I wanted to be pale. I didn't wanna go in the sun, because I was in school with a lot of white girls. I remember one girl said to me, 'You look better pale.' And I was like, 'Well, you're tan!' She was like, 'It's not the same.'
— Jorja Smith
I'm not gonna just disappear after one album.
I need to get a tiny bit more 'woke.'
I don't like to write about myself. I like listening to people.
I used to go to London by myself when I was 16. I think I got it from my mom. My mom was the type to just always just go off somewhere, wherever. She's a goer.
Wear what you feel comfortable in and what suits your mood.
I remember watching somebody called Esmee Denters doing covers that were really popular and wishing that was me. But I'm glad it wasn't. Things have worked out OK.
There's this issue where I'm really doing well and got hate 'cause I'm too light-skinned. I understand why people say that - throughout history, the lighter you are, that's how it's been. But it's not my fault. My mom and dad had me! I look how I look.
Paris is such a beautiful city.
I just like wearing whatever makes me feel comfortable and confident. I wear what fits my mood.
I used to watch a programme about Route 66 in America, and it looked so fun.
Sometimes I feel people try to be too complex. Some of the greatest songs are so simple. The simplest phrases.
I don't like setting goals - I don't like to be disappointed.
I've got far to go. There's always more to be done.
Drake brought me out at the O2 in London and Barclays Center, and I'm on 'More Life.'
I make music because it helps me. I feel better after I've written a song. I listen to my own songs, and they make me feel and think about stuff I'd done or someone said to me, and I feel a bit better.
I left Starbucks in 2015. When I was younger, I remember looking at Justin Bieber and wishing I had all these fans, but you know what? Everyone has their path, everyone's path is different, and this is where mine's going. I just didn't want to work at Starbucks. I wanted to be writing music all the time.
I express my thoughts through my music.
My voice makes the genre because I sound like me on all my songs - I've made my own genre: Jorja Smith.
Chill? I can't chill. I find it so difficult to sit still.
The people who are the most powerful and have the most money sometimes don't value other people.
When we used to walk to school, I used to read off the walls, graffiti and stuff, everything. I used to write stories, but I'd never finish them. I wrote poems.
My favourite number is 11.
Obviously I've grown up around YouTubers, people getting millions of hits, but I was never anywhere near that.
I used to like loads of boys and get rejected all the time.
With make-up, I much prefer my natural face. I'm confident with myself like that, but when I wear make-up, I like to look like myself. I love dewy skin, a matte lip, and a bad highlight!
A road trip in Cuba is probably top of my list.
I was born in June, so I like summer, and my favourite part of a sunny day is when the sun sets.
I've got so many melodies in my head.
I love anything about love.
I'm not going to do a song just because it's with Drake.
I want to be worldwide, international, in everyone's ears, and everyone listening to what I'm saying, because I think I say some good stuff.
For me, it's about touching as many people as I can and helping as many people as I can with my music.
Because I'm on a tour bus, it's so hard to wash your face - we have to use, um, water bottles. But you know what? It's not about looking cute - it's about staying hydrated.
Before I put 'Blue Lights' out, I deleted my Instagram and everything and started again.
I'm not good at talking, but I can write a good song and tell a story.
So many people can tell me, 'You're amazing,' rather, but I don't think it. You know, so, I don't go around thinking this. I'm really hard on myself. I think that's quite good.
When I put my first song out, I didn't put out any pictures. I just wanted people to hear my music.
I overthink everything, and one thing I find difficult is to actually be in the moment.
If you want to hear good music, good music will always be found.
Sound has always followed me. A lot of reggae when mum was cooking. I'd write songs with my dad or play him anything I'd worked on.
I didn't look like Rihanna. I was a bit chubby. I had puppy fat. I had a moustache. I didn't want to have lips; I didn't want a bum. I grew out of it, but I feel like everyone went through that phase of wanting to be skinny.
Most of me expressing myself comes through my music more than what I wear.
When I found 'New Chain' by Col3trane, honestly, I couldn't stop playing it. It's a good road trip song because the beat just drives on.
I don't think about being a public persona too much - I just get on with what I'm doing.
It's very special that I can go through things - and write them down and record them - and so many people can relate. Not everybody can get out who they are and really feel better after they write.
I just make my music. It's not too complicated.
I write all of my music.
I want to be someone for young girls to look up to, for fathers to want their daughters to listen to me because I'm not rude, and I'm actually talking some sense.
My dad will always criticize me. He doesn't care if it hurts my feelings. If I start acting a certain way, he would be like, 'Who do you think you are?' So many people can tell me, 'You're amazing,' but I don't think it. I'm really hard on myself.
