This summer there was no escaping the incredible Jorja Smith. It felt like every week we were treated to brand new music by the ‘Little Things’ hitmaker. Whether it was music from her third studio album or features with the likes of Odeal, Nia Archives or Wesley Joseph, there is simply no denying that summer 2026 has her name written all over it.
Today finally marks the release of What Are The Odds. With the album, it feels like Jorja is intentionally extending our summer. She wants to keep us on the dancefloor and, if possible, the dancefloor is located at an open-air club in the burning sun. Each lead-up single did an excellent job of setting the tone for the project as a whole. It’s a cohesive body of work that should be enjoyed from start to finish, without any need for skipping or pressing shuffle.
We love hearing the UK singer evolve from her previous album falling or flying. It’s as if she took all the positive songs from the album and travelled around with them for the past three years. She seems to be in a better place than ever before. The album carries a sort of freedom and worry-free vibe with it upon first listen. She brings together UK garage, 2-step, funky house, Afro house, grime and other club influences to dominate the record.
It’s not all fun and dancing. Jorja addresses the pressures and disillusionment surrounding fame and the music industry on the title track. She’s going for a much more rhythmic, almost rap-like delivery. The lack of a question mark in What Are The Odds feels intentional. Almost as if she is making a statement rather than questioning what she already knows. It matches the overall confidence throughout the album perfectly.
We love when the album tackles simple topics such as dancing in the club or generic love games. Not because they are so original, far from it, but simply because of their kind of dry delivery. She somehow never goes all out, neither vocally nor in the production. She always stays composed and keeps it cool throughout each track. It’s songs like the fantastic ‘Dancing’ and ‘When It Gets Like That’ that stand out to us for this exact reason.
Jorja is not here to reinvent herself. She is here to show you a good time. She brings together all the elements that her fans have loved since the very start. It has references to ‘On My Mind’ and ‘Be Honest’, and it breathes ‘Little Things’ and the brilliant Shy FX remix of ‘Let Me Down’. It’s an ode to all the positivity she has brought us over the years, packed into one UK club-ready album.