Jorja Smith Biography • Age • Genre • Parents • Artist Profile (2024)

Jorja Smith (born 11 June 1997) is an English singer-songwriter.

Drawing inspiration from classic soul and R&B while infusing modern elements, Smith’s music often explores themes of love, self-discovery, and the complexities of human relationships. She has collaborated with the likes of Drake, Stormzy, Kali Uchis and others.

Smith has been writing songs since the age of 11 and posted her debut single ‘Blue Lights’ on SoundCloud in 2016. Smith’s debut album ‘Lost & Found’ was released in June 2018, and her 2019 single ‘Be Honest’ featuring Burna Boy has earned more than 250 million streams on Spotify.

So, how did Jorja Smith’s journey from a small town in England to a star of international acclaim unfold?

This article will delve into the biography of Jorja Smith, revealing the journey that led her to international stardom and looking at her development into an artist whose music resonates with a diverse audience.

Early Years And Upbringing

Jorja Alice Smith was born on 11 June 1997 in Walsall, a town in the West Midlands in England. She was born to an English mother (Jolene, a jewellery designer) and a Jamaican father (Peter, a benefits officer). She has a younger brother named Luca.

Her father, a former musician who sang in a neo-soul group called 2nd Naicha before Jorja was born, recognised that his daughter had a special talent when he heard the then eight-year-old sing one Christmas.

“One Christmas I wrote a nativity play,” Smith said. “But nobody turned up on the day of the performance apart from my brother and my cousins, so I just read the whole script onstage and made my brother pretend to be one of the animals at the inn. Then I sang Silent Night, which was the first time my dad heard me sing. He told me he knew from then I had something special.”

Breakthrough, Debut Studio Album And More

Encouraged by her father, Smith began taking piano lessons. She wrote her first song, called ‘Life Is A Path Worth Taking’, when she was 11 years old (she has ’11’, her favourite number, tattooed on her finger). “Smith earned a music scholarship at Aldridge School in Walsall, where she took voice and oboe lessons. She was scouted by a manager when she was 15 after having uploaded videos of herself singing cover songs to YouTube.

Jorja split her time between London and Walsall while she finished school, with the teenager travelling to the capital regularly for writing sessions organised by her manager. After she finished her studies, Smith made the move to London, living with her aunt and uncle and taking a job at a Starbucks while writing songs in her spare time.

When she finished the demo of her first single ‘Blue Lights’, she played it for her father. “Good song, good lyrics,” he responded. “Now, go to bed.”

On 19 January 2016, an 18-year-old Smith posted her song ‘Blue Lights’ on SoundCloud, where the track earned more than 400,000 plays within a month. The song was to be her debut single and was released on 26 February 2016 on UK-based independent label FAMM.

In 2017, Smith collaborated with Drake and Black Coffee on ‘Get It Together’, a song which featured on Drake’s 2017 mixtape ‘More Life’.

Smith released her debut album ‘Lost & Found’ on 8 June 2018. The album featured ‘Blue Lights’ and seven other tracks which were written over a five-year period. Smith won the Brit Critics Choice Award in 2018. ‘Lost & Found’ was completed in 2017 – but she held it back until the following year because 11 is her favourite number, and 2+0+1+8=11.

In August 2019, Smith released the single ‘Be Honest’ featuring Burna Boy. The track is one of Smith’s most popular songs, having earned more than 250 million streams on Spotify.

Smith moved back to Walsall from London at the beginning of 2023 to work on her new album. “London served its purpose for me, but it’s not my home,” Smith told i-D in 2023. “I think I maybe made myself feel a bit unwelcome, but it’s really that my heart wanted to be back home. For years, I’d walk my dog for hours every day: I’d get lost in the fields making songs up, thinking of ideas. I’d come home from school and sit at the piano.

“When I moved to London, I stopped doing all of that. I didn’t walk, I couldn’t see the sky. I didn’t go and imagine. I guess I kind of lost myself a bit in London. But now I’m found.”

On 11 May 2023, Smith released her single ‘Little Things’, which has clocked up more than 30 million streams on Spotify. Smith released her second studio album ‘Falling or Flying’ on 29 September 2023.

Music Influences And Inspiration

Smith grew up listening to reggae, punk, hip-hop and R&B. “Just a load of music came through my home,” Smith is quoted as saying by Vanity Fair. She was heavily influenced by Amy Winehouse and drew inspiration from the singer’s 2003 album ‘Frank’.

She cites Winehouse as one of her favourite artists. “I loved Amy Winehouse. If I could duet with anyone it would be her. She was so honest, everything she sings about.”

And what does Smith want her listeners to take from her music? “I think people should just be themselves,” she says. “One thing I struggled with when I was younger was always trying to look like somebody else: I didn’t feel comfortable in who I was. I think it’s important to just be you. You can’t be anybody else.

“That’s not the message I have in every song, but it’s something that I want people to get from me. It depends what song people listen to, but my overall message is ‘Don’t be anyone else’, and ‘You’re amazing’.”

Jorja Smith FAQs

What’s Jorja Smith’s Real Name?

Her full birth name is Jorja Alice Smith.

What’s Jorja Smith’s Age?

Jorja Smith is currently 27 years old. She was born on 11 June 1997.

How Tall Is Jorja Smith?

Jorja Smith’s height is 5′ 3″ (1.60 m).

What Nationality Is Jorja Smith? Where Are Her Parents From?

Jorja Smith was born in Walsall in the West Midlands in England to an English mother and a Jamaican father.

Where Did Jorja Smith Go To School?

From aged 11, she attended Aldridge School in Walsall, where she had earned a music scholarship.

What Label Is Jorja Smith Signed To?

In early 2016, she signed a publishing deal with Sony Music Entertainment (formerly Sony/ATV). Her music is released on UK-based independent label and management company FAMM.

What Genre Of Music Does Jorja Smith Make?

Smith’s songs often defy the boundaries of genre. However, her music could be described as being a special blend of R&B, soul, funky house and jazz-infused tracks.

Follow Jorja Smith And Listen To Her Music

You can follow Jorja Smith on social media sites including Instagram, X and and Facebook. You can listen to her music on Spotify, Soundcloud and via other streaming services.