British R&B singer Jorja Smith has steadily been turning heads since the release of her 2016 EP, Project 11. However, it was her feature on Drake‘s More Life standout “Get It Together” that truly sealed the deal on her ascendent status, her sultry performance likened to Drizzy’s more famous go-to female counterpart.
Smith hasn’t relied on the 6 God’s cosign to keep her momentum going, though. In the last few months, she’s dropped quality solo singles of her own in “Beautiful Little Fools”, released to coincide with International Women’s Day, and June’s delicate “Teenage Fantasy”. She continues her impressive run today with another new song, “On My Mind”. Taking more of a cue from the fast-paced “Get It Together” than her past works, it’s a collaboration with Preditah, a UK producer who has ties to Skepta’s grime label Boy Better Know (which Drake also calls home).
Update — Thursday, August 31st at 12:10 p.m. CT: The official music video for “On My Mind” has been revealed. It was filmed in London and finds Jorja and her friends sporting ’90s garage-style garb; Preditah and garage devotees Kurupt FM.
“Even though it wasn’t shot in Walsall, the video gave me a very nostalgic feel of being at home,” Smith shared in a press statement. “It reminds me of times spent chilling in my friends’ flat. We all had such a fun day shooting; the video reflects the mood of the song. Very alive.”
Update — Tuesday, October 3rd at 2:25 p.m. CT: Smith has shared a delicate acoustic version of “On My Mind”.
In related news, Smith performed her very first Toronto show last night and was welcomed by the city’s default musical ambassador, Drake. The two performed their More Life joint, the footage of which can be seen below (via Exclaim). During the gig, the rapper called Smith “probably one of the most incredible voices, incredible talents and incredible humans.”
Smith has a couple more North American dates lined up soon, plus some with Bruno Mars later this fall.
Jorja Smith 2017 Tour Dates:
08/28 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room at the Observatory
08/29 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
08/31 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
09/01-03 – Seattle, WA @ Bumbershoot Festival
09/02-03 – Philadelphia, PA @ Made in America Festival
10/08 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden $
10/10 – Inglewood, CA @ The Forum $
$ = w/ Bruno Mars
