EP Review: Little Simz – 'Drop 6'

Following the success of last year’s album ‘GREY Area’, Simbi Ajikawo aka Little Simz has released a new EP entirely recorded in lockdown that observes and captures the current moment.

‘Drop 6’ spans 5 tracks that all give testament to Little Simz’ skill as an artist. Fresh beats and vocals that switch between ice cool and too hot to handle make the EP an essential for lockdown listening. The sheer confidence that radiates off her impressive sound is most definitely infectious and has you vibing in no time. Apart from effortless switches in tempo - going from fast paced opening track ‘might bang, might not’ to synthy bass-heavy closing number ‘where is my lighter’ - each track thrills with finely crafted lyricism that quite simply tells it as it is - “if this is 2020 there’s no hindsight. If you see death is the next chapter, can you die twice” (‘you should call mum’)

 Talking about the recording process, Simbi says: “I started working on an EP early April, with a plan to finish it by the end of the month. Around mid-April I got disheartened and started getting in my own way. That self-doubt shit again. […] After serious procrastination I decided to stop being a lil bitch and cry baby and knuckle down on the EP. I gassed myself up. There’s no one else here, I'm alone, I had to. It started to feel good. I started to get really excited, wheeling myself up, spudding myself. I had to. Then I completed it. and when? End of the month just as I’d set out too. Things come full circle in the end, don’t they? The middle feels like growing pains, self-doubt is a bitch and the only way out is through. Thank you for being the lights that you are. You’re all needed, valued, appreciated, and loved. Not just by me of course and I am sure I can speak on behalf of everyone you hold dear in your lives close to you. This is a turbulent time, but we don’t fold. We don’t come from that. We will always be fine.”

Words by Laura Freyaldenhoven

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