Photo: L-R Robert Swerdlow (manager), Tom Cater (A&R, UMPG UK), Little Simz, Caroline Elleray (Senior Vice President A&R, UMPG UK), Tola Ajikawo
Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has announced that multi-talented songwriter, musician and actor Little Simz has signed a global publishing deal.
A prolific songwriter
Little Simz (Simbi Ajikawo) grew up in Islington, London and, though gaining attention through her TV acting gigs, had her focus on music long before.
She released her first mixtape in 2010, going on to share a string of releases including ‘Blank Canvas’ – a mixtape supported by Jay Z’s Life+Times website. In 2014, she released four EPs, going on to win ‘Breakthrough Artist of the Year’ at BBC DJ Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards in early 2015.
Later that year, she released her first full-length album ‘A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons’ through her own label. She followed this with two years of intense touring, culminating in her second album ‘Stillness in Wonderland’ (2017). In 2019, she released ‘GREY Area’, featuring appearances by Michael Kiwanuka, Little Dragon, Chronixx, Cleo and Andy Kellman.
A genre-spanning artist
Little Simz moves genuinely, and effortlessly, between hip hop, r’n’b, jazz and soul beats; her music blends an expression of personal anxiety, confusion of life, and contemplation of today’s struggles with a genuine determination to change the world. Her approach has seen her praised by the likes of Kendrick Lamar (who called her ‘one of the illest doing this right now’) and Ms. Lauryn Hill and Gorillaz who have both personally invited her to be their special guests on tours.
Following the release of ‘GREY Area’ 2019 has seen Little Simz shortlisted for the Mercury Prize, alongside the likes of Dave, Foals and The 1975 and is up for Best Album (‘Grey Area’) and Q Breakthrough Act at the Q Awards.
Alongside music, Little Simz has been acting since the age of 9, currently starring in Netflix’s Top Boy.
With three critically acclaimed albums under her belt at just 25, we’re hugely excited to see what the future holds for Little Simz and are thrilled to be a part of it.