In the space of nine years shes released four mixtapes, seven EPs, and including GREY Area which drops this Friday three studio albums. To date, everything has been released on her own label AGE 101.

The record finds the 25-year-old hip-hop wunderkind at the intersection of a quarter-life crossroad.

Because when youve already toured the world with pop and hip-hop titans, released reams of acclaimed music, and have been co-signed by the worlds greatest living rapper, well, whats next.

Its not the only time that Simz, whose real name is Simbi Ajikawo, debates lifes twists and turns during our conversation.

Theres an uncertainty, she says, thats symptomatic of this period of adulthood.

I think the more I speak to my friends and people in my age group about it, the more I realise were all going through it, she says.

Some people go through it silently and some people are a bit more vocal.

I think I was someone dealing with it to myself silently until I started opening up and was like, Oh, so youre going through it as well Oh, sick.

GREY Area arrives after a couple of years of intense highs and lows in which Simz has played sold-out headline shows, collected MOBO nods, and joined Lauryn Hill on the hip-hop queens recent anniversary tour.

Simz talks of life-changing experiences, including a tour with Gorillaz in 2017.

My life is changing in such a drastic way.

Just being in that environment with Gorillaz, around legends it definitely changed my perspective on a lot of things.

I think, personally, the more I was on the go and away from home, the more I missed out on family and friends, Simz explains.

Simz thinks that she possibly overwhelmed herself in 2017 for her second records promo cycle and other collaborations, which spun her into a constant state of anxiety and just being down.

Obviously people see you on stage, and they live through your social media, but theres a lot that goes on behind the scenes, Simz says, addressing the facade of a glamourous music industry.

I took on a lot. I think it kind of affected my physical and mental state a little.

I felt like people expected a lot from me, and I was just giving and giving and giving and burning myself out.

The antidote was throwing herself back into making music once the tours were over.

I kinda needed that; I kinda needed that time to cleanse and be stationary.

Some people will go through stuff and, I dunno, turn to substance abuse whatever it is they need to deal with certain things, she says.

But Im lucky enough that my outlet was music, getting in the studio and being able to write about these things.

After Id written the album I did feel a sense of clarity and like, Ok, I know where Im at at now.

Perhaps this is little surprise; those familiar with Simz back catalogue will know that shes a prolific writer.

In the space of nine years shes released four mixtapes, seven EPs, and including GREY Area which drops this Friday three studio albums.

To date, everything has been released on her own label AGE 101.

Little Simz Grey Area Zip