Jorja Smith: From Walsall to the 02

Resident Advisor
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About this episode Georgia Smith reflects on her 10-year journey from a teenage discovery on DJ Target's notice board to an indep… AI summary

Georgia Smith reflects on her 10-year journey from a teenage discovery on DJ Target's notice board to an independent artist headlining the O2. She discusses her new album 'What Are the Odds,' created entirely with P2J, which marks a shift towards dance and garage music while retaining her emotional depth. Smith emphasizes the importance of independence, self-protection against public opinion, and maintaining a supportive 'fam' environment to sustain creativity over a long career.

Key takeaways 5
  • Georgia Smith's career trajectory shifted from a 'breakthrough artist' phase to a more self-directed, independent approach, culminating in her third album 'What Are the Odds' and a headline show at the O2.
  • The album 'What Are the Odds' was developed entirely with producer P2J, focusing on dance, garage, and house influences, marking a deliberate sonic shift from her earlier ballad-heavy work.
  • Smith emphasizes the importance of maintaining independence and surrounding oneself with a close-knit team ('Fam') who prioritize personal well-being over industry pressure, which she cites as crucial for creative sustainability.
  • Her creative process relies heavily on intuition and conversation rather than rigid planning; she describes entering the studio to 'chat and eat food' first, allowing music to emerge naturally from the connection.
  • The title 'What Are the Odds' originated from file naming conventions (odd numbers) and reflects on her 10-year journey, survival in the industry, and the unexpected nature of her success.
Notable quotes 4 AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.
  • “"Being independent isn't easy, but I've this is the only way I know to do it and how I have done it."”
    ▶ 0:00 Smith explains her commitment to independence as a core part of her identity and survival strategy in the music industry.
  • “"I'm super hard on myself anyway. Like I am my biggest critic and I usually will know not put me down but in the past I would be the one to put me down first before anyone else could kind of to protect myself."”
    ▶ 4:45 Reveals her psychological coping mechanism for handling public criticism and industry pressure.
  • “"We'll be thinking the same things... we just trusted each other and it was fun."”
    ▶ 19:19 Describes the intuitive creative synergy she shares with producer P2J.
  • “"I don't know what the future holds, but I know what I want to hear."”
    ▶ 25:22 Summarizes her approach to future projects: following her own taste rather than external trends.

Chapters & Sections (16)

0:00 Navigating Public Opinion and Self-Criticism chapter 3
2:49 Album Release Timing and Seasonal Themes
4:11 Setting New Career Goals
8:41 Advice for Independent Artists
11:38 Album Title Meaning and Dance Music Evolution chapter 1
14:58 Jazz Influences and Songwriting Evolution
16:49 Juxtaposition of heavy themes and upbeat sound chapter 1
18:55 Creative Process and Studio Dynamics
21:38 Collaboration, Production, and Moving to London chapter 2
24:07 Jorja Smith's Studio Shyness and Production Journey
26:01 Moving to London at 18
27:58 London Life, Radio Discovery, and Sampling chapter 1
30:56 Music Discovery and Sampling Devlin
33:10 London Balance and Music Discovery chapter 2
34:40 Collaborations and Music Discovery Process
38:29 Future Music Projects and Excitement

Transcript

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