Jorja Smith: BRIT Awards 2019 winner and Blue Lights singer is ready for stardom

She's already collaborated with Stormzy and Drake 
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Georgia Chambers21 February 2019

British R&B is having a moment right now, from the soulful sounds of Nao to the hip-hop inspired melodies of Ella Mai.

One prominent name credited with helping reignite the genre is Jorja Smith, who has a fan in Drake and cites Amy Winehouse as one of her key influences.

Smith has been forging her music career since she was 15-years-old. Now 21, in July last year she released her debut album Lost & Found, featuring tracks Blue Lights, The One and Where Did I Go?

The rising star has won a BRIT Award for Best Female Solo artist and is nominated for British Breakthrough Act.

Here’s everything you need to know about Jorja Smith for this year's BRITs:

Where is Jorja Smith from?

Smith grew up in Walsall, West Midlands. When she was 15 she moved to London to focus on her music career, working part-time as a barista in Starbucks to help pay the bills.

Which artists has she collaborated with?

Smith caught the attention of Drake in 2017, collaborating on the song Get It Together and Jorja’s Interlude, both of which would go on to feature on his album More Life.

She’s also worked with Stormzy on the track Let Me Down and Kendrick Lamar on I Am for the Black Panther soundtrack.

What awards has Jorja Smith won?

Jorja Smith performs at the Coachella festival in 2018 in California.
Getty

Even though her career is just getting started, Smith already has some impressive accolades under her belt. In 2018, she won the Critics’ Choice award at the BRITs. The artist who wins the coveted prize is tipped to have the biggest impact on music in the coming year – and it's safe to say Smith has delivered.

In the same year, her video for Blue Lights won Best Urban Video at the UK Music Video Awards. This year, she was also nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammys alongside the likes of Dua Lipa, H.E.R and Bebe Rexha.

Will she be performing at the BRITs?

Jorja Smith will indeed be taking to the stage for a special performance at the 2019 BRIT awards.

During last year’s ceremony, she performed with Rag’n’Bone Man.

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