Jorja Smith, a UK soul sensation who shot to fame at a tender age of 21, is known for her 2018 deep and personal album Lost & Found. After storming the mainstream music scene, she relocated to the country’s capital, London, and partnered with renowned artists such as Drake and Burna Boy. However, in the recent past, Smith has chosen to undertake a solo journey, moving back to her hometown Walsall in the Midlands where she collaborates with her dear friends on unique artistic projects.
These efforts cumulated in her 2023 album ‘Falling or Flying’, which she predominantly showcases during her mesmerising headline performance at the All Together Now festival on a Friday night. Precisely at 10.45 p.m., the 27-year-old, donning platinum blonde hair glowing under ruby lights, breezes onto the stage accompanied by harmonious backing vocalists and skilled musicians. Smith seemed at ease as she initiated her inaugural festival performance for the summer season.
Despite her history of performing at the Longitude Festival in 2017 and an upcoming performance at Ulster Hall, Belfast on Saturday, her headline gigs in the Irish capital have been sparse. Thrilled by the enthusiastic energy of the crowd in her first visit to Waterford, she remarked heartily, “It’s my first time in Waterford. I’m so ecstatic to be here.”
She commenced her performance with a robust audio excerpt from ‘Falling or Flying’, followed swiftly by her hits ‘Try Me’ and her 2018 iconic hit ‘Blue Lights’. The latter addresses the issue of police injustice in the UK. The audience revelled in the charm of her soulful vocals, which earned her the tag of ‘generational talent’.
During the All Together Now music festival in 2024, she exclaimed, “It feels like I’m at a party”. With an inciting battle for the best camping spots marking the beginning of the festival, to the Dublin artist James Vincent McMorrow delivering a potent performance with his falsetto vocals and guitar-led tracks, it indeed was a party that Jorja Smith was thrilled to grace.
Smith succeeds in animating the spectators amid the falling temperatures with the contagious J Hus collab tune, Feelings. This segues beautifully into the emotional R&B hit She Feels and self-appreciation track Greatest Gift. Exemplifying eloquence, she confronts her former partner’s insecurities in her song, Broken is the Man, from her recent album. While moving across the stage, she engages with her supporters as her talented background vocalists blend with sublime gospel harmonies.
“You lot look absolutely stunning,” Smith quietly addresses the first row spectators during her debut album’s popular track On Your Own. The last 25 minutes of Smith’s show is doubtless the peak, providing memorable songs and dance tunes produced by the emerging pair DAMEDAME*. The city mates of Jorja herself significantly contributed to Falling or Flying, infusing it with addictive enthusiasm through their successful numbers Try Me and the funked-up chartbuster Little Things. Smith, amused by the crowd’s response, admits “It feels like I’m at a celebration,” as she notices the attendees enjoying her rhythm.
The 2017 dance favourite by Preditah, On My Mind, gives a stiff competition with its unremitting drum ‘n’ bass vibe, barely second to Little Things. But it’s the latter that serves as an ideal conclusion to a captivating show.
Being one of the key figures in the UK soul and R&B scene, Smith’s haunting vocals and catchy melodies make her a perfect fit for any music festival. Yet, it was a treat to see the double Brit Award recipient return to Irish stages following a rather long absence. Smith’s electrifying performance at All Together Now only fuels the industry buzz she’s been garnering over the past eight years.