Following the release of her debut album in 2018, R&B sensation, Jorja Smith, returns to the music scene with her follow-up sophomore album, falling or flying, a title sharing similar sentiments of self discovery and reflection to its predecessor, Lost & Found. Over the course of 16 tracks, Smith delivers a record that is as dynamic, heartfelt and contemplative as her debut.
The title track is another contemplative song, pondering the meaning of the places Smith has found herself in in the years since the release of her debut. ‘Falling or Flying’ at points moves beyond reminiscent to warning, reminding herself not to “fall from these heights”. As she explained in a recent interview with i-D, her thoughts on her headspace the past three years echo the final refrain of the song, poignantly describing how she “could be falling, flying, [and] wouldn’t know the difference.”
But there is also an undeniable range to the album. Lead single, ‘Little Things’, is a rhythmic track that has been picking up ample traction since its release but it’s ‘GO GO GO’ that proves to be the standout upbeat anthem. With its punchy guitar intro and lyrics such as “One more night ‘til I let you down, I let you down, I gotta go / One more night ‘til I’m saying bye, you’ve been around long enough”, Smith reclaims her autonomy while equally delivering a fun dance track.
The entire album includes only one feature, with J Hus, the London musician known for his Afroswing beats, making an appearance on ‘Feelings’. Following the through line of complex relationships, Smith agonises that its “hard to pretend it’s not what I want”, fearing her partner will “read my mind”, with Hus nicely complimenting the track with the alternate perspective: ‘I know you’re still healin’ baby / But you’re still appealing’, before Smith joins in, for the rest of the chorus. The balance of their voices makes for a melodious and sensual take on the relationship dynamics explored in the song.
Known for the depth and soulful quality of her voice, tracks such as ‘Backwards’ truly showcase the sultry tone of Smith’s voice. Alongside its rolling descent into the chorus, she also displays the top range of her voice, the simple backing track highlighting what she does best – sing. The song melts seamlessly into the album’s final song ‘What if my heart beats faster?’, a rhythmically melancholic track in which Smith navigates her own feelings that come into conflict with a relationship, “I should call this off, / Knowing that I’ll never feel how they could”. Its ending is a poignant and solitary one: “You’ll never understand what’s on my mind and I know it cuts deeper.”
A record that feels comfortingly familiar for Jorja Smith and yet has a new, bolder throughline, expanding on more self-conscious lyrics found in her debut, such as its concluding track, ‘Don’t Watch Me Cry’, in which she opens with “Maybe I shouldn’t have cried when you left and told me not to wait”. While exploring the same feelings of being unsteady on her feet and in her relationships, Smith’s confidence and autonomy is evident not just lyrically but within the growth of her vocal range and genre as an artist. falling or flying is an exciting addition to Smith’s discography.
Words by Hetta Johnson
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