If Adéla’s ‘Ain’t In LA’ is marking a general consensus for the music industry and its listeners then it’s safe to say that the people are yearning for the underdogs to win. Fed up of the long-running chokehold that American artists’ have held over charts and pop culture, music fans have taken to social media to express their appreciation for any non-stateside stars via collages soundtracked by the unofficial song-of-the-summer. Artists like Zara Larsson, Tyla and Ayra Starr have appeared with the text “The baddest b*tches ain’t in LA, they’re from…” before adding the act’s respective country.
Considering this, Spotify’s latest campaign couldn’t have come at a better time, as it’s Hometown series sees three UK-based musicians, performing in and celebrating their beloved birthplaces. Nemzzz and Beebadoobee are two acts taking part, but it’s Walsall wonder Jorja Smith taking the reins and kickstarting the initiative gracing Walsall Arena with an intimate performance that can never be replicated.
Rapper and collaborator Wesley Joseph stepped on stage and proved that the West Midlands are quietly-producing some serious talent. The crowd were fixed on the ‘Ghostin’ songwriter’s pen game and stage presence. Joseph’s debut album Forever Ends Someday dropped back in April and it seems Jorja’s audience are familiar with a track of his or two, especially ‘July’.
Sporting a barbie-adjacent crimped ponytail, Smith walked out grinning widely to the tune of ‘Blue Lights’, the song that started it all back in 2016, delivering some impressive belts. Jorja tugged heartstrings twice in the span of five minutes instantly reciting an acapella version of ‘Teenage Fantasy’ paired with blue and purple hue lighting.
Her Afro House collaboration with Wizkid ‘Alive’ shortly follows and creates a gentle flow among the crowd. This only builds as ‘I Lied, You Lied’ plays out next and ‘For Life’ which remind fans Smith isn’t just an R&B star, she’s a musical chameleon. Previously flirting with EDM sounds via Preditah link-up ‘On My Mind’ nine years prior, now Smith is promoting her newly-released and fully-fledged Dance LP What Are The Odds.
The 29-year-old then introduced the Blue Lights Choir to the stage, a group set up by Jorja in 2022 for young girls aged 11 to 18 to sing together and have fun through music. Singing ‘Greatest Gift’, the lyrics of this track were nothing short of fitting with lyrics like “I know how hard it feels / You got me, I’m still right here” and “All you do is make me proud”. Although Smith might’ve been based in London from 18 onwards, her presence in the West Midlands is stronger than ever.
There was a moment of transparency ahead of ‘This City’ as Smith revealed the angst she’d started feeling towards London. Wishing she’d come back to Birmingham, she put pen to paper and confronted the UK capital as it “Sold a dream of a home, it’s a liе”, describing that, “This place ran it’s course, I’m tired of running”. The message of this song will always cut deep, but performing it in this 600-capacity Walsall venue made these lines cut deeper than ever.
It was then time for three back-to-back bangers, also known as the Jorja Smith holy trinity, courtesy of ‘Little Things’, ‘On My Mind’ and concert-closer ‘Be Honest’. The energy was unmatched as Smith and local fans and security couldn’t help but singalong and bust out a move to these definitive hits. This three track run was the perfect end to a personal night and kept spirits high with subtle murmurs of ‘Be Honest’ filling the corridors of Walsall Arena and Arts Centre, long after the ‘Go go go’ singer departed the auditorium.
Although tracks off her most-recent album What Are The Odds. pull from a variety of genres like Afro House, R&B, Funky House and more, Smith’s personality is its driving factor, and it’s this that has firmly established her strong relationship with fans and general music listeners. This couldn’t be more apparent when watching Smith deliver some top-notch vocals with ease before pointing out, waving to and blowing kisses at recognisable faces in the crowd.
Declaring “I’m proud to be from Walsall” while exiting the stage, this statement should hopefully instill the same pride into the crowd’s thoughts and feelings towards this West Midlands town too.
Spotify’s Hometown series continues with two more intimate performances scheduled throughout September by the likes of Nemzzz in Manchester and Beebadoobee in London.
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