3x GRAMMY nominee Andra Day is gearing up for the premiere of The United States vs. Billie Holiday, where she holds the starring role. Ahead of the debut, she shares cuts from the official soundtrack, including a cover of “Strange Fruit” and “All of Me.” The latest addition is “Tigress & Tweed,” where Andra Day sings lyrics laced with raw emotion:
Strange fruit come down off the tree. Cut it down under your feet. Juicy fruit so bittersweet. Fruit stand tall, these roots go deep. Strange fruit bustin’ on these leaves./ Ancestors don’t take defeat. Left the scent of victory, in the air tigress and tweed, oh you carry it. I’m tired, grin and bear it./ The truth of it is you carry it. Future, you and your chariot./ Say a prayer for me, ’cause I don’t get no sleep. Say a prayer for me,
The songs arrive ahead of Andra’s starring role in The United States vs. Billie Holiday, a biopic centering on the late singer, which will debut as a Hulu Original film on February 26th. In the biopic, Andra Day makes her feature-acting debut as Holiday, shedding light on the innovative vocalist’s embattled years as a target of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics—the unit sought to imprison Holiday on drug charges. This is a retaliatory action given her dedication to singing highly politicized songs like “Strange Fruit” and her efforts to integrate her audiences. In the upcoming film, directed by Lee Daniels (Precious, Empire) and written by Pulitzer winner Suzan-Lori Parks, Andra stars alongside Moonlight lead, Trevante Rhodes.
In 2020, Andra Day contributed to several notable singles, including Keedron Bryant’s “I Just Wanna Live” alongside Lucky Daye and IDK, “Humxn Race” with Raphael Saadiq and Tori Kelly, and put out her own tracks like “Make Your Troubles Go Away” and “Higher Ground” with Chelsea Collins.
Be sure to press play on Andra Day’s brand new track “Tigress & Tweed” down below.