It has been ten years since Little Simz published her debut a Curious Tale of Trials + Personal. Ten years and six albums, excerpts in acting, also a number of mixtapes, EPS, singles and cooperation with away: inside like Sampha and Obongjayar, but also Coldplay. What should show what status she now has in the pop world.
The British is the musician who hears other musicians: hearing inside. The artist, who cannot be passed, at the latest since the album Sometimes I Might Be Introance from 2021, but actually not since Gray Area two years earlier. It was focused, to the point-and full of self-confidence: “I’m Jay-Z on a Bad Day, Shakespeare on My Worst Day.” These albums were also the result of a long -term creative friendship between Little Simz and producer Info (Sault, Adele), who together created an unmistakable, warm sound.
Every end is a start
Now there is a new chapter – also because the collaboration between the two artists: ended with a bang. She accuses him of owing her money in the millions and has now reported him. Unattractive. But every end is a start, and something beautiful can also arise from the most muddy, brackish water. For example an album like Lotus.
This is what Simz tries out in all possible sound worlds, sometimes sounds like The Streets (“Young”), sometimes after Disney strings and great emotions (“Hollow”). Then she pulls us onto a dance floor (“ONLY” with Lydia Kitto or “Enough” with Yukimi), experimented with call-and-response for touching storytelling about her family (“Blood” with Wretch 32 & Cashh) and is then again thoughtful, RAW and open (“Blue” with Sampha). And maybe also processes the matter with your former house and yard producer, directly to get started with “Thief”. “Selling Lies, Selling Dreams”, she accuses the subject of the song, and directly provides a soundtrack for all people who feel cheated by lovers: inside, friend: inside and business partners: inside.
In the end, Lotus is not a revenge album
But ultimately Lotus is not a revenge album. On the lotus, water and dirt also sparkles to stay in the picture, and the flower remains bright with all dirt around it. It is similar on this album that does not stop at the billing, but on the Little Simz tries to find out who she is as an artist, beyond this long cooperation. And for this she celebrates her community of musicians: inside that she can rely on or that she admires: Cooperations play a major role, almost no song does not do without.
Old friends like Sampha and Obonjayar are there as well as new names as the South African Moonchild Sanelly in the driving, typical “Flood” or UK-Jazz Innovator Yussef Dayes on the stunning title song. That could sound broken, without direction. But of course not at Little Simz: Despite all the soil experiments, she sticks together, which belongs together, and tells Stringent a story of the never-ending process of growing up. And it is a win again to listen to her
You can find out which albums were published in June 2025 via our monthly publication list.