Little

Words by Sam Hetherington

Sure I could talk about the piling awards she has received, the scope of her discography since her first record Black Canvas was released in 2013, or her rise to headlining festivals like Love Supreme Fest, but for this one I wanted to get a bit personal. My affinity for Little Simz is rooted in something much deeper than good music. Although I do not have a single accolade to my name, as a female editor of a magazine that is focused on sports and cultures still largely dominated by the boys, I can relate to and appreciate the work Little Simz would have had to put in to be where she is today as an artist in a genre dominated by men. As a female in these situations, you have to work twice as hard to be taken seriously, even harder to be recognised and even then because the boys have long held the top spots you are constantly being undermined for your efforts. It’s like when people call Stephanie Gilmore one of the best female surfers in the world. No. She’s one of the best. Sure Little Simz is a Proud. Black. Woman. But she stands in her own right as one of the most talented musicians around. I’m usually not one to get nervous for interviews (everyone is just a human after all), but this interview has got to be the closest I’ve come to fangirling, and for good reason – it’s fucking Little Simz.

Hey, how are you?

Hello, you right?

Oh, I’m good, good. I know you’re about to jump on a flight so I’ll get right into this. My first question for you is do you have a stylist? Because you have fucking great style.

Thank you. I work with a lady called Luci Ellis. She’s been putting bits together for me for many, many years and yeah. On the dayto-day I just do my thing.

I love it. What is it like to hear people say that your music saved their life as cited from your documentary On Stage Off Stage? Like that’s some powerful shit and I just want to know what your reaction to that is?

It’s emotional, you know what I mean, it’s real. I just always feel that I am blessed that I am able to do that. That I’m able to channel something through my art that is turn able to help someone else. Music is a very powerful thing, you know, so if I can use that for the greater good then that’s what I want to keep doing. As much as it is a lot to hear just because I guess I feel, I dunno, responsible in some capacity. At the same time, it’s just a blessing to be honest. Do you have a song that you’re most proud of?

Nah. I don’t. I think I’m proud of everything I have put out, everything I have made. I don’t have favourites. I guess there are songs, when I put an album out I will be into a certain song more right now depending on my vibe or my mood or whatnot. That’s cool. Good to be proud of everything. On your song ‘Angel’ you have this line ‘New woman, don’t tell me I shouldn’t just because you couldn’t.’ Is people saying no to you a driver as an artist? Yeah for sure. And it’s just fear as well, you know what I mean. People only say that shit [I shouldn’t] because they’re scared. I don’t want to take that on, I don’t take that on. I have always felt my path is set out different. For as long as I am blessed with this gift of the pen then I think it will be a natural progression. I just like to do things that are a bit challenging and take risks and that’s why it seems like it’s another level up, it’s always elevating. I don’t want to do the safe thing – that doesn’t really excite me. You speak a lot about the corporate dogs and the bad business that comes with being in the music game – do you have a specific shitty experience you want to call out with that?

I have many experiences but I’m not into putting people on blast like that. Everyone is just human, you know what I’m saying like I’m human. There’s just certain things that I don’t believe to be right. I just believe in fairness and in an industry like the music industry that’s not everyone’s game. The shit is what is it, I just have to move in a different direction. It’s hard, especially when you don’t really get educated on it as well. You kind of have to learn on the job. When I’m making music, I’ve done it religiously for so many years but it’s only the past few years that I’ve started to understand the music business. It’s just trying to be as educated as possible and learn all sides of it.

So there’s not much support when you’re starting to attract attention as a musician?

Nah not at all, and that’s why so many artists get taken advantage of.

Is No Thank You, the title of your most recent album a pushback at all related to the fact you got awarded a BRIT for Best New Artist, despite being twelve years and several studio albums into a well-documented career?

Nah, like did it rub me the wrong way?

Yeah I guess.

Nah not at all, it just is what it is really. To some people, I probably am a new artist you know what I’m saying. To some people, it was ‘Venom’ on TikTok, to some people it was ‘Woman.’ People catch on at different times so I’m not phased by that. I’m just grateful. Whatever point you decided to just hop on this thing it’s fine. It’s just a blessing it is an award-winning catalogue regardless of whatever the label is of the award. The recognition is still there regardless so it’s okay.

Well you’re an incredibly humble human, there’s so many artists that have kicked up a storm with that stuff

Oh man, I know! Nah it’s all good.

With all music there’s a layer of vulnerability but I think especially with rap there’s a lot more laid out – do you ever get scared that people are getting such a look into your life especially as people make their own interpretations of what you’re saying?

I did, before I used to think like oh shit man I dunno if I want to say this, what if people think this, what if people think that. But the truth is, people are going to think what they want anyway, do you know what I’m saying, even if I restrain a whole lot back from saying something super exposing people will go onto dissect every little thing because that’s what we do. We wanna know more, we wanna know what they mean, who

I just like and