Judith Hill
The eye-catching title of Judith Hill‘s latest album, Letters from a Black Widow, was actually inspired by a trauma that nearly derailed a stellar career, which includes a Grammy for Hill’s work in the Oscar-winning film documentary 20 Feet from Stardom.
“Black Widow was such a dark presence in my life that was too looming and intimidating to even talk about“
The phrase ‘Black Widow’ was coined by tabloids after the tragic overdose deaths of her two high-profile collaborators: Michael Jackson and Prince. The term became a weapon used by internet trolls to attack the acclaimed artist, sparking conspiracy theories and shaming campaigns. Luckily, a year into the pandemic, Hill found the time and space for a momentous reckoning during which she discovered the courage and strength to face what had happened and to explore it through music.
The new stories of discovery, resistance, and redemption on this album are all grounded in Hill’s unshakable soul and funk foundations. While the album often takes buoyant and playful turns, every song is deeply rooted in the 39-year-old artist’s current reality: her gratitude for the people who shaped her – and her keen awareness of the bumpy path she’s chosen and the powerful force she’s becoming.
