By: Andrew Meeker
British R&B singer Jorja Smith loves a dichotomous title. The 26-year-old’s claim to fame is Lost & Found, her 2018 debut studio album about the emotional turmoil that accompanies growing up. Five years later, she has followed this oeuvre with a sophomore album titled falling or flying that she released on September 29th. In an interview with i-D magazine, she said that the first half of the album feels like flying, while the second half grounds listeners with more melancholy tracks.
As a listener, I see where Smith’s statement came from. Club-friendly track “Little Things” appears early on in the album, and orchestral ballads like “Backwards” give it a theatrical finale. I was, however, frustrated with the placement of the album’s vulnerable namesake track, which is abruptly followed by the rock-influenced “GO GO GO,” which prevents the synth-heavy “Falling or flying” from bringing the album to a more somber place.
Despite having a confusing track list, falling or flying plays to all of Smith’s vocal strengths. She sours in her head voice on several tracks and tests the lower limits of her range in “Too many times.” The album’s production is a major highlight, as reggae-inspired percussion takes songs like “She Feels” and “Greatest Gift” to the next level, practically demanding listeners to move along with the beat. She also features British Afroswing rapper J Hus and Jamaican reggae singer Lila Iké, and both artists blend seamlessly into tracks that push the boundaries of Smith’s expertly-crafted R&B sound.
Overall, falling or flying stands as proof that Smith is no longer the same teenager who wrote Lost & Found. In an interview with Apple Music, she said that she loves how she and her fans can grow together, and this sophomore album has shown her continued commitment to curating her craft alongside her fanbase.
