Singer-songwriter Jorja Smith on overcoming insecurities and tackling fame

Brit award-winning, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Jorja Smith talks to PORTER about overcoming her insecurities and tackling the toxic side of fame. Smith is upfront about the impacts that success has had on her and is open about her insecurities, how fame has affected her mental health, and the crippling perfectionism that makes her second-guess herself: “When I was 15, I remember telling my friend, ‘You look like you because you’re you, and don’t compare yourself to other people. But here’s me, not listening to myself at 15.” 

While the media has hailed Smith as the poster girl for the rebirth of jazz, which is reflected in her early influences – “Classics – that’s all I used to listen to. Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, Miles Davis. Now I’m listening to so much new stuff. I like UK rap – that’s what I listen to a lot” – Smith was not always so confident in her singing ability: “I found it embarrassing – I didn’t want people to know I could sing. My mum told people I could sing and I’d be like, ‘I hate you! Why are you telling people?’”

Smith spent most of her teenage years running away from her voice, writing songs in secret and only sharing them with her dad: “I’d come down and play my dad my tunes. Then he’d be like, ‘Can’t hear a chorus’. [So, I’d] go upstairs, write it again, get annoyed… I was so lucky to have parents that actually encouraged art.”

Despite the support, Smith admits she often felt insecure about her talent – and looks – as a child: “I didn’t want to have big lips. I didn’t want to have an ass. It was quite sad. It wasn’t until I moved to London [that] I loved myself more. I’ve become a lot more confident within myself and my body. Sometimes I want to put on a tight sexy dress or something hugging because I’m feeling myself… [but] nothing’s changed. I [still] don’t like the attention now. I guess I’m just more confident – I love performing.”

Smith has pushed through but talks about the struggles she has had with her rising fame, especially on social media: “I was going through a phase where I wasn’t that happy. It was not nice for me; it was doing more damage than good.”

The pandemic and moving back to her family home made Smith take stock and she resolved to be kinder to herself: “I’m from a small town in Walsall. There are not many people that come out of Walsall, but I’m one of them. […] I prefer home so much more. London’s too much. It’s not good for my head.” 

Having just bought a farm near her home town, in the next decade Smith sees herself “looking out over my field with the window open, sun shining, making myself a tea – maybe some goats running around”. 

Smith also acknowledges that she hasn’t taken a breather to celebrate her achievements: “You know what’s mad? I’ve got so many [award] plaques, but I’ve never put them up in the house, ever.” 

This year, however, it will be different. For the first time, she’s putting her awards on display “because I’m actually proud. Before, I was never proud”.

Smith is going to deal with fame in her own time, rationalizing it as a drawback to a career full of upsides: “Celebrating your wins and successes is what I’m moving to. Just celebrate – life’s short.”

For PORTER’s shoot, Jorja Smith was photographed by Danika Magdalena and styled by Natasha Wray, wearing Valentino, Christopher John Rogers, Bottega Veneta, Saint Laurent, Gucci and more. All items can be purchased straight from the shoot via the NET-A-PORTER app, available on Android as well as iPhone and iPad, and through net-a-porter.com.

Interview highlights:

Jorja Smith on taking her own advice: “When I was 15, I remember telling my friend, ‘You look like you because you’re you, and don’t compare yourself to other people. But here’s me, not listening to myself at 15.” 

Jorja Smith on her musical influences: “Classics – that’s all I used to listen to. Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, Miles Davis. Now I’m listening to so much new stuff. I like UK rap – that’s what I listen to a lot.” 

Jorja Smith on hiding her singing ability: “I found it embarrassing – I didn’t want people to know I could sing. My mum told people I could sing and I’d be like, ‘I hate you! Why are you telling people?’.”

Jorja Smith on sharing her music with her dad: “I’d come down and play my dad my tunes. Then he’d be like, ‘Can’t hear a chorus’. [So, I’d] go upstairs, write it again, get annoyed… I was so lucky to have parents that actually encouraged art.”

Jorja Smith on her insecurities: “I didn’t want to have big lips. I didn’t want to have an ass. It was quite sad. It wasn’t until I moved to London [that] I loved myself more. I’ve become a lot more confident within myself and my body. Sometimes I want to put on a tight sexy dress or something hugging because I’m feeling myself… [but] nothing’s changed. I [still] don’t like the attention now. I guess I’m just more confident – I love performing.”

Jorja Smith on the struggles she faced on social media due to her rising fame: “I was going through a phase where I wasn’t that happy. It was not nice for me; it was doing more damage than good.”

Jorja Smith on moving back to her childhood home and being kinder to herself: “I’m from a small town in Walsall. There are not many people that come out of Walsall, but I’m one of them. […] I prefer home so much more. London’s too much. It’s not good for my head.” 

Jorja Smith on where she sees herself in the next decade: “Looking out over my field with the window open, sun shining, making myself a tea – maybe some goats running around”. 

Jorja Smith on celebrating her achievements: “You know what’s mad? I’ve got so many [award] plaques, but I’ve never put them up in the house, ever.” 

Jorja Smith on why she plans on displaying her awards: “because I’m actually proud. Before, I was never proud”.

Jorja Smith on how she plans to deal with fame: “Celebrating your wins and successes is what I’m moving to. Just celebrate – life’s short.”

To see the full interview with Jorja Smith read Porter at net-a-porter.com or download the NET-A-PORTER app for iPhone, iPad and Android. 

See also: Ashley Graham on her podcast ‘Pretty Big Deal’ and the body-positivity movement