Little Simz discusses her most authentic album, Lotus – ABC listen

Fresh off the launch of her latest album Lotus, UK rapper Little Simz recently sat down with Karen Leng on Double J to discuss the journey behind the creation of this record, revealing that it almost did not come to fruition. The Mercury Prize recipient’s sixth album emerges following a tumultuous period in her life, marked by legal disputes and the disintegration of a vital creative partnership with her long-time collaborator Inflo, the leader of UK collective Sault.

In true Little Simz fashion, she manages to transmute her pain into power, producing her most resolute and expansive work to date. Throughout Lotus, Little Simz employs razor-sharp lyrics, raw vulnerability, and daring sonic exploration by blending elements of orchestral sounds, Afrobeat, bossa nova, jazz, rock, and soul. With the guidance of new producer Miles Clinton James and collaborations with artists like Little Dragon’s Yukimi Nagano, Sampha, Obongjayar, and the talented Michael Kiwanuka, Little Simz takes listeners on an eclectic musical journey.

While each track on Lotus has its own individual strength, together they create a cohesive and rich listening experience. The album showcases a blend of the intricate density found in her Mercury Prize-winning Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (2021) and the sharp urgency of its unexpected sequel, No Thank You (2022). Stemming from a place of grief, anger, self-doubt, and exhaustion, Lotus sees Little Simz returning like a top-tier athlete recovering from an injury — sharper, wiser, and more determined than ever before.