Jorja Smith has always possessed a certain magnetic quality. Since her breakout hit “Blue Lights” in 2016, the Walsall-raised artist has captivated audiences with her technically sensational voice and lyrics brimming with authenticity. Early comparisons to her idol, Amy Winehouse, were well-deserved, and her ability to connect with listeners across the spectrum only grew with time.
Her 2018 debut album, Lost & Found, hinted at her personality, albeit in subtle ways. With tasteful R&B and pop stylings, it felt like a cautious first step to meet the hype rather than a defining musical statement. Collaborations with artists like Drake, Burna Boy, and rising star Enny continued to build her reputation.
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In 2021, she released Be Right Back, a mid-pandemic mixtape that simmered with some of her most intriguing material yet. It was as though she had realized where her musical journey was heading and how to harness it. She hasn’t looked back since.
Her second studio album, Falling or Flying, is a triumph of conviction. Jorja Smith decided that London was not conducive to her life and music-making, opting to return to her Midlands roots. She aimed to rediscover the pre-fame Jorja, the one the industry didn’t want you to see but who existed every time the microphone was off. In her accompanying statement, she confessed to being a “people pleaser” and shared that returning home helped her trust herself more, doubt herself less, and care less about others’ opinions.
On Falling or Flying, she collaborates with DAMEDAME*, an emerging production duo who also happen to be Smith’s childhood friends. Their influence is palpable, creating a trio that brims with ideas and creative freedom. From the bewitching opener, “Try Me,” to “Little Things,” a nod to UK funky that could rival “On My Mind” as her biggest dancefloor hit, Falling or Flying unfolds much like Solange‘s 2019 album, When I Get Home: uncompromising and arresting, a true musical treasure.
Even “Go Go Go,” a relatively formulaic indie-infused track, feels like something that could only emerge from passionate recording sessions among close confidants. You can easily envision the trio thrashing along passionately and laughing together amidst the musical chaos.
While Falling or Flying offers a diverse array of sounds, Jorja Smith’s unwavering trust in her instincts remains the album’s constant guiding force. “Greatest Gift,” a song about reconnecting with her younger self, is one of her most emotionally touching performances. As she sings, “I promise to make sure you’ll never fall far from your grace / I hope that you know you are never too far from your purpose,” she delivers a poignant message to herself.
Falling or Flying is the album Jorja Smith was destined to create. She only needed to grant herself the freedom to get there, and the result is a breathtaking journey of self-discovery and musical evolution.