“I’m A Culture Writer & This Is My Honest Review Of Jorja Smith’s New Album”
Jorja Smith has been one of my favourite artists since she first came onto the scene with Lost and Found in 2018. Since then, her sound has quietly evolved with every release, moving further away from the smoky, soulful ballads that first won her a BRIT Award. With her third album, What Are the Odds, it feels like she’s taken the biggest leap yet, trading in mellow R&B for a full-on dance record built for sweaty clubs and long summer nights – a trade that may just have won me over.
Initial thoughts
If you’ve followed Jorja’s discography closely, this shift in tone won’t come as a total shock. You could hear the seeds of it in tracks like On My Mind and Little Things, and her last record, 2023’s Falling or Flying, leaned further into dance textures than anything she’d done before. Comprised of 12 tracks, What Are the Odds feels like the natural, confident endpoint of that journey.
This album marks a clear departure from Smith’s earlier work, but the transition feels completely effortless. These songs are playful and energetic, the kind that pull you out of your seat and onto the dance floor.
Amelia, Culture & Lifestyle Writer/Creator
This album marks a clear departure from Smith’s earlier work, but the transition feels completely effortless. These songs are playful and energetic, the kind that pull you out of your seat and onto the dance floor. However, that’s not to say the emotional depth is gone. Themes of friendship, grief, growth and love run through the album, with songs like For Life, reflecting on loving a friend through addiction, and Pretend, dealing with betrayal.
Album highlights
After a first listen, I’ve already added multiple tracks to my summer playlist. The Way It Was is a clear standout. Marking the halfway point on the album, it’s wistful and warm, and the kind of track that sneaks up on you and lodges itself in your head.
Then there’s Young Heart, which might be my favourite moment on the whole record. It finds Jorja looking back at a younger version of herself with real tenderness and honesty. It’s reflective without ever feeling heavy, which is a tough balance to strike on a record this upbeat.
Then there’s Young Heart, which might be my favourite moment on the whole record. It finds Jorja looking back at a younger version of herself with real tenderness and honesty.
The Handbook team reacts
The first listen was quite unexpected, leaning more into dance music than her signature sound. Honestly, a lot of the songs merged into one for me, but “What’s Done Is Done” felt more like nostalgic Jorja, which I really loved.
Sophia, Digital Content Creator
I’m newer to Jorja’s music, but I like the energy of this album – it works just as well for the club as for a high-intensity workout class.
Natasha, Digital Editor
Final thoughts
Overall, this album really surprised me, and I found myself enjoying it far more than I thought I would. Truth be told, I’ve always been a diehard Lost and Found fan and have previously grieved her departure from this sound. But, in my opinion, What Are The Odds is the perfect addition to her discography.
The timing for this release also couldn’t be better, with Jorja co-headlining All Points East festival alongside Tems later today. This is a record built for festival crowds, for dancing outside with your friends as the sun goes down. It also just feels like the perfect way to close out summer, breezy, warm and full of movement, exactly the tone you want as the season starts to wind down.
This is a record built for festival crowds, for dancing outside with your friends as the sun goes down. It also just feels like the perfect way to close out summer, breezy, warm and full of movement, exactly the tone you want as the season starts to wind down.
