Smith recently took to social media to tease the release of both tracks, stating “it’s all yours now” to fans awaiting the release. ‘Loving You’ was written by Smith and Sabre nearly ten years ago, it features contributions from Ed Thomas as producer, who has worked with Smith on previous tracks ‘Let Me Down’, ‘Goodbyes’, ‘Tomorrow’ and ‘Home’. As Sabre revealed ‘Loving You’ to be the first track the pair wrote together, they had previously collaborated on ‘Slow Down’ together, which released back in 2019.

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A post shared by Jorja Smith (@jorjasmith_)

‘Don’t Let Me Go’ also features vocal contributions from Sabre. The pair’s vocals blend effortlessly on both tracks conveying deep and sincere emotion through vocals which are tender and soft. The release of ‘Loving You’ and ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ exhibit Smith’s artistic growth. The tracks are sonically soulful and delve into lyrical perspectives which embody self-reflection, growth, introspection and maturity.

Both tracks have visuals created by Jazz Grant, an artist who works solely with collage techniques and stop-motion. The visuals and the sonic components to both ‘Loving You’ and ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ have made a lasting impact and further elaborate on Smith’s attempt to solidify her artistry.

The release of ‘Loving You’ and ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ arrive days after the soulful singer’s announcement of a 2025 UK and North American Tour. The tour titled ‘falling or flying’, is named after Smith’s second studio album of the same name, which over a year after its initial release, the singer released a deluxe version of in October of this year.

The ‘On My Mind’ and ‘Little Things’ singer known for amalgamating R&B and soul with grime and UK garage will captivate attendees on her upcoming ‘falling or flying’ tour with her most notable tracks, songs from her latest album and, no doubt, her newly released tracks ‘Loving You’ and ‘Don’t Let Me Go’.

The upcoming ‘falling or flying’ tour will see Smith head to North America for 12 shows before encountering the UK to perform in Manchester, Wolverhampton and London’s prestigious Eventim Apollo for two dates, during May and June of next year. Presale for these tour dates will begin on November 13 at 10am, before general sale starts on November 15 at 10am. Tickets can be found here.

Jorja Smith has just announced her ‘falling or flying’ UK Tour! You can get access to Pre-Sale tickets here: https://t.co/2ky46kBSo9 pic.twitter.com/HAdqJYeoF8 — Jorja Smith (@JorjaSmith) November 7, 2024

Jorja Smith’s ‘Loving You’ and ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ continue to prove the space for R&B and soul tracks in the British music industry in 2024; tracks with a lasting impact that create a legacy for Smith whilst building anticipation amongst her listeners to witness her music live on her upcoming tour.

The Irish, West London-based artist, (real name Jessica Smyth), took to socials this week to unveil the benefit gig, stating: “The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is one of the most horrific I’ve seen in my lifetime. There have been so many lives destroyed and dreams taken from innocent people. I wanted to hold an event to raise money to support the people that have been affected and to spread awareness to what’s happening in real time.”

The Cork native gave thanks to her friends and artists participating in the night of music; a stellar lineup of acoustic performances and DJ sets from the likes of Kojaque, Maverick Sabre, Lava La Rue, Mac Wetha, Jelani Blackman, and Yunè Pinku. She went on to also thank the venue for hosting and Choose Love for their extended humanitarian efforts around the world.

In 2016, Choose Love, formerly known as Help Refugees, became the largest grassroots organisation and distributor of aid in Europe, and has gone on to support refugees and displaced people across the globe for nearly a decade.

Emma Stevenson, Deputy CEO of Choose Love, commented: “We’re so grateful to Biig Piig choosing love and helping us get essential aid to the 2+million people trapped inside Gaza. It’s unbearable to witness the devastation and suffering of so many people. But by Choosing Love there is always something we can do when we come together. Biig Piig and everyone who attends the event on February 4th will be making a huge difference.”

The singer confirmed that 100% of all profits raised from ticket sales and merchandise will go towards the non-governmental organisation and will directly support emergency response work in Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.

Since the conflict reached its boiling point in October 2023, other artists across the industry have banded together to express their concern, most recently with Dua Lipa calling for a ceasefire and urging for world leaders to take a stand.

