In this powerful episode of Real Talk, Fernando sits down with the soulful, honest, and deeply insightful Jorja Smith. From the origin of her breakout single “Blue Lights” to working with industry giants like Kendrick Lamar and Drake, Jorja opens up about her creative process, her rise to fame, and the mindset that keeps her grounded.

Jorja reflects on writing “Blue Lights” at just 17 years old, inspired by her media studies on post-colonialism and grime, Dizzee Rascal’s “Sirens,” and real-life observations of police violence and racial profiling. She explains how interviews with young Black boys and an incident involving a friend sparked the narrative behind the song. What started as a school project became a global anthem with deep social impact.

Jorja describes her writing process as instinctive and rooted in truth. She never writes about what she doesn’t know; her art comes directly from lived experiences, emotions, and the world around her. Her ability to translate feelings into lyrics is natural, not trained—and it’s what makes her sound uniquely hers.

Jorja shares the surreal experience of being invited to collaborate with Kendrick for the Black Panther soundtrack. She details their first studio session, how they built the song “I Am,” and how organic the creative energy felt. She also talks about Drake’s mindset advice: “Nothing is impossible. Whatever you want, make it happen.” Despite working with icons, she stays grounded and grateful.

Jorja discusses how life has changed since her rise to fame—being recognized in cities around the world, adjusting to the loss of privacy, and watching her parents proudly share her accomplishments online. Through it all, she remains down-to-earth and focused on her craft.

From starring in a major Nike campaign to keeping fit through boxing, Jorja talks about strengthening both her body and self-confidence. She credits friends for encouraging her to embrace her natural beauty and stay authentic, especially in an era dominated by social media scrutiny.

Jorja reveals artists she’d love to collaborate with, including Frank Ocean, Solange, and Salaam Remi. While she avoids planning too far ahead, she’s excited to write new music once her tour schedule allows. For her, music evolves naturally—song by song.

Growing up mixed-race in a mostly white school shaped her sense of self, but she never doubted her uniqueness. Ten years from now, she simply hopes to be happy and still making meaningful music.

 

 

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