Around this time last year, we were gifted with Drake’s commercial mixtape More Life, characterized by elements of afrobeat, trap and more. The playlist, as it was referred to by the rapper, included hit singles “Fake Love,” “Gyalchester” and the J-Lo sampled "Teenage Fever." Despite appearances from a series of great acts such as Travis Scott, 2 Chainz and Young Thug, the Toronto native made a point to include a new string of talents and sounds from across the pond. Of these talents, there was the prominent UK rapper Giggs (featured on More Life’s "No Long Talk" and “KMT”) and an appearance by on-the-radar, 20-year old songstress Jorja Smith. Yes, the very same Jorja and muse behind Drake’s “Jorja’s Interlude,” a track riddled with Smith’s enchanting vocals.
As one of Britain’s most prominent rising artists, Jorja Smith has been making major moves in the music industry. The classically trained vocalist began causing murmurs first through the internet with her Soundcloud hit “Blue Lights,” a track noted with the singer’s distinctive voice over a sample of Dizzee Rascal’s “Sirens” (known for being a major pioneer of UK-originated dancehall, garage and Hip Hop infused style known as “grime”). The singer has finally released a music video proper for the 2016 record just the other week.
The muse went onto releasing her first EP Project 11, collaborating with Drake on More Life (specifically, “Get It Together” and “Jorja’s Interlude”) and releasing a plethora of hot tracks including “I Am” featured on the Top Dawg Entertainment Records curated Black Panther original soundtrack, as well as “Fine Lines” featured on Issa Rae’s HBO hit series Insecure. Now with her debut studio album Lost & Found set to release on June 8, it is only right for us to properly introduce the rising star. Although her catalogue isn't large by any extent at this point, we're providing you with seven of her most essential tracks. Sit back, relax and let us carry you into the world of Ms. Jorja Smith.
"On My Mind" (ft. Preditah)
This one reflects Jorja's artistic fluidity. With the help of EDM producer Preditah, Jorja brings us a fun, dance rhythm for lovers of EDM, trance and r'n'b. The song revolves around an undeniable attraction and fascination with a lover whom, despite not being the best for her, she cannot seem to get off of her mind. Additionally, the cool thing about this track is the many remixes that are available, including one by Amsterdam-based producer Tera Kora whose remix garnered over 250k plays on Soundcloud. Each remix revamps the song in a unique way, making it all the more enjoyable each time.
"Teenage Fantasy"
This song hits home. “Teenage Fantasy” captures the experience of a first, teenage love. In the words of Jorja Smith “we all want a teenage fantasy/ want it when we can’t have it/ when we’ve got it, we don’t seem to want it.” Here, Smith chimes in on navigating first loves, self-love and that first heartbreak during your complicated, teenage years.
"Beautiful Little Fools"
Released on the day of, and as tribute to, International Women’s Day (March 8th), “Beautiful Little Fools” offers you a jazz-infused, prohibition era sound with a discussion on womanhood. Specifically, this song weighs in on the complexity of societal pressure and its dictatorship over the female narrative and female agency. Inspired by the Great Gatsby and penned by Jorja at the tender age of 16, the discussion sparked by the song is definitely noteworthy and hints at the singer’s multifaceted lyrical content.
"Where Did I Go?"
Once named as a Drake favourite according to Entertainment Weekly, “Where Did I Go” defines the aftermath of a breakup and the perpetual blame game. Smith questions herself on the role she played and the lessons she learned through the deterioration of a once promising relationship. Once again, she carries us over a bittersweet melody while leaving listeners with memories of past breakups and a whole lot of “feels.”
"Blue Lights"
As Smith's first track and introduction to the world when she was just 18, "Blue Lights" has distinguished itself as a Jorja Smith essential. A Soundcloud favorite having accumulated 2.05 million plays on the platform, “Blue Lights” centers in on the clash between police (the flashing blue lights) and the black community. Herein, Jorja wishes for the flashing, blue lights of police vehicles, often warning of trouble ahead, to switch into strobe lights—which are linked to partying, having fun and positive emotions. A Dizzee Rascal sample accompanied by Smith’s powerful vocals and lyrics are among the many things that make this track great.
"A Prince" (ft. Maverick Sabre)
This one remains a classic subject to numerous interpretations. The consensus determines that "A Prince" is a reflection on toxic relationships. The prince, as Jorja sings, engulfs the songstress in a never-ending cycle of pain because of his abusive ways. Furthermore, she resents her significant other for not being "the prince" she once thought he was and foresees the imminent deterioration of their relationship. On the other hand, English-Irish singer Maverick Sabre (known for hit songs “Let Me Go” and “Sometimes”) chimes in by taking on the "prince" perspective and reveals deeply rooted insecurities and jealousy as the cause behind his toxic behaviors. What makes this song so powerful is its ability to dive so deeply in a topic as sensitive as relationship toxicity with simple and to-the-point lyricism, as well as beautiful vocals.
"Let Me Down" (ft. Stormzy)
A melancholic, slow-paced ballad describing the intricacies of having love and devotion for the wrong person, “Let Me Down” is the kind of track that will have you reminiscing on a love lost. In addition, the rhymes by fellow UK comrade and rapper Stormzy (known for platinum selling record “Shut Up”) deepens the song’s sorrowful temperament with his bars also addressing a love lost. Not only is the track fire, but the music video is quite intriguing as well. In it, the story line shows a blonde-wig-rockinh Jorja engaging in a tumultuous relationship with a ballet dancer. Possibly the person who always seems to let her down, the video ends at the peak of emotional intensity with Jorja killing the dancer.