Jorja Smith
One Christmas, I wrote a nativity play. But nobody turned up on the day of the performance apart from my brother and my cousins, so I just read the whole script onstage and made my brother pretend to be one of the animals at the inn.Collection: Christmas
Michael Jackson was a Gemini. Kanye, Lauryn Hill, a lot of people that are amazing artists are Geminis.Collection: Amazing
Independence is doing what you want to do, knowing that you're happy with the decisions you're making and that it's the best for you.Collection: Independence
Did Amy Winehouse have a hit single from 'Frank?' I love 'Frank,' but people didn't really pay attention to her until 'Back to Black.' So no, I haven't had a hit single. I personally am not bothered about that.
I write what I want to write.
With a label, pressure is added. Being independent, you don't feel a lot of pressure.
That's what records are for: not to be skipped.
I've always loved music since I was 11. I used to play keyboard, and I would write music. So since 11, I've been falling in love with music.
A lot of stuff doesn't faze me. I think it's because I was brought up in a small town, and normally, when you're from a small town, when you see a famous person, you'd be like, 'Oh my god. This never happens,' but I've always kind of been like nonchalant.
I love SZA. She's great.
I get so many people coming up to me being like, Aahhh! And I'm like, what the hell? I'm just me!
When I first moved to London, I used to pretend to be on the phone. I used to talk about stuff that was going on out loud. To my phone! I don't do that anymore!
I'd like young girls to be able to listen to my music and take something positive away from it.
I'd like to be a role model.
I was a bit late on Erykah Badu, but I don't think you can really be late on music. You discover it whenever; music is timeless.
I used to blame myself for a lot of things, and I apologise loads. I don't do it any more, but when I was in the studio - and it was my song - I'd say 'sorry' every time I got a note wrong.
I've listened to 'Frank' so many times. She was so honest and herself. I think one of the hardest things for an artist to do is tell the truth, but that's what Amy Winehouse did, and it's what I want to do - if you want to write songs that connect with people, I think they really need to believe what you're talking about.
I like a new challenge.
I'm not with a label, so I haven't ever felt pressure to be a certain way. I've got a cool team who just love music.
Sometimes I observe stuff I haven't been through and write about it. I used to walk my dog with these 50-year-olds, and they'd tell me stories I could use.
There's always been music in my house growing up. In the kitchen, there's a speaker, and we'd always have my mum's iPod in it - she never makes food without listening to music. And I used to watch 'Top of the Pops' with my dad.
Both my parents have been big influences on me wanting to do music. My mum's always been, 'Just do it. Just sing.'
I did classical singing at school. I did exams in that. I'd sing soprano, and we'd sing in German; we'd do Schubert for my pieces, in Latin, French... I really enjoyed that. I kind of miss it.
When I'm writing, I like to have a tiny bit of fact and then exaggerate it and turn it into something more people could relate to.
I like live-sounding things.
I want to be a voice people listen to and feel good or sad or whatever.
I get loads of messages from people telling me they've been helped through some bad relationship when they've listened to my song. That's what I want to do.
I like being someone else. 'A Prince' is not about me, but I can pretend for the three minutes of the track. It's great being able to do that, 'cos I enjoy telling stories.
When I'm writing, I'll just say random stuff that doesn't make sense, and then a certain word that I keep saying will stick out, and I'll write from there.
I come from quite a creative family; everyone's just doing their own thing!
I've been singing most of my life. There's nothing better I could wish to be doing.
There's always so much energy from me and my band. Lots of fun and twists in each song.
I listen to all types of music.
Music is an outlet, so I'm not going to get things out that aren't true. Sometimes I do exaggerate - but only a little bit.
I like to write about what I've seen and experiences I've been through.
My songs are classics.
I say what I'm feeling, and a lot of people feel the same way.
When I am writing music, I sometimes envision a video playing alongside.
A dream of mine is to write a 'Bond' theme tune.
I started singing when I was 8, and then when I was 11, I started writing my first songs.
I hate re-recording. I like singing, but I don't like recording a song over and over, making it too perfect.
We are all beautiful in our own individual and special ways.
I'm honest.
I've got far to go. There's always more to be done.
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.
For me, it's about touching as many people as I can and helping as many people as I can with my music.
Maybe I am a bit of a siren.
I like a performance, a live performance, so I like little mistakes because that's what makes perfect - the mistakes.
I overthink everything, and one thing I find difficult is to actually be in the moment.
I met Sade! I performed 'Blue Lights' at one of Drake's shows in London, and I met her backstage. She told me her son is a big fan. That was a moment when I was like, 'Wow.'