Little Simz Announces Curate Meltdown 2025 at London Southbank

Little Simz Takes the Helm

Little Simz has been named the 2025 Trugdown curator at the SouthBank London Center.

• READ MORE: A NME big reading is a little Simz: “It's nice to see my peers win. When they win, I win”

The British artist is set to oversee the breakdown of the border composition for the publication of this year’s 11-day festival and will also perform on stage.

Festival Plans and Artist Involvement

Scheduled from Thursday, June 12 to June 22, the event will feature various live performances from artists chosen by Little Simz, alongside two programs involving participation from local organizations and a mass team.

The first wave of artists confirmed for the 2025 Festival will be announced later this spring.

“I am thrilled to be the curator for the 2025 Festival! My team and I are preparing for 11 days filled with art, music, seminars, and more,” stated Little Simz in a recent statement. “So many incredible artists have contributed to this festival, so it’s a true honor to be part of it. Thank you to the SouthBank Center. Meltdown 2025 will be epic. See you there.”

With this announcement, the rapper joins a distinguished list of iconic figures who have previously curated at the SouthBank Center, including David Bowie, Nick Cave, Patti Smith, and Yoko Ono, among others.

“Little Simz’s ability to forge new genre ideas and her ambition to inspire the next generation of creators aligns perfectly with the vision of the art program at Southbank,” remarked Jane Biz, the head of modern music at Southbank. “We are incredibly excited to witness the lineup she will curate, which has the power to unite people through art, leadership, and culture during our 30th year.”

Mark Ball, the artistic director of the Center, noted that Simz was chosen due to her “strong influence in London and beyond” and expressed hope that this announcement would allow the “Southbank Center to become a cultural playground where she can fully explore her musical icons and cultural passions.”

Anticipation for New Work

The confirmation of Little Simz as the curator for Meltdown 2025 comes just days after she shared a mysterious message on social media, prompting speculation among fans about a new album.

The last studio album from the English-Nigerian rapper was “No Thank You,” which was released in December 2022. Since then, she has released new material, including the recent single “Hello, Hello,” hinting at more to come in 2025.

NME awarded “No Thank You” four stars in 2022, remarking that it offers parallels with Kendrick Lamar’s “Untitled Unmastered” from 2016, as it presents a series of outtakes from his “To Pimp a Butterfly” sessions.

“It had a certain freedom and spontaneity in the tracks, and like Lamar, there is something urgent to express,” the review added. “This cements Little Simz’s status as a true modern great, further solidified by this release.”

In addition to her recent solo work, Simz has remained active in collaborations, appearing on singles such as “We Play,” Sampha’s “Satellite Business 2.0,” and the track “Black and British” with Rat£h 32. Last year, she also partnered with Tate Modern to oversee an evening of music, discussions, and seminars.

Earlier this year, she was nominated in the ACT HIP-Hop/Grime/Rap category for the upcoming Brit Awards 2025, competing alongside Stormzy, Central Cee, Dave, and Ghetts. This category is one of five that will be decided for the first time in the British chart via WhatsApp.

Last year’s festival was curated by Chuck Khan, who featured performances from artists like Emeli Sandé, Lady Blackbird, Bruce Hornsby, and Incognito.

Back in 2021, Little Simz spoke with NME about her desire to be more open in her music, particularly with her project Simbi. “It wasn’t easy,” she admitted. “I struggled with this because it’s so personal, like someone reading your diary. But I realized it’s more than just me, and I know it can help others. At the core, I speak my truth, and I believe there’s great power in that. Vulnerability carries immense strength, and I’m proud of what I’ve created.”