Her voice has drawn comparisons to the likes of Rihanna, AlunaGeorge and Adele, although British singer-songwriter Jorja Smith herself cites artists such as Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys and Amy Winehouse as her biggest influences. But she is quickly silencing any comparisons as she is fast making a name for herself. Encouraged to pursue music by her musician father, Smith grew up listening to reggae, punk, hip hop, and R&B, started playing the piano at age 8 and began writing songs shortly thereafter, later earning a music scholarship. Her 2016 debut single Blue Lights received a lot of attention, and her international profile rose quickly by contributions to Drake’s playlist More Life and the Kendrick Lamar-compiled Black Panther soundtrack, as well as opening slots on tours by Drake and Bruno Mars. Smith released her debut album Lost & Found in 2018, which was rewarded with three Brit Awards nominations, as well as a Grammy Award nomination.
