MAYA: Wait, take it back a little bit!
JUDITH: I'm trying to remember the song. MAYA: What this--this is yours?
MAYA: I should intro this video with you playing. JUDITH: Oh, okay yeah.
JUDITH: [singing] I know the pain has turned your heart little
I know the dark brings you down Until your tears shake the ground
Baby hold on, hold on A little bit longer
MAYA: What's up, beautiful people? It is your homegirl, Shameless, all up in Miss Judith Hill's home!
JUDITH: Welcome to my humble home.
MAYA: For those of you that don't know, Judith Hill is a talented, talented singer! She is awesome, she has worked with
the greats, Michael Jackson...
Stevie Wonder...
The Voice...
And 20 Feet From Stardom.
JUDITH: When you're a background singer, it is a spring board but it can easily become quicksand if that's not what you want to do.
MAYA: P.S., we're not cousins, twin sisters, we're not related! This is not before and this is not after!
JUDITH: That's right. Blasian! MAYA: Because I just realized--the blasian.
MAYA: How was that like? How was growing up in a... your mom is Japanese? JUDITH: Yeah. My mom is Japanese.
MAYA: And your dad? JUDITH: Is black.
JUDITH: He's from--his family is from Mobile, Alabama. MAYA: How did they meet?
JUDITH: They met in a funk band! MAYA: That's so cute!
JUDITH: Yeah, she was obsessed with American soul music, so she moved from Tokyo, Japan. She, like, took a hike and just came to the states!
MAYA: That's like my mom. My mom came from the Philippines. JUDITH: Yeah.
MAYA: Hold on, does your mom have an accent though? JUDITH: Yeah, she does.
MAYA: She does! JUDITH: My mom is full on, like...
MAYA: She's a (inaudible)? JUDITH: When you listen to her speak, you're like, 'oh yeah, she's totally...'
MAYA: Really? Is she a singer? JUDITH: She's a keyboard player.
MAYA: Oh, she plays the keyboard? JUDITH: She's serious. She's a serious keyboard player.
MAYA: My mom plays the guitar. Guitar and piano. JUDITH: Oh! So you come from a musical family?
Maya: No. My mom is like, super... she's an artist, but she works as an accountant. My dad, photographer... artist.
And we met at Prince's listening party! Hi Prince!
MAYA: Who is Judith Hill? JUDITH: I am a artist based in L.A., and my parents are both musicians. I grew up in a very musical family.
JUDITH: I've always been a singer. I grew up--I studied musical composition. I was actually a composer before I was a background singer.
So I've always been in music, but my first gig straight out of college was a background singer for a French artist, Michel Polnareff.
And since then I've just been working--I had the opportunity to work as a background singer.
MAYA: Did you have like, a moment that was like, 'you know what, I need to transition,' or, 'I need to not sing background anymore.' What was that, for you?
JUDITH: As a background singer, I made a definitive decision. No matter how great--because it's a great job, being a background singer.
You're traveling the world, you're well taken care of, but there's that moment where you say to yourself, 'okay. If I really want to pursue my dreams as an artist,
I've got to do it now.' And you've got to plow the way. So yeah, I did leave my jobs... sometimes it is a step of faith because you don't know what's on the other side of it.
You just know this is what you want to do, this is your dream and you've got to go for it.
MAYA: So for those people that think, 'oh my goodness, you're on The Voice,' or working with Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder... you have this amazing fabulous life!
JUDITH: It's not as glamorous as people make it out to be. People... it's so funny. People will stop me in the grocery store and just be like, 'so how's it going?!' Like, oh my God, you know.
And what they fail to realize is that the life of an artist is a heavy grind. Most of the time, you are in the studio working your butt off.
You might not even see the daylight for days, and sometimes it can be lonely. You've got to like, make time for your friends.
And it's a lot of hard hours you put into it. And then you get up on that stage and you're off to the next city, touring.
So it's a very... it's a lot of hard work. I think that people just see the lights and glamour and the red carpets and think that, oh my God, they're just living the dream.
JUDITH: I mean, I think that, like, they don't see the behind the scenes-- MAYA: They don't see the cut.
JUDITH: It's kind of like, isolating sometimes. You're in an island, you're not really--it's like, it's a life of... a life of dedication to your art, and sometimes
you don't get the luxury of going out with your friends, you know. You're inside, practicing.
MAYA: How was it the first time you stepped foot on stage in front of a huge audience?
JUDITH: A huge audience? MAYA: Did you ever feel like... Ahh!
JUDITH: Yeah, it kind of freaked me out a lot. Well, I grew up singing in the church. So that was kind of like, my stage for my earlier years.
I think my first real big arena experience was when I was a background singer for Michel Polnareff. And I just remember like, walking down the hallway, getting
to the stage and all I heard was... I was like, what is that sound?! I was like, no way, we're not going up there!
JUDITH: I was like, literally freaking out. That was my first big experience, I was like, horrified! I was like-- MAYA: You were horrified up until that moment when you got there.
JUDITH: When you got there, and you're like... I was still jittery the whole show, but then I got used to like, kind of seeing like a sea of people and being like,
'okay, this is...' Actually, that's easier--that's actually become easier than like, when you're in an intimate coffee club and you're performing
JUDITH: for like, 20 people and you're seeing their expressions and you feel so vulnerable as an artist, like oh my God, they hate me! MAYA: Really?!
JUDITH: But like, when it's a sea of people and you see none of their faces, you don't even feel it. You just kind of like get out there shamelessly, and you do your thing.
You're just like, this is me and it kind of becomes like, in a weird way, comfort.
MAYA: So what do you have for the wonderful shameless boos out there that are pursuing the arts, singing, all of that?
