On her fourth studio album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, Little Simz continues to evolve her sound and seems destined to carve out a path beyond the UK scene into a global phenomenon. Following 2019’s Grey Area, Little Simz takes her sound in a cinematic direction with lush orchestral arrangements. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert has a distinct warmth that underscores her introspection and the personal tone the album takes. The title itself is an acronym of her real name Simbi and the concept of the album revolves around keeping to herself in an industry that constantly demands an engaging persona. While it’s natural for artists like Little Simz to express themselves through their music or work, their introversion also stops them short of opening up to the world at large. To that end, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert allows us a glimpse into the vulnerability of Little Simz: her insecurities, old wounds, and heartfelt confessionals.
Produced entirely by Inflo, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert is laced with expansive orchestral arrangements influenced by neo-soul, jazz, and electronica. The sweeping strings, layered horns, and crisp percussion help take the storytelling of Little Simz in a cinematic direction as her charismatic presence takes center stage. Where Grey Area examined her quarter-life crisis hidden within a fog of uncertainty, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert opens up to themes that she links to her introversion. They’re far more personal as she touches upon broken familial bonds, self-esteem, womanhood, and insecurities while retaining her conviction in moments of extroversion. It’s this delicate balance that Sometimes I Might Be Introvert excels at as listeners catch a glimpse of the two sides of Little Simz.
Songs like “I Love You, I Hate You”, grapple with the complicated relationship she has with her father and the pent-up emotions are heartbreaking. Meanwhile on “Two Worlds Apart”, a chopped sample of Smokey Robinson’s “The Agony and The Ecstasy” lays the groundwork for the smooth, jazzy tone of the album while showcasing Little Simz’s precise flows. Throughout the one-hour runtime, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert is ambitious in its scope by covering a wide range of topics that follow the thematic element of introversion. Much like her previous work, it retains her societal observations about oppression, violence, and gentrification but there’s a more personal connection through its confessional tone.
The grandeur of Sometimes I Might Be Introvert can be sometimes overwhelming but it’s grounded by Little Simz’s natural gift for storytelling as she reflects upon her tribulations. While the album is sequenced beautifully, there are moments of comparative weakness in some of the interludes that feel unnecessarily repetitive. Featuring actress Emma Corrin, these interludes are mostly comprised of cliched affirmations that are designed to resonate emotionally while transitioning to new ideas. While they aren’t overly preachy and feel like natural extensions of the album, there are simply too many of them. The end result doesn’t feel as tight as it could’ve been and their length is rarely justified in the context of her introspection. That said, it’s easy to see why these interludes are important for the album’s artistic direction and there are a few bright moments scattered throughout these sections.
It’s a little ironic that Sometimes I Might Be Introvert will likely propel Little Simz further into mainstream attention now that she’s gaining recognition as an artist and actress. In a lot of ways, it feels like she’s been destined for this acclaim since the release of Grey Area but her introversion has evidently been a source of inner turmoil. As she reconciles both sides of Little Simz and Simbi on Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, she manages to reflect on how far she’s come as a musician and as a person. Growth is a vital aspect of an artist’s journey and Little Simz’s evolution has reached a turning point with her ambition. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert cements her status as one of UK’s brightest and is an artistic triumph that showcases the subtle beauty of the things we keep tucked away.
