Jorja Smith is a soul visionary with an eye on the past — and her collaborations with megastars like Drake and kindred spirits like grime hitmaker Stormzy show how she's able to hold her own amid even the brightest starpower. The British singer gained international acclaim with her 2016 debut single "Blue Lights," an icy broadside against institutional racism that showcased her brooding vocals and penchant for politically charged lyrics. Her next release, the bereft yet strutting "Where Did I Go?," received a co-sign from Drake as it racked up plays on streaming services around the world. Later that year, Smith included those songs on her debut EP Project 11, a critical smash that helped land her on BBC Music's Sound of 2017 list.

Smith took off in 2017, appearing on Drake's mixtape More Life and touring alongside the Canadian MC on his Boy Meets World tour. She also opened for Bruno Mars on the fall 2017 leg of his 24K Magic World Tour, and followed that up by being named the recipient of the Critics' Choice Award at the BRIT Awards — another signal that her retro-tinged, confident version of soul was seen as integral to pop music's coming eras.

Smith continued her collaborative ways through 2018, enlisting Stormzy for her swirling ballad "Let Me Down" and hopping on a remix of American soul crooner Khalid's "Location"; she also took center stage on "I Am," a woozy track on the Kendrick Lamar-curated soundtrack to Black Panther. Lost & Found, Smith's debut full-length, showcased her love of jazz, hip-hop, classic soul, and cutting-edge music as well as her heartfelt lyrics. It debuted at No. 3 on the U.K. album charts after its June release, and inspired critical raves from around the world. Smith spent 2018 promoting Lost & Found and headlining a tour, and in 2019 she'll be playing festivals across Oceania, South America, and Europe.