English artist Jorja Smith is ready to share a deeply personal musical journey with the release of her new album, What Are the Odds, arriving on August 21.
This latest project is a testament to organic creativity, born not from a grand plan, but from instinct. Jorja described the process as something that came together naturally, allowing her to explore sounds and emotions in the moment. Working with regular collaborator and producer P2J, she dove deep into a rich tapestry of musical influences, blending the raw energy of U.K. garage and grime with the warmth of house and Afro house.
The resulting sound is vibrant and uplifting, yet imbued with a poignant emotional depth. The lyrics navigate universal themes—the complexities of growing up, the bittersweet nature of love and loss, the intricacies of friendship, and the journey of self-discovery. Smith trusts that these complex feelings are woven throughout the record.
The album showcases this blend beautifully, featuring tracks that capture various facets of her experience. Among the highlights is the club-ready track What’s Done Is Done, released earlier in May, which establishes a strong rhythmic foundation for the project. The album also features a sultry single titled Alive, which brings in the smooth vocals of afrobeats star Wizkid.
A significant highlight is the track This City, where Jorja collaborated with grime rapper Devlin on a remake of his hit single. This feature adds another layer of dynamic energy and cultural flavour to the narrative of the record.
The album features twelve tracks, offering listeners a complete sonic experience: For Life, What Are The Odds, What’s Done Is Done, This City (feat. Devlin), Pretend, The Way It Was, I Lied, You Lied, Dancing, Alive (feat. Wizkid), Young Heart, Make It Your Home, and When It Gets Like That.
Anticipation is building as fans await the full release of What Are the Odds. Beyond the music, Jorja Smith is also set to bring this sound live through a planned tour throughout the fall, featuring performances scheduled across international venues.
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Credit: BrooklynVegan
