Raising The Bar

“But actually, I don’t have to do anything,” she continues. “I didn’t know how good that can feel and I had to reprogram my brain. I’d rather take the time out before I have to take the time out.”

I’m speaking to Little Simz (full name Simbiatu Abisola Abiola Ajikawo) on a rare quiet day during a hectic summer of touring and filming, and her speech is peppered with pithy statements like this – evidence of the searing lyricist, profound thinker and thoughtful storyteller that she is.

Indeed, following a decade of hard work and the release of her fourth album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, in 2021, this past year has seen the British rapper and actor go stratospheric. From her lauded role as Shelley in Netflix hit Top Boy and multiple wins at the Brit Awards, to her acclaimed Glastonbury headline set, this ‘one to watch’ is now well on her way to becoming a household name.

Despite this success, the 28-year-old isn’t complacent. “I don’t get comfortable, and it makes me want to work harder and smarter. It’s not about saying yes to every opportunity but understanding the opportunities that are gonna help move the needle,” she says before pausing. “As much as I’m in it, I’m very aware. I know that these are moments,” she continues emphatically. “Next year, someone else is going to headline Glastonbury, someone else will be shortlisted for a Mercury, someone else is going to get Best New Artist. As much as it’s wicked now, and I’m very grateful, it doesn’t last forever. It makes me more hungry… I know I’ve got to keep my foot on the gas.”

Unafraid to say no, what are the opportunities Simz is compelled to say yes to? “Things that challenge me or push me creatively,” she says. “I’m not into doing the same thing twice. I’m not gonna make another album like my last one because I’ve done that. It’s just finding things that excite me, allow me to exercise a different muscle, because I’m ultimately trying to be my higher self, you know?”

I do know. Having followed Simz’ career keenly since her debut album, A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons, dropped in 2015, her drive and focus has always been plain to see. From captivating performances and a commitment to her craft manifested in creative music videos, to her exquisite style (Bottega Veneta, Prada and Gucci have all clamored to work with her) and genre-defying experimentation, the artist’s vision is singular.

Simz’ voice cracks a little when she speaks about a specific Mary’s Youth Club worker. “There was a lady called Natalie. I get emotional talking about her, because she will never know how much she impacted my life… I just think having someone like that, at that time, almost like a mentor – it was really important.”

Another vital influence in Simz’ life has been her mother, who she credits as the source of much of her success. At the Brit Awards in February, she brought her on stage with her to collect an award, exclaiming in a moving speech, “Look at what you’ve done, Mum!”

“What I’m really grateful for is her ability to still want to learn,” she tells me today. “She’s open to letting us know that she’s human, and she don’t have all the answers. She wants to know my advice and my opinion on things.”

Her mother became a foster carer when Simz was 11, which initially rocked the foundations of their home, but soon led to a realization. “I connected emotionally with one of the kids and took the time to learn about their story. That’s when I understood for the first time how important my mum’s job was, and how she’s really changing someone’s life and offering them a home, stability, love, care – all things they’ve kind of been deprived of,” Simz says. “It took on a new meaning and then, as more kids came, I was more down to be a sibling and look after them and take them out and bring them to my shows. Even to this day, the kids still come to my mum’s for Christmas, bring their little ones. Yeah, my family extends a lot.”

Family and community clearly mean a lot to her. When I ask Simz which musicians excite her, she rattles off a list of talented young Black women without hesitation. “Artists like Cristale, Flohio, Shaé Universe, Tems… There’s a real community of us coming through that is really exciting to watch. I feel like there’s an unsaid thing between us all; that we’re always going to support each other. What I’m trying to project is that your win is always going to be my win, and vice versa.

“Next year at the Brits, I want to see five of us up for Best New Artist; I want to see five of us shortlisted for the Mercury,” she continues. “That is the real win because it’s change. I always think that my true purpose is to be of service. I’m always down to talk to people and have a conversation. That’s something I haven’t had much of in my industry. Maybe because it’s super-male-dominated – sometimes it’s nice to just have a woman who’s been through a similar thing. I want to be that for the talent of tomorrow.”

That said, Simz does acknowledge that some progress has made in her industries, which were once elitist environments devoid of diverse voices and almost entirely male-led. “It’s definitely getting better. I’m seeing a lot more Black women coming through within music and film. We are getting pushed to the forefront and we are getting airtime. People want to tell our stories, show our faces, dress us and take us to events,” she says. “It’s wicked but, in the same breath, I hope that we are also not blinded by that. I hope that we enjoy it but also really understand the power and the influence that we have. [That we] are smart with that and understand that our worth and value is triple what we get offered on the first go. I feel if we understand that, then [we can] bask in it.”

It is clear from the way Simz states this that she recognizes and appreciates the significance of both her unique position and the mark she can make. Before our call ends, Simz reveals something she hasn’t shared with anyone yet: she’s writing a book and it’s very nearly finished, although the polymath won’t give too much away.

“I love reading, I love books… It just started because I was journaling and I thought ‘This is cool,’” she says quietly. “Halfway through it I’m like, ‘Why did I even commit to this?!’ But the idea of wanting to make an impact and make something long-lasting and finding different ways to use my gift has been… It’s just a blessing that I’m able to move in different spaces. I don’t really take too much credit. I just know that I’ve been given something and I don’t want to abuse it; I want to use it to do good – I want to create impact and leave some sort of legacy.” Not bad for a self-confessed introvert.

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