OTHERWORLDLY WILLOW SMITH
Two New Records + A Stellar 2020
The entertainment world had great expectations for the daughter of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith. And Willow Smith continues to show up and dazzle us time and again.
Despite the global chaos that’s been ensuing, Willow had a busy year in 2020. In March, she released a collaborative album alongside her rumoured boyfriend Tyler Cole. The pair referred to themselves as The Anxiety and gave the album that title as well. Predictably, many of the songs chronicle Willow and Cole’s mental health struggles.
Next, in fall 2020, a track from Willow’s 2015 debut album went viral. The groovy indie bop “Wait A Minute!” took off on TikTok when users began using it for a dance challenge and more. It’s now been used almost 2 million times on the platform and streamed nearly 300 million times on Spotify.
But one album and a viral single wasn’t enough for Willow this year. In November, she teamed up with British musician Jahnavi Harrison to create a six-track EP of spiritual vibrations. Harrison is known for leading kirtan sessions. The Sanskrit tradition of communal praise inspired her and Willow’s work. Titled R I S E, their EP includes both English and Sanskrit lyrics, and blends calm instrumentals with elements of pop. To put it simply, it’s very unique.
And Willow has always been unique. Even among a family of very famous and successful entertainers, she stands out. She kicked off her music career when she was just 10 years old. Her first single “Whip My Hair” peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. The year after its release, she became the youngest person ever to sign to Jay-Z’s label Roc Nation. Fellow signees include Shakira, Rihanna, Normani, Lil Uzi Vert, and Willow’s brother Jaden.
Willow’s music career continued to flourish, earning her several BET Award nominations and more. She also continued to act after debuting alongside her father in I Am Legend (2007). Since then, she’s made guest appearances on multiple TV shows. She also started a web talkshow with her mother and grandmother titled Red Table Talk in 2018. This year, it earned a Daytime Emmy Award nomination.
During this stellar year, Willow has further encouraged us to expect the unexpected from her. She surprises us with every turn, musically and otherwise. We’re already looking forward to see what the next year has in store with her.
