Little Simz has delayed her upcoming album due to the “scheduling of shooting a movie”. The British artist has been balancing dual careers in music and acting since her breakthrough role in the Netflix series “Top Boy”.
The 31-year-old rapper-and-actress acknowledged it is “not ideal” for her upcoming record ‘Lotus’ to now be released on 6 June instead of 9 May, but insisted it was the only way for her to make juggling all her projects possible. This marks her sixth studio album, following her critically acclaimed 2021 release “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert,” which won the Mercury Prize.
“Hey guys, when I used to get asked does it get hectic with doing music and acting, my response was always “Mmm nah not really you know,” she announced in a statement shared to Instagram. The post received strong engagement from fans, showing her dedicated following across social platforms.
“Well, that time has come and unfortunately I’m having to push my album back to June 6th due to scheduling of shooting a movie that just came in. Not ideal for me or you I know, trust me, I’ve tried many ways around but it just means I can’t do the film otherwise.(sic)” While details about the film project remain under wraps, industry insiders suggest it may be a significant production.
Simz asked her fans for “grace and patience” and promised they would still get to hear new music from her in the meantime. Her dedicated fanbase has grown significantly since winning the BRIT Award for Best New Artist in 2022, despite having been in the industry for over a decade.
“If there was ever a time I ask for your grace and patience it’s now. You can expect more music from Lotus in the meantime but the pushback date for the album in full will be June 6th 2025. I’m sorry maynnnnn, I proper am. But only a few more extra weeks then yours. I love you forever thank you in advance for your understanding. [White heart and lotus emojis]. Simz x(sic)” The artist has been known for her independent approach to music, releasing previous albums through her own label, Age 101.
As well as her new album and film role, Simz – whose real name is Simbiatu Abisola Abiola Ajikawo – was recently announced as the curator for this year’s Meltdown Festival in London. The prestigious curation role has cemented her status as one of the UK’s most influential contemporary artists.
“I’m super excited to be the 2025 Meltdown festival curator! My team and I are preparing eleven days of art, music, workshops and more. So many incredible artists have curated this festival so it’s a true honour to be a part of it. Thank you to the Southbank Centre for having me. Meltdown 2025 the Simz way is going to be epic. I’ll see you there.” The Meltdown Festival attracts many attendees during its run at the Southbank Centre.
As well as a special performance of her own with a full orchestra, the event, which runs from 12-22 June will also see performances from the likes of The Streets, Ghetts, Jon Batiste and Lola Young. The orchestral performance represents a new artistic direction for Simz, who has been expanding her musical palette with each release.
Simz follows in the footsteps of last year’s Meltdown curator Chaka Khan, plus the likes of Christine and the Queens, Grace Jones, Nile Rodgers, Robert Smith, David Byrne, Yoko Ono, Anohni, Massive Attack, Jarvis Cocker, Patti Smith and David Bowie. This places her among music royalty as the youngest curator in the festival’s history.
The delay of ‘Lotus’ highlights the growing challenges faced by multi-disciplinary artists in the entertainment industry. Many recording artists now pursue parallel careers in acting, fashion, or business ventures, creating complex scheduling demands.
Despite the setback, fans have responded positively to Simz’s transparency about the delay. Social media responses showed widespread understanding and continued support for the artist’s career development in both music and film.
Music critics have speculated that ‘Lotus’ may represent Simz’s most ambitious work to date, with early singles suggesting a fusion of hip-hop, jazz, and orchestral elements that build upon her previous critically acclaimed releases, which have collectively earned her multiple MOBO Awards throughout her career.
