Fifteen-time Grammy award-winner Alicia Keys is teaming up with Disney’s “Queen of Katwe.” Keys recorded a new song titled “Back to Life” for Mira Nair’s hotly anticipated underdog story about Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), a young chess prodigy in Uganda. The drama is based on a true story, and co-stars “12 Year’s a Slave’s” Lupita Nyong’o and “Selma’s” David Oyelowo.
“When women are empowered, the world changes,” observes Key in a newly released featurette promoting “Back to Life” and “Queen of Katwe.” In a statement, Keys shared that the film “moved [her] in every way.” She was inspired by “Queen of Katwe’s” “fearless, brilliant” protagonist, and wrote “Back to Life” as encouragement to push “past that little voice of doubt in our heads so we can instead electrify the world.”
The song’s lyrics reflect on “trying to hold on to a dream” and wanting to “be somebody.”
“Queen of Katwe” makes its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10 and will hit theaters September 23. Check out the featurette below, which includes scenes from the film and snippets of “Back to Life.”
