'If she carries on in this fashion, there is no doubt in my mind that Jorja Smith will only continue her ascension to greatness', History student Francesca Frankis reviews Jorja Smith at Bristol's O2 Academy
On Friday evening, Jorja Smith descended onto the stage of the o2 academy, the second night of her tour, debuting the release of her first album Lost and Found. Jorja’s performance went far beyond my expectations; her delivery was laid back and effortless, transcending that of her recorded voice on the album.
Despite only being released in June of this year, Jorja’s album includes tracks right back from the very start of her career, such as ‘Blue lights’ and ‘Where did I go’. They also happen to be the first songs of hers that I came across, both released some time in 2016. Yet, regardless of being written over a few years, this doesn't compromise the sound of the album nor the unanimity of the tracks, and this sentiment was certainly reflected in her live performance.
Jorja opened the show with the first track on the album, 'Lost and Found’, and it’s punchy chorus had everyone singing along. Her band smiled at her with a sense of admiration as she walked lengths up and down the stage, the saturated spotlight followed her around. A quick transition was made into ‘Teenage Fantasy’, a sort of ballad with a nostalgic feel to it, and Jorja’s face reflected the mood. Effortlessly she was able to switch between the more laid back songs into loud heavy jazz influenced tracks like ‘Something In The Way’. Throughout I could hear people around me anticipating which song would come next. The beginnings of ‘Wandering Romance’ sent the crowds into a mini hysteria, Jorja singled out fans in the crowds with a smile and danced along to her own music, displaying an expression of pure joy. She then flowed without hesitation into tracks like, ‘Lifeboats’ that illustrated her ability to freestyle, and ‘Where Did I Go’ levelling out the set with it’s more gentle sound.
Soon after, another band come on stage to join Jorja: jazz band Ezra Collective. Their appearance is short but sweet; performing one track alongside Jorja and her band, pumping excessive energy into the room. At moments throughout the night, but especially during this one track, the tone of Jorja’s voice drives me to draw parallels with Amy Winehouse; at points I close my eyes and can imagine how similar a live Amy Winehouse during her ‘Frank’ days would have sounded. However, Jorja openly takes inspiration from Winehouse, and this is clear in her live voice, but Jorja mixes in her own nuances, and it is a way for her to pay homage to the great artist she loves. The set is brought to a close with the powerful track ‘Blue Lights’, which I believe was a true case of saving some of the best to last. Once the crowd roared for Jorja’s final track, she quickly disappeared from the stage, only to reappear moments later for an encore. Finishing the night with the reflective tune of ‘Don’t Watch Me Cry’ and finally, the electric, chopped up track of ‘On my mind’, ending the set on a high. Jorja blew kisses into the crowd and revelled, rightly so, in the cheers from her audience, before exiting gracefully.
Jorja’s performance on Friday night was an example of how raw talent pays off, her live voice exceeded my imagination and her presence was ethereal, transfixing the entire venue. Her album delivers a clear message of the commitment and dedication to her craft that she has honed in upon. She left me somewhat in awe; at the humble age of 21 she has released a full length record and is headlining her own tour. If she carries on in this fashion, there is no doubt in my mind that Jorja Smith will only continue her ascension to greatness.
Featured Image: Francesca Frankis/ Epigram
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