Jorja Smith · NPR Tiny Desk, Washington D.C. · 2018
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Live video · Soul · 2010s
Jorja Smith — NPR Tiny Desk, 2018
Why this recording
Behind Jorja Smith, the rhythm section pairs Femi Koleoso, drummer and leader of Ezra Collective, with Mutale Chashi on bass, alongside Benjamin Totten on guitar and Amane Suganami on keys: the band that has backed her on stage from early on. Sidney Madden's write-up for NPR describes an unusual setting for the Tiny Desk, with teardrop pendant lights hung from the ceiling by the singer's lighting team. Josh Rogosin is credited as audio engineer, and three videographers shared the filming. On their way out, the band left a blue lava lamp signed by every member.
Simon Janvier, live-sound professional and editor of the catalogue
A live concert filmed on June 11, 2018 for NPR Music’s Tiny Desk in Washington, this capture presents British singer Jorja Smith, then a revelation of English soul and R&B, shortly after the release of her debut album Lost & Found. Backed by a full band — guitar, bass, drums, keys — she performs three songs live: On My Mind, Teenage Fantasy and Blue Lights. Stripped of their original garage or electronic productions, these songs reveal the purity of her tone and the maturity of her writing, notably Blue Lights, a socially conscious track about tensions between police and British youth. The Tiny Desk’s intimate, audience-free and unadorned format highlights the supple phrasing and emotional accuracy of an artist then just twenty years old. A reference filmed live concert to discover the raw talent of Jorja Smith in 2018, to watch online and appreciate one of the great soul voices of her generation.
Setlist
- On My Mind
- Teenage Fantasy
- Blue Lights
Personnel & credits
- Jorja Smith — vocals
- Femi Koleoso — drums
- Mutale Chashi — bass
- Benjamin Totten — guitar
- Amane Suganami — keyboards
- Josh Rogosin — sound engineer
What to watch next
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