Here is some exciting news for Judith Hill fans! The Voice season 4 alum has recorded an album with Prince! The legendary pop star introduced Judith in front of a small gathering at his Paisley Park studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota, Sunday night.
“This is Judith Hill,” Prince announced in front of the crowd. “And I’m Prince.”
Judith was also featured in the Oscar- and Grammy-winning documentary 20 Feet From Stardom about backup singers, but her TV and movie work is not how Prince became acquainted with the singer. She came on to his radar when he saw a video clip of her being interviewed on a European TV show and she mentioned that she’d like to work with him. Prince tracked her down and invited her to a listening party in LA for last year’s Art Official Age album.
When she namechecked Sly and The Family Stone when he asked her what kind of album she wanted to make, he said, “That’s all I needed to know.”
Prince invited representatives from the Minneapolis media to preview Judith’s album at Paisley and ask her – and him – questions. Members of Prince’s band, 3rdEyeGirl, were there, too, along with a few staffers.
Six cuts were played from Back in Time, the album Judith recorded in two or three weeks at Paisley Park with Prince as producer. “It’s the fastest album I’ve ever made,” he said. After the first number played in the studio control room, Prince informed the gathered reporters: “Ask your questions now. She’s going to be a superstar and you won’t be able to talk to her.”
The songs previewed:
- “Cry Cry Cry,” – “..exciting big blues workout, with terrific big-band horn arrangements, some inspired R&B vocalizing and ‘that’s me on guitar,’ as Prince put it. The song sounded like nothing associated with Prince. It was more like a young Irma Thomas doing an Etta James song with sizzling instrumental work. Prince said of Hill: ‘She has an analog voice.'”
- “Turn Up” and “My People” – “…funk pieces with a more familiar Prince vibe.
- That Angel song, “as Prince called it, is a digital-sounding number, with Hill’s strong, soulful, mysterious voice surrounded by synthetic sounds.”
- “Beautiful Life” – “…”is a pretty, piano-driven ballad with strings. It’s a number that Hill had performed on tour opening for Josh Groban in 2013 but Prince urged her to change it from a minor to major key.”
Prince asked the assembled scribes for suggestions on how to get Judith’s music out there quickly. He had no idea what Spotify was, when somebody suggested the service. Hm. There is no release date for the project, but Judith is close to signing a record deal.
After the mini listening party, Prince led everyone back to the NPG Music Club room at Paisley Park, where about 100 fans gathered for a concert from Judith and her band.
Read more at StarTribune.com
