Judith Hill takes unconventional path in music

Unlike Prince, Judith Hill knows her way around the Internet.

While Prince didn't know about the hugely popular music streaming service Spotify, Hill knows all about LiveNation.com, the website she used last month to launch her new Prince-produced album, "Back in Time."

"It has a database of e-mails," she said last weekend before a late-night dress rehearsal at Paisley Park in Chanhassen. "It's an exciting, unconventional way to introduce music to the masses."

Apparently, she's right. While Live Nation has promoted concerts for Prince and countless other stars, it had never been associated with music downloads. But for two days last month, Hill's album was offered as a free download on LiveNation.com after an e-mail pitch to subscribers.

"We did 50,000 the first day," Hill said proudly. "We ended up doing 150,000. I was honored; those were large files to download. If it was SoundScan [the service that tracks sales for the recording industry], it would be the No. 1 album."

Of course, Hill is far from an unknown newcomer. She co-starred in the 2009 posthumous Michael Jackson tour-rehearsal movie "This Is It," made the finals of NBC's "The Voice" in 2013 and appeared in the 2013 Oscar-winning documentary about backup vocalists, "20 Feet From Stardom."

Hill, 31, is one of the few singers who has worked with both Jackson and Prince. Asked to compare and contrast, she took a long pause.

"Michael's process was different," she said finally. "His ideas were constantly flowing like he was in his own world. We had loads of dancers. Prince is working with me and my band organically. We're learning how to put together a great show without all the bells and whistles."

Prince was heavily involved in the arrangements for the songs on "Back in Time" but Hill said she did the bulk of the songwriting. The tunes range from big ballads and belted blues to horn-flavored funk and social commentary about police-related killings.

Prince played several instruments on the album and others from his circle — including drummers Kirk Johnson and John Blackwell, and the NPG Horns — also performed on the project.

Since Hill's album was announced by Live Nation, she has been sued by Jolene Cherry, a New York producer with whom she had worked. Hill declined to talk about the suit. She had signed a deal with Sony in 2013 but no album was issued. She doesn't know when "Back in Time" will be released or by which record label.

Known for her elaborate hairstyles and cutting-edge fashion — she was wearing tight brick-colored pants with red fringe on the seams — Hill will open shows for Prince as well as play her own club dates with her band.

The Los Angeles resident has been hanging at Paisley Park quite a bit of late. So that means she's played ping-pong with Prince, who has a table set up in a recording studio. He invariably wins.

"I'm getting better," Hill said. "I'm no Forrest Gump."

Twitter: @JonBream • 612-673-1719

will return next Sunday after a weekend off.