Jorja Smith Essentials

British singer Jorja Smith is a wise soul. Her prodigious musical chops and intellectual precocity have been apparent since her 2016 debut single “Blue Lights,” a heart-wrenching exploration of why Black men run from the police. Although her songwriting showcases a magpie ear for classic R&B and jazz sensibilities, the singer dabbles freely across genres: 2017’s “On My Mind” taps UK garage producer Preditah for a pulsing club epiphany, while 2019’s “Be Honest” recruits Afrobeats star Burna Boy for a smoldering, sidewinding ballad. The latter went platinum in multiple countries, and Smith followed through with such varied triumphs as 2023’s jittery, Erykah Badu-esque “Little Things.” Her delicate yet deeply felt singing has a way of communicating what feel like closely guarded secrets. In a 2023 interview with Apple Music’s Nadeska Alexis, Smith elaborated on some of those self-reflective themes: “Sometimes I forget to be, like, proud of myself and let myself know, ‘You’re doin’ OK. Like, chill out. You’re good. Don’t worry.’” Maybe that’s why a track like 2025’s bass-bumping lament “The Way I Love You” can instantly animate the body and tickle the brain while still feeling almost too personal to commit to record.