What you're about to hear is a testament to faith and perseverance. "Angel in the Dark," from soul singer-songwriter Judith Hill's solo debut, Back In Time, represents the struggle of aspiring to heights unknown, with nothing to break your fall but a steadfast trust in a higher power.
A former contestant on The Voice, and a backup vocalist for Michael Jackson, Elton John and Stevie Wonder, Hill has had her fair share of the stage — but never quite at its center. She was featured in the 2013 Oscar- and Grammy-winning documentary, 20 Feet From Stardom, which focused on the creative power and influence of often un-championed backup singers. (That documentary was my introduction to Hill.) Fast-forward two years, and the song she's singing brings her years of experience as a supporting vocalist into focus.
"Angel in the Dark" starts out with some schizophrenic snares and borderline-sinister keyboards, sparse and uncertain. Almost immediately, the beat becomes purposeful — the driving strings and a weighty, echoing clap helping keep Hill grounded as she recalls a time when she was in a gloomier place, a more difficult time. "I'd just about given up, just about hit the wall," she sings. "Stumbling through the dust, it's getting too hard to even crawl."
Soon after, though, Hill realizes that she's had a guiding light the entire time: "Heaven was looking out for me." Somehow rugged and fragile at once, "Angel in the Dark" embodies that feeling experienced by anyone who's ever journeyed through the unmerciful rain of boulders to make it to the top of the mountain.
Co-produced by Prince, Back In Time is out on Oct. 23 on NPG Records.
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