JUDITH: The main piece of advice that I would give is to persevere and to go %1000 on the off season,
because I find that in this business, there are highs and lows. And when you get those low points, those are the most important times where you really go in, you work super hard,
you work on new music, you work on whatever your passion is, in art, in entertainment or whatever you're doing.
And you hustle. And no matter what is going on around you, maybe it's silent. Maybe the phone's not ringing, maybe you feel like
you're doing all in vain, those are the times that really pay off because when it is time for you to get up, you're prepared. You've done your homework.
And to never let discouragement get the best of you. Right before I got the gig with Michael, I had just written all this music
and no way of putting it out. I was like, broke, and I came to get a job at the mall. So I started applying and I got a job at Guess.
And I was about to work there, and that's when I got the call to work with Michael Jackson.
The life of an artist is like this rollercoaster, you don't know what's going to happen tomorrow! But it's just like being faithful.
Singing and practicing even when nothing is going on--because the next thing you know, the next day,
I was auditioning for Michael Jackson and had to like, bring it. REALLY bring it.
But thank God I was still practicing, I was honing on those days where I was trying to work at the mall, still practicing and getting better.
So that, yeah, the next day, you're at an audition and you make sure you can kill it.
You don't want to be the person that's regretting, years later, like, 'man, I wish I had just really like... pursued my real dreams.'
You don't want to do that. You really want to leave yourself the option, 'okay, I�m giving this up but I'm doing this because I know what I really want.'
MAYA: You know what you really want and you know that there's something bigger for you. JUDITH: Yeah. And you've got to take that step, you've
got to be the one that's proactive and move towards it. Don't just let life happen because if you just let yourself just coast
along with your current situation where you know it's not what you want, then you're going to look back years later.
MAYA: The unknown is scary. JUDITH: The unknown is scary. But you look at all of the people that have really done it, and follow the steps of what they've taken.
JUDITH: It's like, yeah. They really went out on a limb. MAYA: Some of you may think that it's kind of like, you're blessed or you're lucky.
And it's like, yes, because they say luck is preparation meeting opportunity. It's just, you have to be prepared.
To be prepared, you have to put in the work.
MAYA: Do the work. JUDITH: Do the work! Go on a fast! Like a YouTube or Twitter fast where you're not checking in for a week and see how that feels!
JUDITH: You might feel crazy! What was life like 30 years ago? I mean, people didn't have all of the instagram or Twitter. MAYA: Less distractions.
JUDITH: Less distractions and more focus. Your mind is more focused. Get it done. Like literally sit here...
I know a friend that sits here 7 hours!
MAYA: How do you keep inspired? JUDITH: Music. I find myself, every time I sit down here
and I start practicing, whatever it is, or performing, it inspires me. Or if I'm jamming with my band.
Even my parents. I'll go home, my parents are both musicians, and I'll sit there and I'll jam with them.
MAYA: That's so awesome. JUDITH: And it's so inspiring! It's like, then I get ideas for songs. I start writing songs, I start thinking about songs.
Whatever it is that excites me when I'm in that zone, in that creative space, it's just so powerful. It trumps everything else in life.
MAYA: I always tell my boos to just live. Get a a life and live.
JUDITH: Yes, that's so good! MAYA: Because getting a life, you have more to offer the world.
JUDITH: Absolutely. That is big. Yes.
MAYA: So what are your other inspirations outside of music?
JUDITH: I'm obsessed with furniture and interior design. I love exotic pieces that look like they might have come from Thailand or China.
Things that are ancient, for some reason. I'm obsessed by it. I go to thrift stores or old places and I find these vintage pieces.
I'm really into printed stuff. Printed in patterns, and asymmetrical shapes. I like triangles, for some reason.
MAYA: Cause you're illuminati! Oh gosh.
JUDITH: I love shapes, like odd shapes. MAYA: I love shapes.
JUDITH: I love patterns that don't match.
MAYA: I know you're living your dreams right now. But what are some other dreams that you hope to achieve?
JUDITH: I'm a singer and that's what I love doing, but I also am a composer. And one of my big dreams is to incorporate sight and sound, and
create a movie, a motion picture, or a musical that incorporates some of my compositions for choir and orchestra.
Whether it's my voice or someone from my incredible singer friends that I know, that have these soulful, soulful voices,
or angelic voices. I just love all sorts of styles. My dream project is to incorporate and create this epic piece,
whether it's a movie or musical or whatever. But that's where I'm headed. I think that there's a reason why I started out in composition and bringing all this stuff together.
[singing] I need you to cry, oh baby A little bit longer
I need you to cry, cry, cry I know you're suffering
Might be alone, (inaudible) Make it strong, need you to cry, cry, cry
I know the sea, (inaudible) I know the pain has turned your heart little
But we can't erase what's been done But a change is going to come
Baby hold on, hold on A little bit longer
MAYA: I wish I could sing! JUDITH: You can, right?
MAYA: I can sing, like... when I'm funny. JUDITH: Let's do it!
JUDITH: Shameless Maya in the house!
MAYA: Break it down, Judith! Let me hear them keys!
JUDITH: I'm a Blasian! You're a blasian too! MAYA: She's a Blasian! I'm a Blasian!
I want to know from you guys, this time not what your dreams are--or you can, you know what, put your dreams,
but I would like to know what steps you're doing to work towards your dreams. In the comments section.
And make sure you guys read the description box, check out Judith, I'll put all of the links to the videos and the flicks and all the stuff.
MAYA: That's it, guys! Until next time! Remember to do you... JUDITH: Be you...
MAYA: And stay true. JUDITH: Be shameless.