British singer-songwriter Jorja Smith returns with her second album, "falling or flying," a 16-track collection that explores love, personal boundaries, and the complex emotions that come with growing into yourself. The 43-minute-and-48-second album feels rooted in emotional honesty, but it explores the tension of staying grounded while being pulled in different directions.
Smith worked with producer DAMEDAME* on the project, teaming with Blue May, Jodi Milliner, New Machine and P2J. The album also features guest appearances from J Hus and Lila Iké, adding further dimension to a project that flows comfortably between different moods and perspectives.
The album opens with "Try Me," a song about putting yourself out there in a world full of opinions. "She Feels," is a deeply introspective R&B track that explores a one-sided relationship and the emotional games that can make adult romance feel less safe than childhood. "Flights skit" mirrors the furious pace of a jet-setting career, introducing the conflict between constant movement and the desire for stability.
"Feelings," with J Hus, explores the complicated intricacies of a love affair that's hot and heavy, but with a partner who's not quite ready. At the same time, "GO GO GO" unexpectedly ventures into acoustic indie-rock territory to express setting boundaries and cutting ties. The album dives into complicated relationships further with songs like "Backwards," which details the frustration of arguments that always come back to past mistakes, and "What if my heart beats faster?" The title track "Falling or flying" fits naturally into the album.
Smith's "falling or flying" is a project of movement, relationship, reflection, and the search for stability. Her saying that making the album "brought me back home" adds another layer to a collection preoccupied with where we come from, what shapes us, and how we find our footing as we progress.
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