Jorja Smith Interview Alexandra Weiss

Jorja Smith is just getting started. Though she has already racked Why? up the resume of a seasoned vet (including collaborations with Music is just the best way to get out your emotions. I’m quite an Drake and a song for the Black Panther soundtrack), the 20-year- emotional person and always have been – I can get really upset, old Walsall-native is gearing up to release her debut album or really angry, and right away I found that music was the easiest this summer. The as-yet-untitled record will be Jorja’s frst real way for me to process what I was going through. It’s a way of introduction to the world – and much like everything else in her channeling all of that and putting it into something positive, and life, it’ll be on her own terms. And that’s because, whether she’s that positive thing is the song, even if it’s sad. in sweatpants, like the day we spoke, or Chanel, as she was on set, there’s only one way to explain Jorja. “My sound is my voice,” How would you describe your sound? she says. “It’s who I am, it’s my experiences, it’s me. I’m my own Honestly, I hate genre questions. I think I’m just crap at explaining genre.” stuf, but also I don’t like to label my sound. The only reason people categorize you and put you in boxes is to try and explain You’re currently fnishing up your debut album. Can you tell us you to others. Like, ‘Oh you like R&B? Then you’ll like Jorja.’ But I about it? think it’s more complicated than that. My sound is just me, I don’t It’s nearly fnished – I have one or two songs left to do. But it’ll be know any other way to explain it. out in June, and it’s a bunch of songs I wrote between the ages of 17 and 20. It’s not like I ever started writing songs thinking, ‘Oh this How important is fashion when it comes to your brand? is going to be for an album,’ or ‘Oh I’ve got to write an album now.’ I wear what I want and what I feel like, depending on what mood I’ve just always been writing. Even with my frst EP – it was never I’m in. Right now I’m in a tracksuit and trainers, or I can wear a long supposed to be a record, I just felt like the songs ft together. The dress, it doesn’t matter, as long as I’m comfortable and confdent. album is just going to be just a bigger version of that. There’s love, there’s social issues, there’s everything – that’s what you can What about when you wear a brand like Chanel? expect. Chanel is a brand I never would’ve been able to aford growing up. When I was younger, I never wore it, my mom never wore it – it Obviously, you’re in a much diferent place than you were when just didn’t even seem like a possibility that it was ever going to be you dropped your EP, Project 11, in 2016. Has that afected your something I’d be able to aford. So, it’s crazy that I get to wear it process? now, and it’s just so beautiful, you know? It’s one of those brands Not really. I’m still me, but more confdent. And I just write when that when you put it on, you feel powerful. I want to write — I never force it. I fnd when you remove yourself from whatever is happening in the world, and whatever people What do you see as your role as an artist, and as someone with a are saying about you, that your mind gets a bit clearer and things platform, particularly during such a hyper-political time? start to fow. There’s a lot more going on in my life now, so I do To be a calming voice, and to give people an outlet to escape from fnd I have to do that more. But I mean, I’m growing up. I know I’m all the stress and craziness. only 20, but I’m experiencing a lot, and I’ve gone through so many things, that I feel like I fnally have a lot more to talk about. Do you think music has to be political? Of course not. I don’t think, ‘Oh I’m going to write a political song Why did you decide to put out the album now, instead of when now.’ Whatever I write, I don’t write it with an agenda or strategy. you frst started? If I just feel a certain way about what’s happening the world, then If I put out an album in 2016, it wouldn’t have been very good. Ob- I’ll write about it. But I don’t think all music has to be political. At viously, because I’ve grown a lot, but also because nobody really the same time, it’s all about social issues, because it’s all about listened to me back then, and my goal as an artist, is to reach as stuf that everyone goes through. I write about love, but I also many people as possible. write about injustice because those are things that I, and everyone else, are experiencing. But you have gotten a lot of media attention since then. Do you think that part of the industry – like fashion shoots and social What do you want people to take away from your music? media – takes the focus away from your music? I just want them to get to know a bit more about me. If anyone Defnitely. On Twitter people always tweet that I’m only doing comes to a Jorja Smith show, I want them to feel the same way well because I’m pretty. A lot of people don’t even realize I as they do when they listen to the album. But honestly, I haven’t sing – they think I’m just some random pretty girl. That can be really thought about it. I try not to overthink things or wonder frustrating, especially because I really only care about my music. how people are going to take them – I just focus on the music and At the end of the day, I’m not a model, I’m not an actress – I’m a doing what I’m good at. singer, who writes her own songs. And I think sometimes people forget that. What do you think makes a good song? If you really believe what the person is singing about and it really ‘Camelia’ Necklace in 18K White Gold and Diamonds Chanel Fine Jewellery. On skin Chanel Blue Serum Eye Did you always know you wanted to be a singer? touches you on a deep level – for me, that’s a good song. Amy Revitalising Concentrate. On eyes, lips and cheeks Chanel Rouge Coco Lip Blush in 414 Tender Rose I’ve always been writing music. When I was 8, I started singing Winehouse is who I listen to most, and all of her songs are great On brows Chanel Le Gel Sourcils Longwear Eyebrow Gel in Brun because I sang at my church, and when I was 11, I started writing because you believe every single thing she’s saying. I know my my own songs. But I really only started taking it seriously when I idea of a good song might be diferent from somebody else’s, Make-up Zoe Taylor using Chanel Les Beiges and Hydra Beauty Micro Essence. Hair Daniel Martin using was 16 and fguring out if I wanted to go to Uni. I decided I didn’t because it all depends how you want a song to make you feel. But Goldwell. Nails Tinu Bello at One Represents using Nailberry. Photography Assistant Jodie Herbage want to write a personal statement, I wanted to move to London I think I’m writing good songs at the moment. I don’t know exactly Fashion Assistant Hali Christou. Make-up Assistant Sofe Hume. Hair Assistant Chris Long and write music. So, I did. what I’m doing, but whatever it is, I know I’m doing it right.

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