Simbiatu was up against some tough competition this year, with household names such as Harry Styles and Sam Fender nominated for the award alongside her, but the 28-year-old managed to defy the odds and win it. From a childhood spent on a council estate in Islington, Simbiatu Ajikawo has been climbing her way up the musical ladder ever since the mixtapes she made at 15. The LP stands as her fourth studio album, as well as the one held to the highest critical acclaim, praised for its introspective lyrics, and the versatility Simbi displays as she delves into so many different genres, excelling on almost all fronts.
The album opens with the bombastic Introvert, where Simz makes a bold statement against the corruption and prejudice of the world she lives in, displaying her desire to bring about her own political involvement through music, all while being backed by a majestic fanfare and an angelic choir.
Right after this dramatic and moving opener, the album throws you into Woman, a colourful soul-jazz joint dedicated to inspiring women of colour all over the world. Its verses showcase Simbi’s absolute adoration for these women of so many different cultures, whether that be for the things they do for our world, or just characteristics that absolutely charm her.
The record continues to display her multi-talented nature, delving into an array of subjects and sounds. Simbi details her conflicted feelings towards her negligent father on the track I Love You, I Hate You, with an instrumental that evolves along with Simbi’s own maturity. Starting out with a simple beat and bass guitar, the instrumental develops as Simz comes to terms with her own emotions towards her dad. The strings, the horns, the harp, the choir; all these instruments coalesce into one eye-watering crescendo as Simz finally forgives her father, not for his sake, but for herself.
I could go on for hours about the beauty of this record: the afrobeat vibes on Point & Kill; the rapid bars on Rollin’ Stone; and a dozen other ways in which Simbi pushes herself into other mediums. I’m sure you can see by now incredible of a project this is, and why every ounce of me believes that no one deserves the award this year more than Little Simz.