Little Simz’s genre-bending musical ability finds comfort on Lotus, a revenge-driven collection of angsty ballads that radiate fervently with an innovative sleekness. Lotus is a metaphor for betrayal, a message to the producer and childhood friend of Little Simz, Inflo, who has allegedly failed to repay her £1.7m in loans. Though their story is unfinished, Simz wastes no time creating a revengeful compilation of singles that glisten with a compelling, powerful sheen. Lotus draws inspiration from Little Simz’s previous albums, remaining true to her signature blueprint. Yet, Lotus finds a brighter sound that evolves into a beautifully sinuous sound refuge, spilling with a formidable cool.
‘Thief’ opens Lotus. A brooding bassline and electrifying guitar riff establish the album’s punky tone, a direction Little Simz took on her previous album, NO THANK YOU but has since refined for this release. The track is a diss on Inflo, yet sticks to Simz’s familiar sound, which glistens with an elevated roughness that paves the way for the rest of the album. ‘Thief’ explores feelings of betrayal, as well as the burden of manipulation and its mental turmoil. Little Simz presents a fearless, cymbal-laden number that shimmers with a James Bond-esque feel, a refreshing, deeply textured, and unlikely trajectory for Simz, building on a lingering, noir gaze.
Little Simz perfects a refined levity on ‘Young,’ an addictive, looping drumbeat mingles with a groovy bassline riff. Reminiscent of The Streets, ‘Young’ is Simz at her most experimental, dropping her usual pensive front to engage in a playful, spirited track that chimes with an infectious silliness. Simz’s punk-driven sound resurfaces on this track, as a distorted guitar riff appears at the chorus, accompanied by a perky half-spoken, sing-song that flows into a matter of jarring perfectionism.
Originally written as a poem, ‘Free’ steps away from Lotus’ electric guitar-ridden melodies and embraces the gentle, indie sound of acoustic riffs. The track explores love’s ability to set oneself free from the confines of fear. This is perhaps Simz’s lyricism at its finest; her delivery is honest and punchy, proving a strong contradiction to the warming melodies that surround it. A chorus of airy backing vocals sheds light on the track, as ‘Wishing that the love will set us free’ repeats throughout the song.
A subdued collection of calming strings and fleeting flute whistles supports a poetic, yet heartbreaking performance on ‘Hollow.’ Unlike ‘Thief,’ which was guided by anger and resentment, ‘Hollow’ is a harrowing manifestation of the betrayal and trauma from her childhood friend, Inflo. ‘It’s too late by the time they reveal their cards, I think that’s an art,’ Simz raps, detailing the meticulous nature of manipulation. The pain and disbelief in her voice make for a theatrical and poignant track, shadowed by a mournful edge.
The track flows seamlessly into ‘Lion,’ revealing Little Simz’s taste for blending UK rap with West-African influences. Obongjayar features on this track – an obligatory guest for a Little Simz album. She raps, ‘Got the heart of a lion, my Nigerian pride’ over a funky afrobeat that is coloured by the jazziness of occasional trumpet melodies. Little Simz once again reveals her sonically dynamic abilities, merging genres and creating new sounds. The same technique applies to ‘Lotus,’ a fusion of rap, soul and contemporary jazz with the deep, soothing baritone of Michael Kiwanuka’s vocals that embellishes the track. Staggering piano chords and acoustic guitar riffs do little to distract from the passion and confidence that radiate from Simz’s growling bars. The rage from Lotus’ first few tracks returns in waves on this song, and all emotion runs rife. The Minnie Riperton-esque orchestral breakdown on ‘Lotus,’ matched with the signature restless percussion from Yussef Dayes, builds a lively, zealous symphony that rings with a distinct cinematic edge on this title track.
Little Simz always manages to create an upbeat, danceable anomaly track for her albums. ‘Enough’ is certainly Lotus’ paradox. It is an angsty, defiant jam that thrives on an air of unruly cheekiness. The Yukimi collaboration is experimental and mischievous, combining a groovy drum beat with chiming synths and a catchy bassline. A criticism of the male-dominated music industry, Simz and Yukimi reclaim the narrative on this fun-loving, girly, dance ballad.
Lotus is a daring, genre-blending triumph, witnessing Little Simz at her most audacious. Whether she delivers scathing bars over punky riffs or reveals layers of vulnerability through soul and jazz influences, Little Simz crafts a musically expansive universe for this record, where betrayal, pride, and power collide. Lotus isn’t just a musical response, but a personal reckoning that drips with style and attitude. Turning her pain into art, Little Simz proves that she is in a league of her own.
Little Simz: Lotus – Out 6 June 2025 (AWAL Recordings)
Simz – Flood (Official Music Video) – YouTube
