Jorja Smith is a rarity in a music world dominated by microwave album cycles and increasingly blurred lines between genres. On top of her enduring A-list vocal talents, the UK singer has opted to flesh out her last album, falling or flying, with an extended cadence of deluxe tracks and re-recorded versions, setting the project further apart on top of its classic R&B bonafides. For the first time since the project’s release, she’s now stepping out of the bounds of that release for some entirely novel material. Here’s everything you need to know about the latest Jorja Smith singles, “Loving You / Don’t Let Me Go.”
The double single begins with “Loving You,” a track produced in the mold of work from James Blunt or John Legend; that is to say, retro piano chords and (literally) snappy percussion layered over top. The smoky delivery from Jorja aligns well with that instrumentation choice, conjuring up a dimly lit jazz club. As far as lyrics, the song aligns with the classic ballads that typically pace Jorja Smith B-sides, a la “Where Did I Go” from her early career. Maverick Sabre provides a suitable counterpart to what Jorja Smith delivers on “Loving You,” utilizing a higher-pitched, more animated delivery while still steeping his contributions in the same wistful, longing overtones.
Jorja Smith Returns To Her Retro Production Home Base For “Loving You / Don’t Let Me Go”
“Don’t Let Me Go” continues the same aesthetics but is a bit more mystifying in its message. Most of that intrigue comes from the hook sections, where a particular couplet, “So keep on loving, maybe, she won’t drive you crazy / So go ahead and love the lady, She won’t ever love you like us” makes the narrative more riveting than your typical romantic fare. Put simply: who is “us” in this respect? While Maverick Sabre adds background vocals here, perhaps making the answer simple, roping multiple speakers into the “lover scorned” tale adds an additional layer either way. Even outside of its lyrical intrigue, Smith’s standout vocal talents and a bit of classical imagery in the verse sections make this one worth repeat listens.
This full-fledged delivery would typically indicate a new project around the corner, but as mentioned towards the top, the recent Jorja Smith moves mean “Loving You / Don’t Let Me Go” is likely just an addendum to her current era. On top of the deluxe / reimagined treatment, the singer announced a spate of dates across the UK for 2025, further supporting “falling or flying” into another calendar year. Regardless, the new double single is absolutely worth your time for new listeners and her devotees alike. You can find “Loving You / Don’t Let Me Go” and all of the Jorja Smith catalog wherever you stream your music.
Elsewhere in our coverage, Amine – .mp3s sees another indie darling deliver his own bite-size project.
