From her early mixtapes and teenage freestyles to the Mercury-winning Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, Little Simz has always carved her own path. She avoided trends, favored complexity over simplicity, and stayed true to her voice. But at 31, the North London artist hit a wall after the breakdown of her relationship with longtime producer and childhood friend Inflo. The damage was professional and personal and left Simz shaken and questioning for the first time whether she had anything left to say. Self-doubt crept in, quietly and gradually, and left her uncertain. Still, she returned to the one place that had always made sense to her, the studio.
Simz’s sound has always blended elements of nu-soul, orchestral jazz, and alternative hip-hop. On Lotus, her sixth album, that foundation remains, but her voice feels sharper, more open, and more vulnerable. “This album is the most exposed I’ve ever felt,” she said. “Literally, here’s my diary.” This record didn’t come from confidence, it came from fracture. Unlike earlier releases that carried a sense of control, Lotus feels like release. The songs don’t cover the wounds, they show them. But there’s strength in that. She may have been hurt, but she isn’t hiding. The album leans into contrast and contradiction, and in that space, something honest takes shape.
Named after the flower that grows in muddy waters, Lotus is an album about rebirth. Its strength lies not just in its candor or rage, but in Simz’s decision to stay, to create, and to grow through loss. Lotus makes a powerful statement for where Simz is today and is striking album.
.jpeg)
0 Comments