A Real Model, Little Simz
When I was a kid, I would listen to musicians and think “I want to sound like them.” Now, I grew up on 90s hip-hop, R&B, and boy band pop, and to me, they were storytellers. They showed me what love, joy, and heartbreak were not just from lyrics like “I Will Always Love You,” but the way they executed what they were saying. The lyrics were real and honest and even if they didn't write every song, the way they performed each word, I felt them. There was just something about how they sounded, and their honesty always possessed a type of freedom I didn’t have but wanted. As I got a little bit older and started to go to concerts, and my fascination and admiration switched from how they sounded to how they looked on stage, confident. That freedom I craved before only grew to wanting to be like them and jump, dance, and hear myself say what I wanted in speakers that filled stadiums. Sometimes I’m reminded of this wonder I have with music or a specific artist and when I watch Little Simz, I see that freedom.
“There's a difference between being hungry and being desperate, and I’m very hungry and I’m very passionate about what I do, but I’m not desperate to do anything just to be in this industry.” Little Simz Late Night with Peter Rosenburg (2015)
Simbi “Little Simz” Ajikawo, from Islington, London, is more than just an artist and musician, the 25-year-old essentially dabbles in the whole entertainment industry. She performs on stages all over the world, but she also has her own label, AGE 101, and is a rapper, musician, photographer, writer, producer, and actor. She started rapping at the age of nine and has stuck this truth, knowing who she is and sharing it with the world. You can hear this throughout the seven EPs, four mixtapes, and three albums she has under her belt, but you can also see it in how she carries herself in the music industry. Her style and essence prove that this is more than just music, it’s how she makes sense of the world.
“I don't want to be a role model I want to be a real model.” Little Simz VEVO Backstage: Little Simz x Kano (2017)
As a woman in today’s society, to have artists like Little Simz in 2019 is a dream come true. She doesn’t want people to look up to her and think she is pretending or playing a part, but she wants to be her full self. She is pushing against the industry norms of feminity and what it means to know who you are and what you bring to the table. This shift is a welcome one, and in her most recent album, GREY Area, you see Simz in a more vulnerable light. She still raps with the same fierceness as her past two albums, both concept albums, A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons (2015) and Stillness in Wonderland (2016), but now she is more honest about her own life and story. With tracks about heartbreak such as “Wounds” (featuring Chronixx) and “Sherbert Sunset,” or tracks about self-care such as “Selfish” (featuring Cleo Sole) and “Therapy,” and of course tracks about empowerment like “Boss” or “Venom,” Little Simz is a beautiful reminder to be who you are and keep fighting for your dream. I wish I would’ve found her sooner, like maybe back in 2014, when I was trying to make sense of my early 20s, but I found her on a whim very recently and have been obsessed ever since. She is an inspiration, and from her delivery to her poise, Simz proves time and time again she is here to stay.
