Gig Review: Jorja Smith at The Level

Since the 2018 release of her widely-acclaimed debut album Lost and Found, Jorja has established her position as one of the boldest voices in the UK R&B scene. Though the singer has spent most of her career residing in London, she recently returned to her hometown of Walsall, a shift reflected within the inherently introspective Falling or Flying. Smith teamed up with producer-duo DAMEDAME, who just so happen to be old friends with the Blue Lights singer, to produce a record which could only be created in the safe space between such familiar souls. The album explores the singer’s newfound relationship with fame, while also signalling a return to the self. It feels fitting, then, to see Smith perform her most inward-looking work to date in a venue a mere hour away from where she grew up.

I had the opportunity to see Jorja Smith at Nos Alive festival last year, though there is a vast difference between seeing an artist perform their biggest hits to tens of thousands, in comparison to celebrating an album launch amongst die-hard fans. The energy shift was apparent from the moment I arrived, with friends huddled together over plastic cups filled with cheap beer, discussing which new songs they hoped would be on the setlist. 

As the set began, the drummer was lit with a solitary spotlight, pulsating with each drumbeat. He began with a series of slow, controlled kicks to the base drum before really letting go with the funkiest drum roll. It was like adding heat to a catalyst, causing the crowd to lose their minds before Smith even took to the stage. She finally appeared as the introductory beat to Try Me kicked in. The perfect track to start the set with, Try Me is Falling or Flying’s lead single, an upbeat tune with some interesting stylistic influences. Smith instantly sank into the jazz-inspired bassline, the picture of self-assurance in a sleek, black blazer. The singer certainly came to remind fans that she is R&B royalty.

Continuing in the order of the Falling or Flying tracklist, Smith and her band rolled straight into She Feels. The track was peppered with maracas to get the crowd moving, meanwhile, Smith stunned with a set of breathier vocals. It became increasingly difficult not to lose yourself among those addictive hooks. The singer was met with an outpour of love as the song ended, to which she responded “You lot are making my heart really really full”. Her face was lit with the most earnest of smiles, and she was unafraid to show it.

Up next was track five on the album: Feelings. This turned out to be one of the best performances of the night, as one of the backing vocalists stepped in to fill a J-Hus-shaped hole. Likely the most trap-leaning song on the album, this was certainly a fan favourite. Sparks flew as a result of the burning chemistry between Smith and her backing vocalist, the pair engaging in an infectious duet. 

A performance of Broken is the Man signalled a much-needed change of pace. While the prior tracks were both instrumentally and visually heavy, this track upped the emotional stakes. The singer’s vocals were foregrounded front and centre, blessing the crowd with a series of angelic runs. The venue remained suspended within this space of raw, emotional vulnerability throughout Greatest Gift, Lately, and Falling or Flying, the latter of which the crowd echoed word-for-word without faltering.

Smith changed gears once again with GO GO GO, the single which originally surprised fans with its indie-rock sound. Jorja Smith is often heralded as the R&B it girl, but her ability to transcend the constraints of a single genre is what puts her above the rest. This is an artist who is unafraid to reassess and reimagine her sound, a gamble which has certainly paid off. 

It was What If My Heart Beats Faster which I most anticipated, and it’s almost as if the singer knew. Every single riff and melody in this track is threaded together with Smith’s very soul, and her live vocals were nothing short of devastating. It is no secret that Jorja Smith is one of the most impressive vocal talents of her generation, a title which she lived up to time and time again throughout the evening. 

The twinkling, opening percussion beats of Blue Lights were enough to fuel the flames of the crowd, a thousand hands reaching into the air to punctuate the lyrics “What have you done? There’s no need to run.” Smith’s debut single samples grime music legend Dizzee Rascal’s song Sirens, and has remained a fan-favourite since it’s release back in 2018. A poignantly reflective and lyrically stunning track, there is no mystery as to why this is one of Smith’s biggest hits. 

As soon as the singer uttered the words “Are you guys ready to party?”, the room fell into easy submission, grooving along to the house-inspired rhythm of Little Things (Gypsy Woman Remix). This upbeat summer tune injected a little dose of good vibes which were much needed on a dismal October evening. The singer maintained the tempo with hit singles Be Honest and On My Mind, ending her set with the two tracks which showcase and embody the rhythmic mastery and vocal talent across her entire discography. 

Jorja Smith performed at The Level on 15 October. Her sophomore album, Falling or Flying, is out now.