Cover photo by Raphael Gaultier
Author: Madeline Thomas
Have you ever been in love? Once, I thought I was, but it didn’t make me feel as good as a Jorja Smith song, so I may have been wrong. 650 Seattleites became hopeless romantics last week when she came to perform a sold-out show at Neumos. What do I know about love? Certainly less than she does, as made obvious by the emotional depth of her art. Just as I had expected, experiencing her music in a live setting was mesmerizing.
First and foremost, Smith is an immensely talented vocalist. She was supported by a skilled band, with whom she had an endearing rapport. She can sing three different renditions of the same song, each equally as impressive as the original. Her performance was smooth and soulful. Realizing Smith is 20-years-old was a shock. Not only is she the same age as I am, she neither looks, sounds, or writes lyrics like most people would expect of a young. The warmth of her voice mirrors the warmth of her presence. The accent definitely adds to the impact, but even her speaking voice was comforting.
Part of her charm is her relatability. Smith was featured on the Kendrick curated Black Panther soundtrack, won a Brit’s Choice Award, and is currently on an international tour, but she washes her face with Neutrogena and watches workout guides at the gym. It is in your best interest to follow Jorja Smith on Instagram and Twitter, and pre-order her debut album. Titled Lost & Found, set for release on June 8th, it’s a 12-track album almost two years in the making. She performed an unreleased track from Lost & Found, “Don’t Watch Me Cry”, as an encore.
Shimmering in the spotlight, singing of heartache, she captured the attention of slow-dancing, swaying fans. Smith is an emotionally transparent lyricist; performing music with such heavy messages is an art of its own. The changes in her face were noticeable even from the last few rows; Smith allowed us to see her feel. She was and is powerful.
She also sang “Blue Lights”, an older single written during her high school years. It was released in a heated social climate, but inspired earlier, by a project on the topic of post-colonialism in grime music . “Blue Lights” is a portrayal of police brutality, an issue she consistently reminds interviewers, has been occurring for ages, not just in this age.
Smith promises more socially-aware tracks are included on Lost & Found. Though she didn’t preview any other unreleased songs, she gifted us with a Frank Ocean cover. Her spin on “Lost” was a bit slower, a bit more sultry, and felt more forgiving. “Teenage Fantasy” came after, much to the crowd’s delight.
The song is so good, she had to do it twice. First came an acoustic verse, then the full Preditah remix; Smith danced behind the mic stand and fans followed suit. The incense burning atop of the drum kit throughout her set was at this point ash. Her mystery-beverage Vita cup was empty. She wished us well, and said goodbye with a “get home safe” and a smile. Outside the venue, between bites of hot dog and sharp inhales, fans remarked about the striking performance and how stunning Smith is. We all went home swooning.
MADELINE THOMAS | pics or it didn’t happen | KXSU Music Reporter