Little Simz is someone I would say seldom misses, and more so regarding the consistency of her work throughout her career. I feel like nothing comes with less than 110%—even though my opinion isn’t absolute—that 110% definitively shines with her series of Drop EPs. Per usual, Drop 7 is another fantastic collection of songs that are more experimental in structure than previous releases. It has more of a centralized focus aesthetically and thematically, as with the cover art; it’s a restructuring of her craft as she accepts her successes and lives it fully and does so without a constant 1-2 step from verse to chorus. It’s Little Simz understanding this success and relishing that she isn’t confined in a continuous flurry of existential thought as with previous albums and even the last Drop EP, which delved deeper into the crevices of her mind amidst the COVID lockdown. What I like most about Drop 7 is its originality with the song construction, opting to experiment more with construction as opposed to going about the motions where a conflict of living runs through—it’s what makes me feel astounded, albeit it has its drawbacks, like a swift pace that makes it listens through a bit of confusion if not focused on what is happening song to song.
Tracks like “Power” and “Fever” are the more unique constructions, like the two verses before a chorus in the latter, incorporating Portuguese into the second verse, adding a bigger worldview. If there is any negative to attribute to Drop 7, as soon as you hit play, it quickly ends swiftly without letting many songs breathe; however, EPs can be particularly weird—some get constructed to incorporate loosies, or maybe a collection of songs fitting a theme to interconnect two albums and so forth. That may be the case here, but theoretical aside, the EP has tracks that understand what it’s going for and what it wants to convey without missing much of a step. That’s especially the case with this one, where length isn’t essential, but it can be this factor when the song is as banger as “Fever,” which runs under 90 seconds. Though much of the EP feels like Simz having this new acceptance, she’s not devoid of letting it loose for a moment emotionally. With “Far Away,” she laments openly about letting it go for one time to redo what was once solace during the times before this fame. It’s a well-rounded tape that flourishes beautifully. I highly recommend checking it out, even if you’re new to Little Simz’s music.
One of many electronic artists to stand out in my eclectic musical rotation is Shygirl, whose debut and remix albums have had significant weight within my playlists. She has this auspicious charm for blending R&B and Hip-Hop into her work, allowing it to expound on the music further, especially when she digs into the trenches of club music, like house and industrial. When she dives into these aesthetics, the unique allure emanating from her subdued and conventionally rhythmic pop production, though she consistently tries to add to it. It’s as if she’s understanding the influence getting imparted on the production and mixes getting concocted. When listening to Nymph_O, the remix album to her debut, her “Poison (Club Shy Remix)” reminded me much of the Ibiza nightlife—more so what I’ve seen on the internet—filled with fluttering synths and pop hints that reminded me of classic Tiësto and synchronicity of certain overtures to it, like his remix to “Paradise” by Coldplay. The Club Shy EP is fun and energetic, giving us a Shygirl who’s more relaxed and living within the confines of her craft, elevating what could be seen as conventional.
Shygirl brings that idea to life with these fantastical collaborations, like with Empress Of, which opens the album with sheer significance. Not every track has that sense of whimsical pop fortnight of luster, but more so, it has a sense of nuance to different genre areas that allow it to fill the club floor with something fresh. It continues with the following tracks in a meshed flurry that elevates you past the central core. Unfortunately, like the other EP I reviewed, the music comes and goes swiftly, but it does leave you with a definitive loop that it can get left as such without losing much traction. Though it’s safe to say after “f@ke,” it does modestly teeter toward some dryer percussion, but it becomes more of a nitpick as the infusion of sounds is so radiant I’m just sitting back vibing and not thinking much about the minor squabbles I could have been pessimistic about the EP. Yet I won’t be and will say, though my words may be brief, the music is enough to let it rock without overanalyzing. It’s Shygirl relishing and living in the club and delivering with such ferocity you might as well make your room the club.
If I haven’t sold you by now, I’ve been doing my gig wrong, but at least I find some solace in writing this recommendation, as some of you will go and seek them out. I hope you do and as such I leave you with this, my favorite song from the EP:
The Weekly Coos 
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