Eleven days ago, I found myself somewhere I haven’t been in over two years: a recording studio. Not just any recording studio, but Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady! I’m sitting in this room I’d always dreamed of seeing up close, and suddenly, it’s 4 in the morning, and I have a taste of something I missed so badly: the rush of losing track of time because you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.

Inside this issue: the story of how I ended up on the Sinners soundtrack in the 11th hour, plus the highlights from the first two stops on our whirlwind press tour (I love seeing so many of you — and your Beau hoodies!).

My new song on the Sinners soundtrack, ‘Dangerous’, comes out next Friday. You can hear 24 seconds of it here! 

This was the quickest series of events ever: A conversation in Mexico City led to a phone call boarding the plane to New York, which led to me landing and driving directly to Electric Lady, writing the song in my Notes app on the way.

Studio day 2, approx. 1am (photo: Serena McKinney Göransson)

KEY PLAYERS:

Ryan Coogler, our visionary director and storyteller, was a key part of bringing this song to life for me. He also believed in me, supported me, and pushed me to fly not only as Mary but also as a musician.

Zinzi Coogler is a badass producer on this movie with a sharp eye and a deep sense of story. She was a guiding force throughout the entire process. She has a calm confidence that’s infectious and brought a perspective to this song that made it click for me.

Ludwig Göransson is a genius composer and producer whose work you’ve definitely felt even if you don’t know it. From Black Panther to Oppenheimer, to now Sinners, his music tells stories that will burn a hole in your heart. I’ve admired his work for years, so getting the chance to collaborate with him was beyond a dream. He brought in Sara Aarons, an amazing songwriter (via phone call), to help with the top line.  

Serena McKinney Göransson, a brilliant violinist and orchestrator, brought so much soul and precision to this recording process. Her supportive female energy was invaluable. Watching her work with Ludwig was like watching people paint with sound.

We wrote the song over Ludwig’s hauntingly beautiful score for Sinners — the emotional tension and quiet unraveling shaped the entire song. It was about building something that could exist inside the world of the film, but also live on its own. It had to feel like Stack and Mary: the pain, the chemistry, the desire to live in a world where they could simply be together. There’s a vulnerability in these characters that I really connected with, and I hope my voice reflects that.

P.S. Should we start an early petition for a ‘Dangerous’ music video?

I can't wait for you all to see Sinners in theaters (April 18th!) and hear ‘Dangerous’ on the soundtrack. Onto the highlights!

  •       Visiting Mexico City for the first time.

  •       Drinking Angel Margarita (Grapefruit Paloma) with an incredible view of the Angel of Independence!

  •       Being on Good Morning America with Ryan and Michael.

  •       Doing The Kelly Clarkson Show with Wunmi — and seeing three Beau hoodies in the audience!!

  •       Seeing Sinners for the first time in IMAX (on the biggest screen in the US) with my loved ones.

  •       Recording at Electric Lady! Major bucket-list moment.

  •       Finally getting a full night’s sleep after a week of insanity.

Next up, we’re here in London. Another city I love! Any recommendations?

Before then, here are a few things I’ve saved for More BS.

TO SHOP: Harbison Studio. Wunmi wore this stunning Black-owned label at our NYC premiere, and I’m obsessed.

TO DOWNLOAD: Timeshifter. A travel writer recommended this app for crossing time zones. It gives tips, like when to avoid caffeine and when to get sunlight. Jetlag-proof me!

TO SNACK ON: Popped water lily seeds.

TO WATCH: The story behind the best carrot cake in Japan.

TO REMEMBER: “Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable.” — Mary Oliver

Love, 

Hailee (Beau)

Highlighting your comments on the previous week’s issue. Today, we hear Flo’s response to Mary here…

“I’m really excited for Sinners! I’m going to go with my favorite movie buddy: my brother. Of course, I watch new movies with friends too, but my ride-or-die will always be my brother. It’s kind of our little tradition to go to the theater together, and we even gift each other movie vouchers for our birthdays.” -Flo

(P.S. My brother is my movie buddy too!)