Jorja Smith has released her new album 'What are the Odds', a collection of club tracks that mark a notable departure from her usual melodic R&B and neo-soul sound. The album, produced with east London-based producer Richard Isong (P2J), came together after a studio session that was initially planned as a four-track EP.
Smith met with Isong in Bethnal Green, but after two days of work, she told her label: "Guys, I think this is an album. I don't think it's a little dance project. Like, this is serious." Isong had a collection of beats ready for her, and Smith said: "When he played everything, I was just like, 'Wait, wait, wait, wait, this is sick.'"
Struggles with Fame and Returning to Walsall
Smith, now 29, returned to her hometown of Walsall in 2022 to work on her sophomore album 'Falling or Flying', leaving London behind. She explained: "I'm a small-town girl. I need to escape to a place where I can see the sky without everything being so crowded together. It's overstimulating."
After the Covid lockdowns, Smith felt she had become a "thing" rather than a person. "It felt a bit like I was just… a 'thing,'" she said, "and that people could say what they wanted to me, ask for a picture, things like that, but it didn't make me feel appreciated." She also faced online scrutiny of her weight during the promotional cycle for 'Falling or Flying'. "I was finding this whole 'being Jorja Smith' thing a bit difficult," she recalled.
A New Sound and a Renewed Love for London
Smith's new album is a dance-focused project, a pivot from her earlier work. The lead single, 'What's Done is Done', is a UK garage track. Smith acknowledged that some fans might be surprised: "Someone might listen to this and be like, 'Oh, where's the ballad? I want a ballad.' Just bear with me."
Creating the album has also brought Smith back to London. "I'm definitely living my best life. I don't think I've said that out loud yet," she said. "There's so much seriousness in the world; I just want to have a bit of fun." She is currently splitting her time between the capital and Walsall.
Upcoming Shows and the Blue Lights Choir
Smith will headline All Points East in Victoria Park on August 21 as part of the album's release day celebration. She plans a surprise performance with the girls from the Blue Lights Choir, a charity group she set up in Walsall to support young girls developing their voices. She will also perform a special Spotify Hometown show in Walsall, which she hopes will "inspire the next generation to believe that big things really can come from Walsall".
