Introducing: Little Simz- One of the most important emerging voices in British music

1xtra’s Grime Symphony at the Proms 2015 was a great event for many reasons; it showcased the current renaissance of rap, hip hop and grime in the UK, a genre that offers an unflinching voice to the reality of life in modern Britain, yet too often doesn’t get taken seriously as an art form. Some of the greatest names in grime performed stomping numbers with a live orchestra backing them in one of the most historic buildings in London: Stormzy, Wretch-32, Fekky and Lethal Bizzle (Pow!) had the crowd- and listeners like me at home cooking a Spaghetti Bolognese- bouncing. Yet the stand out performance for me was a rapper I’d never heard before, Little Simz (Simbi Ajikawo). At just 22 years old she took control of the stage with a commanding yet not over stated flow, firing off beautiful polysyllabic bars that had unusual originality and substance to them. However as with most things I forgot about it… until a few months later when that same prematurely wise voice appeared on Jools Holland with her song Wings.

Perhaps part of what makes Little Simz’s debut album, A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons, is her acknowledgement of the transient nature of life in her writing. Rather than adopting a single exaggerated persona like many artists she allows her writing and performance to dart between moods, flitting between philosophical stances and biting realism in a way most of us can relate to. Take two of the most successful singles off the album, the dark and desperate Dead Body and the almost maternal and peaceful voice of Wings. Both tracks are equally reflective and profoundly questioning, even if they have starkly different atmospheres and perspectives. While, Tainted and Gratitude are refined instant classics, vocalising the coldness of an individualistic society with such warmth that even her grittiest tracks don’t descend into nihilism or hopelessness.  Simz gives a voice to those not often marketed too, those subjugated by consumerist society, without shutting out the mainstream, inviting them to contemplate and gain insight into lives they’d often rather ignore.

The use of different personas and perspectives throughout Simz’s self-released album create a panoramic view of modern life, allowing her to explore it’s contradictions without sounding hypocritical or shallow. These creative risks are part of what makes Little Simz work stand out, aside from her inherent talent, risks I doubt many big record labels would be willing to chance profits on exploring. This coupled with her clear deep love and understanding of hip hop make an album that doesn’t just ask the big questions, the production and melodies sound fantastic, mixing bluesy guitar riffs with awesome beats and the occasional perfectly placed string section. All ten tracks maintain a consistent standard of quality that is rare; the concept of the album flows throughout it without overpowering the music, displaying a real understanding of the listening experience. 

Why is Little Simz so important to British music today? For me the answer to that question is simple: art is meant to reflect real life, to represent, to encourage and inspire. In a world increasingly criticised for superficiality and imitation we need genuine artists like her to keep us on the right path.