Tickets for the sold out show are still available here at £25, with an opportunity to join a waiting list. Doors are expected to open at 6:30pm, with the event starting at 7pm, plus appearances from special surprise guests.

‘Uneven Lives’ speaks to being unable to relate to someone because they are living worlds apart. Ocean Wisdom enters the thoughtful track saying ‘Can’t understand how you’re feeling / I try to relate but our lives too uneven, chill’, with the message complimented by Sabre’s lyricism ‘I’m just tryna make my money anytime I don’t change / So why you gotta be so funny, see it right on your face’. The track communicates the feeling of gaining fame but having people throwing accusations of change and acting differently. With Ocean Wisdom’s friend, BayTrilla, passing away early last year, ‘Uneven Lives’ also conveys being unable to speak about grief and have someone understand the loss and pain. He states in his verse, ‘If I had one wish for the genie it’d be bring back Bailey / But genies for TV, ayy’ and ‘I just need some more time for more healing’.

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Produced by Breadboy, ’Uneven Lives’ shows Ocean Wisdom can dominate the smoother flows with Maverick Sabre’s dreamy, hypnotic vocals. The music video was directed by Louis Mackay, who has worked with Wisdom before on Dizzee Rascal’s album track ‘Don’t Be Dumb’.

The track comes shortly after Ocean Wisdoms first release of 2020 ‘Drilly Rucksack’. Also produced by Breadboy, the story-telling track lays out societies problems, with Wisdom hitting back at those in power ‘especially if they’re a Tory.’ Speaking about the track, Wisdom said, ‘Drilly Rucksack’ is a fictional tale of a magical rucksack that protects its owner from evil Tories whilst also offering consolation and reassurance to the daughters whose lives they have presumably made miserable.” In typical Ocean Wisdom style, the track incorporates his ability to fire out clever wordplay at an alarmingly fast rate.

Wisdom’s next mixtape, ‘Stay Sane’ is set to be released on 26th March 2021, after suffering production delays. 

Signs addresses the issue of overthinking. Sabre explained that the single reflects the moments in which one gets ‘lost‘ in ‘deep thought or contemplation‘. However, the overall tone of the track is one of hope.  ‘Sometimes you need a sign‘, elucidated the artist , ‘to know someone else feels it too‘. The result of Sabre’s intentions is an instrumental which seems to encroach on the soul. Uplifted by the singer’s distinctive vocals, the track swells into chorus before retreating back into haunting verse. The result is four minutes and fifty four seconds worth of induced reflection and soul-searching.

The new album EP is eagerly anticipated, following the creativity that Maverick Sabre displayed in his last studio album, When I Wake Up (2019). The singer-song writer used this body of work to flex an apparently innate ability to tell stories through his music. The tales Sabre documented involved his experiences of growing up in his native County Wexford, Ireland, Grenfell and being a taxi driver. It earned rave reviews, with London In Stereo exclaiming ‘when it is good with Sabre, it is really good‘ and that ‘his voice and commitment to addressing society’s underside confirm his seat at the table‘ . Sabre described his upcoming EP as a ‘continuation’ of When I Wake Up.

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Signs. 26/07/20.

A post shared by Maverick Sabre (@mavericksabre) on Jun 17, 2020 at 6:22am PDT

Maverick Sabre has been a statesman within the British music scene since he burst onto the scene in 2012 with his album Lonely are the Brave, which boasted the rich, hope-filled, soulful hit I Need. He has collaborated with huge artists, such as Jorja Smith, Chase and Status and Professor Green. He charted with single Let Me Go in 2011 and performed in Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of War of the Worlds – The New Generation (2012), which is a concept album re-imagining H.G.Well’s famous novel. Sabre’s contribution proves his breadth of talent.

Maverick Sabre’s new single, Signs, reflects the singer-song writer’s innate ability to address social issues through song. It is a unique talent which places him on a pantheon amongst the nation’s finest lyricists. Signs addresses the mental health issue of Overthinking. It is a tough one to tackle but Sabre’s eerie vocals and writing style simultaneously evoke a sense of the topic’s seriousness and a feeling of hopeful solidarity. As an artist Sabre stands out through his more soulful tracks, which provide fans with a metaphorical hand to hold and shoulder to cry on.