Jorja Smith delivers two songs on Saturday Night Live UK – Review

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Those familiar with Saturday Night Live in the US will recognize the show’s format, but British viewers might find it a bit unusual. While the show always includes live music – something that doesn’t feel as special on TV these days – Jorja Smith’s appearance aims to add something fresh.

For nearly ten years, this singer has been releasing music reminiscent of Sade, including a few albums. Viewers in the US watching clips of SNL UK will get a glimpse into British perspectives and discover some new musical artists. Smith is one of those artists.

It’s possible she could attract a wider audience. She’s a strong singer, and Smith is good at working with the beat of her songs, but she doesn’t quite have the same playful, suggestive style as someone like Sabrina Carpenter. And that’s perfectly okay – it just means Smith is going in a different direction.

Jorja Smith performs twice on Saturday Night Live UK, but how good was she?

She prefers to let her music speak for itself. Although she naturally draws focus, she made it clear she didn’t want anything overly suggestive in her performance on Saturday Night Live, particularly during the episode hosted by Jack Whitehall.

“Little Things”

The song starts with just conga drums, but quickly builds into a full band performance with backing vocals. Smith doesn’t try to be loud or overpowering – she’s not that kind of performer. Dressed in black with a touch of blue, she sings softly into the microphone, focusing on conveying the emotion of the melody rather than belting it out. This understated approach is perfect for her style.

Okay, so the character’s moving, but it’s not like a proper dance – more of a sway. The music feels… sophisticated, you know? Like something you’d hear in a really classy club, the kind of place where people order their drinks exactly how they like them. It’s got a really cool vibe to it, definitely not something upbeat and wild.

The song has a strong foundation, but the chorus gets stuck in your head a little too much due to repetition. Around the two-minute point, the singer really shines with a vocal bridge, and the song would benefit from more moments like that. The instrumental outro feels drawn out and could use a more definitive ending.

“Price of It All”

The song comes from the soundtrack of the Amazon Prime series, Bait. It has a really relaxed vibe – the kind of music you might enjoy with a glass of wine late at night.

The song is pleasant and easy on the ears, but it doesn’t quite have that special something to make it memorable. That seems to be intentional with Jorja Smith’s music, though – it’s designed to create a mood, and it succeeds, sounding really good while doing so.

I’ve been listening to Smith, and I get the feeling she almost takes her voice to a more emotional place – a little bit of pain or grit – but she holds back. Honestly, I think changing things up too much would’ve ruined the song’s vibe. Still, it’s definitely worth checking out; it’s the kind of music that could really calm you down if you’re feeling super stressed or angry.

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2026-04-13 16:00