden Glover. I did. And an Emmy, which I didn't realize I won until like two years. Was it two years later? When did I remember that?

How? I don't remember. Is there pressure? You didn't know that you won it until two years later? I know. It was a friends and family Emmy or something like that from a show. And I was like, that's a blessing. That is a blessing.

That's a good way to wake up. You know what I mean, right? What does that validation mean to you, if anything? That's a good conversation. It means, this is going to sound really crazy. It means a lot and nothing at the same time. Does that make sense a little bit? Because it means a lot just because, you know what it reminds me of?

I did not expect this movie to do what it did. I didn't expect the character to do what it did. I didn't expect my performance. I went to set every day expecting to get fired, which is a crazy mentality to go in with. I never expected I would get the role. And to be honest with you, I didn't expect my performance. I went to set every day expecting to get fired, which is a crazy mentality to go in with. I never expected I would get the role. And to be honest with you, I didn't want it at first because I was like, I'm not an actor.

So I just thought, I'm going to do this little movie. I'll probably be terrible. They'll edit around me or they'll fire me. It's fine, you know, whatever. So I think that, for me, is just like validation of like, there's something in scripture, there's a scripture that I love that says God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we can even think or ask. You know what I mean? And I love that scripture so much because like it helps me to operate in faith because when I let go, you know, I don't have to worry that like, oh, it'll be terrible. It'll be better than what I thought, you know.

So it means a lot to me I know it means a lot you know to me for that reason and for the people who put the work and the time and Lee put so much work and time into me Tasha put so much work and time my whole cast everybody you know what I'm saying Trey, Tyler yeah you know um Devine, Miss Lawrence you know Garrett um know, like, so there was a lot of people really rooting for me. You know what I'm saying? And so it just shows me that like community and collaboration is where it's at. You know, I hear the word, the term self-made often, right? I got it on my own. Nobody helped me do it.

It's not really a true statement because like even when you work on your own and you self-made at some point to get this job, somebody had to say yes to get the funding. Somebody had to say yes in order to, so there's, so it's just reminds me that like collaboration and community is really a blessing. And, and it is nice when the community,

you know what I'm saying? Recognizes it, but it is not validation for me. It's a blessing and it's a bonus and it's beautiful. But I don't think I would tell any artist that like, hey, make sure you shoot for that. If that's your goal and that's something you really want, yes, go for it. You know what I mean? But don't let it stop you.

You know what I'm saying? Because I feel like that can be a thing where you recognize people. It can be a blessing. But it can also be a thing that just makes people feel like they're not capable. You know what I'm saying? Or they're less than. So I'm blessed, but it does not define me in that way. In the politest terms I can put it. You know what I'm saying? Also, listen, I'm not going to parse words. That community, the representation is not really there yet. You know what I'm saying? There's, there are people making strides, which is beautiful. So I want to make sure I shout out and highlight the people within these um these sort of like organization or these

committees that are actually seeking to get more representation you know I'm saying for different types of communities um but yeah so when you have a group of people that don't look like you that say oh I didn't resonate with this and it's like well why would you resonate with this you know what I mean you don't have this experience you don't look like me so those are things if I'm being really candid like those are things that need would you resonate with this? You know what I mean? You don't have this experience. You don't look like me. So those are things, if I'm being really candid, those are things that need to be looked at and addressed, you know what I'm saying, if something like this is to persist. Some of those same people, white people,

were pissed off at you when you sang the black national anthem. Not you. They'd be mad at me. But they were just mad that the black national anthem was performed at the Super Bowl. They mad that I showed up black. They mad that they're like that. Lift every boy's things.

Yeah. How did you feel about that backlash? Well, first of all, how was that feeling, you performing at the Super Bowl? My God. So first, okay, I'll deal with the feeling first. You're right. Like, the feeling was just like, my God. When I tell y'all, so here's the thing.

I, these are, like, it goes back to, like I said, standing in your power. When you have a truth and an understanding and you're willing to sacrifice for that, like, it can be scary because you lose things, people, opportunities. So performing at the Super Bowl for me was just such a blessing. It was a full circle moment. Terrifying. Like, oh, my God, y'all. At a certain point, I was so scared.

Knees were shaking. But I was like, just go now. You know what I'm saying? Just go now. Who made the call? Who called you to say, hey, we need you for Super Bowl? Well, so Felicia. This is my manager, Felicia, by the way.

Mm-hmm. Peace, Felicia. So it was, who called us for that? Braids are amazing, by the way. Jesse Collins, yes. And so, who Jesse is just like amazing and been an incredible friend. But I stopped singing the national anthem like years ago. And I've been asked a lot to do it. You know what I'm saying? For different games, for different things.

