U.K. A&R ALERT: ALL EYES ON JORJA SMITH

Socially conscious singer/songwriter Jorja Smith is one of the most hotly contested unsigned artists in the U.K. right now after wowing a host of industry execs during her gig at London venue The Bedford last week. Her self-released debut single, “Blue Lights,” is sitting at #2 on Spotify’s U.K. Viral 50 chart with love from BBC 1Xtra, Radio 1 and Beats. Which A&R hotshot will secure Smith’s signature?

Sources say management are holding out for a deal, but there’s no doubt she’ll have her pick from a multitude of offers thanks to an incredible voice and gritty R&B style. “Blue Lights” has had over 500k plays on SoundCloud, 70k on Spotify, and was featured in the Best of the Week on Apple Music on Monday. The black-and-white video, directed by Drew Cox, was premiered by i-D earlier this month and is viewable below.

Smith will play Wild Life Festival—curated by Island electronic duo Disclosure and Warner act Rudimental—on 6/12, her live agents are Summer Marshall and Mike Greek at CAA.

Will she be one of the next British superstars to cross the Atlantic? Watch this space.