Project Review: Jorja Smith - 'Be Right Back'
After leaving a lot of people on the edge of their chairs after the beautiful ‘Lost & Found’ album in 2018, Jorja Smith is back with this eight-track project - ‘Be Right Back’.
With the 2019 critically acclaimed, Mercury prize-nominated debut album ‘Lost & Found’, gaining a plethora of listeners and fans, some may say a lot was riding on this short but sweet release, thankfully it lives up to high expectations.
Over string-heavy production, Jorja unveils an emotive collection of songs that are diverse in their range but still extremely cohesive as a body of work - “It’s called be right back because it’s just something I want my fans to have right now, this isn’t an album and these songs wouldn’t have made it. If I needed to make these songs, then someone needs to hear them too.” - Jorja says of the project.
The first track on the project is the stunning ‘Addicted’, followed by the more recent release ‘Gone’, both of which landed amazingly with audiences, acquiring great reviews all around.
‘Be Right Back’ changes its tone through the next few tracks, with a feature from rising South London rapper, Shaybo on track three, ‘Bussdown’. This is the ultimate Summer song, with a catchy chorus and beat. There are many highlights from this project, but track five, ‘Home’, stands out as this wonderfully crafted, melancholic song that seems like classic R&B with subtle hints of jazz.
The final song on the project ‘Weekend’ comes in at 4 minutes and 18 seconds, completely showing off the talent of Jorja Smith, lyrically and vocally, a great end piece to leave us on this prelude before her next release.
Jorja Smith’s voice throughout the whole project remains this rare gift; striking, seductive, and captivating. Any release from Smith is stunningly beautiful as her voice is so gratifying to listen to, with stylistic hints of Amy Winehouse.
Stepping out of lockdown after crafting this sensational project sets the precedent for the next few months for Smith, with live music coming back again. Jorja will be performing at Glastonbury’s live-streamed event on Saturday 22nd May along with London festival, All Points East on Friday 27th August.
Words by Lucy Holden