And I just finally got to a point, you know, especially after the Kaepernick stuff and all that, I was just kind of like, you know, I don't want to sing this again, you know what I'm saying, in support until I can sing this song in this arena. You feel me? And for me it was a big deal because I was like, I'm tired of people acting like this,

singing songs that represent other people, you know, is divisive. And it's not because I feel like it's the black national anthem but it actually speaks to unity you know what I'm saying and I think opens people's eyes and so it was really a full circle moment because to get the call because when she called me she was like they want you to sing the anthem at the super bowl and I could even go into I don't sing that they want you to sing the theory wasn't saying I was like, you know what I'm saying? So even if it was the regular one, you wasn't going to sing it as a Super Bowl?

No, for sure. Love that. So the fact that it was that, that after all these years, I was able to do it and to sing that song on the biggest stage was so crazy. I was so, so nervous, you know, but I knew that like, I'm aligned, like I'm walking in purpose here. And so, and to deal with like you know the

feeling of of all the backlash from just the angry whites you know who didn't want me to sing it to be honest with you it's funny because I think y'all brought it up to me one time and it was like hey you know how do you feel I honestly was not paying attention to it at all you know what I mean like and I'm not even saying that as like cap where i'm just like to protect my people i really didn't know at first you know what i mean and then once i found out it was just like i don't care like i really don't care and i think that's the thing like when you walk in purpose like i said it was like some people will be mad you know what i'm saying and listen they're not just mad about the song being sung you know what i mean it's just black people showing up in ourselves and as we are and who we are in any arena we don't want you infiltrating our anything our games our shows our culture our

life you know but that's not a real representation of like American life you know what I'm saying like so for me I think my perspective was a spiritual perspective where I go and God's working on me on this part you know what I'm saying about loving everybody those white people but um so that was my thing I was like you know what what I'm gonna choose to do is love you the way I love everybody and just distance myself you know what I'm saying because the truth is y'all gonna be mad you know what I'm saying anyway and and and the sad part is what you in sitting there angry you actually gonna miss the blessing of what this moment could be you know what i'm saying like you're gonna miss what this song is actually saying you're gonna miss what you can learn from these people's struggle you

know what i'm saying and from their triumph like and so more than anything i felt bad for them you know what i'm saying i was like y'all yall can stay over there. So I was just really like, nothing was going to stop me from doing this. You know what I'm saying? And so nothing did. Yeah. And I feel like the truth is people will always find a reason to be mad. They will always find a reason to be mad as long as they have to share.

But that's just time is going to continue to turn over. And those people will be phased out. You know what I'm saying? That's right. Well, the album Cass Cassandra, comes out May 10th and we appreciate you

for joining us. Thank you so much. Thank you. Oh my God. I was really excited about this. Thank you. Thank you so much. Ladies and gentlemen,

it's Andra Day. It's The Breakfast Club. Good morning. Wake that ass up in the morning. The Breakfast Club. Hey, y'all. Niminy here.

I'm the host of a brand new history podcast for kids and families called Historical Records. Executive produced by Questlove, The Story Pirates, and John Glickman, Historical Records brings history to life through hip-hop. Flash, slam, another one gone. Bash, bam, another one gone. The crack of the bat and another one gone. The tip of the cap, there's another one gone. Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history. Like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it. Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records.

Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's up? This is Ramses Jha. And I go by the name Q Ward. And we'd like you to join us each week for our show Civic Cipher. That's right. We discuss social issues, especially those that affect black and brown people, but in a way that informs and empowers all people. We discuss everything from prejudice to politics to police violence. And we try to give you the tools to create positive change in your home, workplace and social circle. We're going to learn how to become better allies to each other. So join us each Saturday for Civic Cipher on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast.

Hey, everyone, this is Courtney Thorne-Smith, Laura Layton, and Daphne Zuniga. On July 8th, 1992, apartment buildings with pools were never quite the same as Melrose Place was introduced to the world. We are going to be reliving every hookup, every scandal, and every single wig removal together. So listen to Still the Place on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Welcome to Gracias Come Again, a podcast by Honey German, where we get real and dive straight into todo lo actual y viral. We're talking musica, los premios, el chisme,

and all things trending in my cultura. I'm bringing you all the latest happening in our entertainment world and some fun and impactful interviews with your favorite Latin artists, comedians, actors, and influencers. Each week, we get deep and raw life stories, combos on the issues that matter to us, and it's all packed with gems, fun, straight-up comedia, and that's a song that only Nuestra Gente can sprinkle.

Listen to Gracias Come Again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Dr. Laurie Santos, host of the Happiness Lab podcast. As the U.S. elections approach, it can feel like we're angrier and more divided than ever. But in a new, hopeful season of my podcast, I'll share what the science really shows that we're surprisingly more united than most people think. We all know something is wrong in our culture, in our politics, and that we need to do better and that we can do better. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.