Jorja Smith
Jorja Smith has had a busy 2018, winning a Critics' Choice Brit Award in January, and releasing her debut album, Lost & Found, in June. This was certainly enough to whet my appetite when her Autumn UK tour dates were announced, and I was not alone. It came as no surprise to find that the opening night, at the Nick Rayns LCR in Norwich, sold out in mega quick time, leaving many fans disappointed. Those lucky enough to get tickets were treated to a show to remember.
Opening act Mina Rose warmed up an enthusiastic audience with songs from her recent EP, London Burning, as well as Lemons and Limes, the respectful tribute to eighties reggae icon Smiley Culture. Rose has South London authenticity and an obvious passion for the multi-cultural landscape that is her home. With elements of ska, trip-hop and dub, tracks like Blind Man's Dreams, Kingdom and Paradise remind us of issues still so important in today's capital. Backed by a DJ/soundsystem, Mina Rose has her audience onside from the off, and they are joining in with the chorus by her final number.
Jorja Smith is accompanied on this tour by a four-piece band - guitar, bass, keyboards and drums, and they deliver a real punch to the overall sound of the evening. Comfortably complementing the old school R'n'B and soul style favoured by Smith, they flick a switch and move to a more funky jazz style when given their own spot later in the show. The lighting is superb – in addition to the usual bank of coloured spots there are six massive studio lamps positioned to the rear of the stage and facing straight out into the audience. From start to finish Jorja is bathed in a succession of varying colours to suit the mood of individual songs. The set opens with the title track from Lost & Found and follows with the ultra-stylish Teenage Fantasy. Even though this album was only released in June the majority of the audience are word-perfect, and are singing along, with arms aloft, to most of the set. Jorja Smith has been compared by some critics to Amy Winehouse, and whilst I would hesitate in endorsing that level of praise (her voice is more 'buttery' than Winehouse, and she has a tendency to 'swallow' her words more) the similarities are there, though to me she sounds similar, too, to Rhianna, and even our own Maya Law.
The remainder of the set is well-paced, with a good selection of tracks off the new album, and building to a climax with I Am and the Dizzee Rascal sampled Blue Lights. The encore delivers what are possibly three of Jorja Smith's best-known tracks, Don't Watch Me Cry, and versions of Let Me Down and On My Mind. The audience leave happy, and the tour rolls on, with most dates now also completely sold out. A new star is definitely born.
