Little Simz has won the 2022 Mercury Prize for the best album of the year by a British or Irish artist. The ceremony was staged at the Eventim Apollo in London tonight, It had been postponed last month following the death of the Queen.
Her epic winning album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert peaked at No.4 in the albums chart upon its release last September – a commercial breakthrough for Simz, who won a BRIT earlier this year.
I described it as “Little Simz‘s best record yet. Simz doesn’t just find a voice, she finds a defining sound that mixes the melting brew of London. She bravely stands in the crosshairs of injustice, prejudice and the march of the right-wing and tears it down and builds herself up to the top of the mountain in the process. This is her moment and she seizes it.
Taking everything up a notch from the more introspective and laid-back grooves of Grey Area and her drop records, this time 27-year-old Simbiatu “Simbi” Abisola Abiola Ajikawo aka Little Simz works with production outfit Inflo who have been responsible for bringing the neo-soul sound and placing it in the present, working on awesome records with Michael Kiwanuka and under their own steam with prolific records under the moniker Sault.
After honing her craft over a decade, Simz steps out of her introversion and speaks to everything with a relatable big heart on the sleeve and a visceral intent that speaks to universal issues of trauma, inequality and growth of an artist and the experiences of a black woman. She’s a teacher standing firm in the tumult of 2021, documenting the tensions of dichotomies, introversion and the fear of speaking out and possessing the bravery it takes to call it out, the extremes of social media, Black lives matter and speaks to frustration, injustice and the struggle to be heard. Little Simz audaciously puts her own heart on the line and in the process, she ascends to her place as one of the best artists in the country. “
The winner was decided by a judging panel of industry experts and broadcasters. It was presented on behalf of the judges by Jamz Supernova.
The 2022 Mercury Prize was once again hosted by Lauren Laverne
Broadcast live on BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Four, there were performances by performances from notably Simz herself, Self Esteem, Yard Act, , Gwenno, Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler, Joy Crookes, and Nova Twins.
Last year’s winning album, was Collapsed In Sunbeams by Arlo Parks.
