Albumdata
| Artist | Little Simz |
| Album | Lotus |
Year of release
| 2025 |
|
Rating
Introduction
Little Simz’s sixth studio album is the first album she made without Sault couple Inflo and Cleo Sol since 2019. There’s no doubt about it: it’s arguably her best album yet!
Little Simz – Flood video still
The buildup
On March 17, 2025, word got out that rapper Little Simz (real name Simbiatu Abisola Abiola Ajikawo) had filed a lawsuit in January of that year against her former producer Inflo for a reported debt of £2.2 million. That number contains £1 million for a loan that enabled the Sault performances in London in December 2023. The end of the working relationship with Inflo and Cleo Sol was now public knowledge. Read more on the seperation in the review of Sault’s – 10.
Little Simz’s three last albums, GREY Area (2019), Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (2021) and NO THANK YOU (2022), all produced by Inflo, had reached artistic highs. The EP Drop 7, released on February 9, 2024, was a change of style. Dance and African rhythms and (some) Portugese lyrics. An interesting release, consisting of 7 songs lsting under 15 minutes in total. In December 2024 the single Hello, Hi was next, a cooperation with artists like Coldplay, Sampha and Wretch 32. A taste of the future?
Little Simz – Instagram post 06/06/2025
Announcements and singles
On February 26, 2025 Little Simz announced her next album was called Lotus and would be released on May 9, 2025. On April 1, 2025, she stated that the release was postponed to June 6, 2025.
Prior to the album 3 singles were released. Flood was simultaneously released with the initial February 26 album announcement. The video to Flood is a piece of art in itself (follow the link at the bottom of this article to see it for yourself). Free followed on March 27, 2025. The last single to be released was Young, on May 14, 2025.
Little Simz – Lotus
Review
On June 6, 2025, the album Lotus was released. Since the album has been playing on repeat ever since, I am happy with it. Really happy. The musical spectrum is wider than before, the lyrics hit home and are emotional and moving. Of course, the Inflo situation is mentioned, song titles like Thief don’t need any explanation, and the feel on some songs is dark and ominous. The superb Flood is a great example.
Bet you never seen a young black woman so fly
Sim-Simma’s arrived© Lion, Little Simz, 2025
Little Simz sounds inspired all over the album and it’s a pleasure to listen to her. The music ranges from funk (Thief) to afrobeat (Lion) to folk (Peace) to LCD Soundystem like wave/dance (Enough) to jazzy (Sault?) music (Free). Some songs are moving because of the recognizable themes, like family arguments in Blood, and the gorgeous closer Blue. Lotus is a fascinating album by a huge talent, who’s not afraid to take risks, opens her soul and vulnerabilities and created a true piece of art (sorry: Piece Of Art).
In short: required listening!
Little Simz – Lotus – Back cover
Songs
All songs written by Simbiatu Ajikawo (Little Simz) and Miles Clinton James. Co-writers shown between brackets in smaller font.
- Thief
(Alexander Bonfanti) - Flood (featuring Obongjayar and Moonchild Sanelly)
(Dacoury Natche, Sanelisiwe Sanelly, Jonah Stevens, Steven Umoh) - Young
- Only (featuring Lydia Kitto)
(Lydia Kitto, Jermaine Scott) - Free
(Josh Arce, Bonfanti) - Peace (featuring Moses Sumney and Miraa May)
(Miraa May, Dacoury Natche, Moses Sumney, Jonah Stevens) - Hollow
- Lion (featuring Obongjayar)
(Steven Umoh, Malik Venner) - Enough (featuring Yukimi Nagano)
(Yukimi Nagano) - Blood (featuring Wretch 32 and Cashh)
(Dacoury Natche, Cashief Nichols, Jermaine Scott, Jonah Stevens) - Lotus (featuring Michael Kiwanuka and Yussef Dayes)
(Yussef Dayes, Hannah Khemoh, Michael Kiwanuka) - Lonely
- Blue (featuring Sampha)
(Sampha Sisay)
Little Simz – Store banner
Musicians
- Little Simz – vocals/rap; piano on Lonely
- Miles Clinton James – guitar on Thief, Peace, Lonely, Blue; drums on Young, Only, Free, Lion, Blood, Blue; synthesizer on Hollow; bass on Enough, Lotus; background vocals on Young, Free, Hollow, Lion, Lotus
- Wired Strings – strings on Thief, Only, Free, Hollow, Lotus, Lonely
- Nathan Allen – drums on Thief, Lonely
- Alex Nunez – drums on Young
- Lydia Kitto – vocals on Only
- Alexander Bonfanti – bass on Free, Lonely; background vocals on Free
- Miraa May, Moses Sumney – vocals on Peace
- Alfa Sackey – background vocals, percussion on Lion
- Venna – background vocals, saxophone on Lion
- Steven Umoh – vocals on Lion
- Yukimi Nagano – vocals, synthesizer on Enough
- Morgan Simpson – drums on Enough
- Cashh, Wretch 32 – vocals on Blood
- Michael Kiwanuka – vocals, guitar on Lotus
- Yussef Dayes – drums on Lotus
- Sampha Sisay – background vocals on Lonely; vocals on Blue
- Kadeem Clarke – piano on Lonely, Blue
In closing
What’s your take on the latest Little Simz album? Let me know!
Video/Spotify
This story contains an accompanying video. Click on the following link to see it: Video: Little Simz – Lotus. The A Pop Life playlist on Spotify has been updated as well.
