A voice that makes tears flow

“I just want people to feel,” says Jorja Smith when asked in an interview what kind of influence she wants to have with her music. Admittedly, at first this answer sounds a bit banal. But when do you ever really feel that way in a daily routine that is like a land of milk and honey of distractions?

On Thursday evening at the British singer's concert at the Tempodrom, people felt it. Smith's lyrics, which often revolve around past love and heartbreak, invite people to reflect on failed relationships; to miss someone painfully or to think back to good times – not surprisingly, there were many tears in the audience.

In songs like “The One” or “Don't Watch Me Cry,” Smith expresses her fear of loss and self-doubt so bluntly that they quickly seem intimate; unlike the classic lovesickness song that is the norm in pop music.

Exceptional singing talent

It doesn't take much to see that the 27-year-old Brit can sing well. But beyond that, the fact that she sounds absolutely flawless live also seems to amaze even some of her fans. “Her voice is next level,” says one young woman, moved. “It sounds like there's an angel in the room” – and she's right.

While the singer stands concentrated at the microphone, an almost reverent silence spreads through the hall. The fact that Smith is often compared to singing prodigies such as Adele or Alicia Keys because of her velvety, smoky, powerful voice is still a bold statement – but understandable given her impressive live performance.

Jorja Smith is one of those artists who was predicted to have a great career from an early age. She got her feeling for melodies and rhythm from her father, who was a member of a neo-soul band. As a small child she played the piano so well that she received a scholarship to a renowned music school in her hometown of Walsall (near Birmingham). There she also learned the oboe and took classical singing lessons until she started uploading songs to YouTube at the age of 15. First covers of her favorite songs, then her own pieces.

Today, Smith shines not only with her impressive voice, but also with her creative songwriting and musical versatility. Her talent for incorporating a range of styles and sounds into her music is undeniable.

At the concert in Berlin, as part of her “Falling Or Flying” tour, the singer switched effortlessly from soul to R'n'B and house to reggae. Jorja Smith is supported by a band that complements her perfectly without distracting from her singing. A reduction that is reflected in the minimalist stage design: the artist is alternately enveloped in red and blue tones. The atmospheric play of light changes from warm for energetic, danceable songs like “Be Honest” or “On My Mind” to cool for emotional ballads – and there were a lot of those.

Intimate instead of imposing

The fact that bigger is not always better is also demonstrated by the choice of venue for Smith's performance. The Tempodrom, which can accommodate a maximum of 4,000 people, is a modest choice for a woman whose music is streamed by almost 14 million people on Spotify every month. But in a huge hall, such a personal atmosphere would hardly have been possible and Smith's stage presence would have been half as impressive at best.

The relatively tranquil setting also contributes to the emotional connection with the audience. Perhaps because, despite the Brit Award and collaborations with megastars like Drake and Kendrick Lamar, people actually believe that Jorja Smith's tours are primarily about one thing: making people feel something.

“This concert felt like a really good therapy session,” writes one fan on TikTok – a compliment that Jorja Smith would definitely appreciate.