Little Simz has announced her much-awaited return in emphatic style, with new single, Introvert - recorded in-part at Abbey Road.
Last year Simz shared the EP, Drop 6, and before releasing Introvert, the only music that the Londoner has given fans since her Mercury nominated third album, Grey Area, in 2019. Her last album was the rapper’s most complete record to date and was one of the year’s standout albums, proving that she is one of the most influential rappers in the UK.
Every rhyme feels precise, and the heavenly orchestral instrumental makes Introvert even more majestic. The moving orchestral elements to the track were recorded at Abbey Road with Richard Woodcroft and our own Matt Jones and Chris Parker.
The lyrical themes of the track align with what Simz told The Observer in an interview last weekend. She said: “I know that I’m quiet, innit? … I’m just very to myself and I didn’t know how to really navigate that, especially coming in this industry where you’re expected to have this extroverted persona all the time. I wanted to just let people know like, yo, I’m actually this way inclined,” Simz continued, “being this introverted person that has all these crazy thoughts and ideas and theories in my head and not always feeling like I’m able to express it if it’s not through my art.”
The Salomon Ligthelm-directed video sees Simz (real name Simbi Ajikawo) rap and move expressively with a dance troupe inside London’s Natural History Museum. Spliced with it are archived shots of the civil rights movement, Black men being chased by police, and what appears to be old spools of Simz’ family home videos, among other images.
Simz produced the album with her regular collaborator Inflo, and it will feature guest appearances from Cleo Sol, Obongjayar, and even The Crown star Emma Corrin. Out on 3 September, you can pre-order the album on the Abbey Road Shop now.
