Jorja Smith
Jorja Smith – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes
Discover the life and musical journey of Jorja Smith — English singer-songwriter born June 11, 1997 — her rise from YouTube covers to award-winning albums, her artistic philosophy, memorable quotes, and life lessons.
Introduction
Jorja Alice Smith is an English singer-songwriter whose soulful voice, introspective lyrics, and genre-bending style have quickly made her one of the standout voices in contemporary music. Born June 11, 1997, she first gained attention via online platforms, then broke through with critically acclaimed projects like Lost & Found (2018). Her music spans R&B, neo-soul, grime, and pop, often touching on personal growth and social reflection. She continues to evolve, staying authentic while expanding her reach.
Early Life and Family
Jorja Smith was born in Walsall, West Midlands, England on 11 June 1997. Her father, Peter, is of Jamaican descent, and before she was born, he sang in a neo-soul group called 2nd Naicha. Her mother, Jolene, is a jewellery designer. She has a younger brother named Luca, and is a cousin of professional footballer Kemar Roofe.
Jorja grew up in a musical household: from about age 8, she took piano lessons at her father's encouragement. At school, she earned a music scholarship to Aldridge School, where she learned classical singing, oboe, and studied music for her A-level exams.
She began writing songs early—her first composition came around age 11. While still a teenager, she uploaded cover performances on YouTube, which eventually caught the attention of industry professionals.
After finishing school, she moved to London at age 18, supporting herself by working as a barista while continuing to write and record music.
Career and Achievements
Breakthrough & Early Singles
In January 2016, Jorja released her debut single “Blue Lights” on SoundCloud. The track samples Dizzee Rascal’s “Sirens” and quickly amassed attention, gathering about 400,000 plays in a month. Her second single, “Where Did I Go?”, dropped in May 2016 — Drake later named it among his favorites at the time, which helped amplify her visibility.
Later in 2016, she signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV and released her first EP Project 11. She was selected for BBC Music’s Sound of 2017 list, placing 4th.
Lost & Found and Critical Acclaim
In 2018, Jorja released her debut studio album, Lost & Found. The album was critically praised for its emotional depth, sonic maturity, and blending of genres. Lost & Found peaked at number 3 on the UK Albums Chart. That year she also won the Brit Critics’ Choice Award.
She has received further recognition: in 2019, she won Best British Female Artist at the Brit Awards, and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
Later Projects & Evolution
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In May 2021, she released the EP Be Right Back, which was well received and showed further artistic growth.
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In 2023, she announced her next album Falling or Flying, and released the single “Little Things”.
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She has also continued collaborating with other artists (e.g. Drake, Burna Boy), and contributed to film or soundtrack projects.
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More recently, in February 2025, she collaborated with AJ Tracey on “Crush”.
Jorja also by reputation engages with social issues in her music — for example, “Blue Lights” addresses police brutality and youth experience.
Style, Influences & Artistic Identity
Jorja Smith’s musical style is fluid, mixing R&B, neo-soul, grime, UK garage, and pop influences. Her sound is often praised for its honesty, subtlety, and emotional resonance.
She cites Amy Winehouse as a major influence — she has spoken about how Winehouse’s raw approach to songwriting inspired her to be authentic. Other influences include Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, Mos Def, and The Streets.
Her lyrics often explore identity, growth, relationships, and social awareness. She uses her voice not only to express personal feelings but to engage with broader contexts.
Jorja is also known for maintaining creative integrity: she has said she won’t do a song just for the sake of a high-profile collaboration. She often emphasizes that much of her expression comes through music rather than image or fashion.
Personality and Approach
Jorja comes across as introspective, perceptive, and driven. She admits to being self-critical:
“I’m really hard on myself.”
She also emphasizes authenticity over spectacle:
“Most of me expressing myself comes through my music more than what I wear.”
She has noted that she doesn’t like setting goals too rigidly to avoid disappointment.
In interviews, she speaks about wanting her music to both resonate and challenge, and she has expressed desire to be a role model, especially to younger listeners.
Famous Quotes of Jorja Smith
Here are a number of quotes attributed to her that provide insight into her mindset and values:
“I want to be worldwide, international, in everyone’s ears, and everyone listening to what I’m saying, because I think I say some good stuff.”
“I overthink everything, and one thing I find difficult is to actually be in the moment.”
“I’m not good at talking, but I can write a good song and tell a story.”
“Most of me expressing myself comes through my music more than what I wear.”
“I’m really hard on myself.”
“I don’t like setting goals – I don’t like to be disappointed.”
“With a label, pressure is added. Being independent, you don’t feel a lot of pressure.”
“One Christmas, I wrote a nativity play. But nobody turned up on the day of the performance apart from my brother and my cousins, so I just read the whole script onstage and made my brother pretend to be one of the animals at the inn.”
These quotes reflect her humility, creative focus, and realistic perspective on the challenges of artistry and growth.
Lessons from Jorja Smith
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Authenticity over trend
Jorja’s insistence on being true to her voice—rather than chasing fleeting trends or fame—has allowed her to develop a distinctive identity in a crowded musical landscape. -
Vulnerability as strength
By openly discussing overthinking, self-criticism, and uncertainty, she turns vulnerability into a connective, humanizing quality in her art. -
Growth is ongoing
Her musical evolution, willingness to experiment, and gradual trajectory rather than overnight success demonstrate the importance of long-term perspective. -
Music as voice & message
She shows how artists can engage with social issues, identity, and emotion—not just for entertainment but for resonance and reflection. -
Balancing pressure and freedom
Her remarks about label pressure versus independence illustrate the tension many creatives face—and the value in retaining creative control where possible.
Conclusion
Jorja Smith, English musician born June 11, 1997, has grown from uploading singing covers online to becoming an acclaimed, award-winning artist whose voice resonates far beyond the UK. Her music, rooted in genre fluidity, emotional honesty, and social reflection, marks her as both an introspective artist and a thoughtful public figure. Her quotes reveal someone deeply aware of her own vulnerabilities but committed to expression and growth. As her journey continues with new releases and ever-wider audiences, she exemplifies how integrity, patience, and creative soul can sustain lasting artistry.