A new Spike Lee joint is always a reason to celebrate, and Highest 2 Lowest certainly meets the lofty expectations that accompany it. Marking Lee’s fifth collaboration with Denzel Washington, the film is a reinterpretation of the Akira Kurosawa masterpiece High and Low, itself adapted loosely from Evan Hunter’s 1959 novel King’s Ransom. The movie follows Washington’s music executive, David King, whose son gets kidnapped alongside his best friend, sending David on a mission to fight for his family’s survival. It’s a thrilling ride with an eclectic cast that includes Jeffrey Wright, former NBA player Rick Fox, and rapper A$AP Rocky.
Highest 2 Lowest also continues Lee’s knack for nurturing new, emerging talent (both in film, like casting Teyonah Parris in 2015’s Chi-Raq, and in the classroom, like teaching the next generation of filmmakers at NYU). Here, he casts up-and-coming British singer Aiyana-Lee for a role in the film’s unforgettable final scene.
In Highest 2 Lowest, Aiyana-Lee, 24, plays Sula, a musician longing for her big break. She shows up at King’s apartment for a big audition that could change her life forever. With one shot to show what she’s got, she delivers, singing a stunning rendition of the film’s title track, “Highest 2 Lowest,” which Aiyana-Lee wrote for the film. In this pivotal moment, the singer serves up show-stopping vocals and an undeniable charisma. It’s so arresting she manages to steal the show, a tall order given that she’s sharing the scene with one of the greatest actors of all time.
We spoke to Aiyana-Lee about the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make her acting debut in a Spike Lee film. She shared her journey with music and the surprising way Lee reached out to her, allowing her to showcase her musical talents and acting chops in Highest 2 Lowest.
Read more: With Highest 2 Lowest, Spike Lee Gives Us Another Great New York Movie
