Jorja Smith Comes Home to Walsall for Spotify’s First Hometown Concert Film
Even the biggest artists on earth started somewhere small—at home. That’s the idea behind Hometown, Spotify’s latest concert series. Designed to celebrate the places that have shaped U.K. artists and the fans who have supported them from the start, the inaugural event earlier this month saw Walsall native Jorja Smith returning to her hometown in the West Midlands for an intimate set that brought her career full circle.
The performance spanned the R&B artist’s catalog, from “Teenage Fantasy” off her debut album to newer tracks like “What’s Done Is Done,” from last month’s What Are The Odds. Now, fans can relive the performance in a just-released live concert film, exclusively on Spotify.
“I’ve traveled, played shows around the world, and met people who connect to my music in ways that I never could have imagined,” said Jorja, “but wherever I go, I’ll always come back home.”
It was an emotional homecoming for Jorja, whose relationship with the town has remained an important thread throughout her career. In addition to writing songs that pay homage to her roots, Jorja also founded the Blue Lights Choir, an organization that helps girls and young women build confidence through live performance. During the Hometown performance, the choir accompanied her on stage to sing “Greatest Gift.”
“When you’re young and creative in a small town, you just need someone to believe in you and I was lucky enough to have people who did that for me,” said Jorja. “If the choir can help someone from Walsall believe that their ideas can be something real, then that means everything.”
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Following Jorja’s show, up-and-coming rapper Nemzzz and BRIT Award nominated singer-songwriter beabadoobee took the series to their own hometowns with performances in Manchester on September 12 and London on September 17, respectively. Their concert films will be available on Spotify soon.
Watch Jorja Smith’s Hometown concert film, and the pre-show film, exclusively on Spotify.
