Jorja Smith album review: Singer crafts a slow-burning debut navigating the complexities of young adulthood

Singer keenly observes young adulthood through R&B, jazz and acoustics

★★★★☆

Download This: Teenage Fantasy, Goodbyes, Don't Watch Me Cry, Wandering Romance

It’s no secret Jorja Smith has been one of the most coveted new artists brimming out of the UK in the past year. There has been a lot of hype leading up to her debut album including an array of collaborations with Stormzy, Drake, Khalid and Kali Uchis, and a lot of buzz. The 20-year-old singer’s first LP is full of quiet confidence as she aptly navigates the trials of young adulthood. Lost & Found is full of slow-burning teenage anthems with lush grooves, lyrical wisdom and dancehall undertones.

But Smith’s precocious approach to songwriting is something that has remained consistent since her 2016 debut single “Blue Lights,” where she frankly chronicles the realities of police brutality and racism. The track, which reappears on her record, is a primer for the range of Smith’s songwriting abilities. “I need to grow and find myself before I let somebody love me/Because at the moment I don’t know me,” Smith sings self-assuredly on “Teenage Fantasy.” She balances the insecurities of maturing with keen self analysis. The mixture of devastating ballads like “Don’t Watch Me Cry,” “The One” and “Goodbyes” alongside dark down tempo tracks like “Wandering Romance” and “Lost & Found” makes the record seem like a companion piece to Rihanna’s ANTI. Smith’s first full-length isn’t overly complex, but it doesn’t need to be: the combination of her robust vocals and the minimalistic production soar firmly on their own making Lost & Found a strong introduction.