Digital Cover Story 19: S1MBA
“It’s mental, just being on the red carpet and brushing shoulders with the stars."
Photo Credit : Elliot Hensford
As the world began to lock down in March 2020, a hyper-catchy hook weaved across international airwaves. ‘Rover’, from the Zimbabwean-born artist S1MBA inspired a dance craze unlike any other on TikTok, a platform that was changing the lives of many new artists, including his own. “It was mad”, proclaims S1MBA, “I think TikTok is a massive tool for new artists, and it’s changed a lot of lives”. Demonstrating the far reaching impact of the song, he tells me that “I get messages from people in China, Thailand and everywhere else”.
Words by Oliver-James Campbell
Raised in Harare, Zimbabwe, S1MBA was no stranger to church, the instruments used within and the musicality it inspires. “I feel like it helped to push me further. There’s a lot of aunties in church who will tell you if you’re playing an instrument wrong. It’s a very competitive environment, playing instruments in church”. And playing a lot of instruments he did. His father introduced him to a marimba, a traditional African percussion instrument, similar to a xylophone, which S1MBA later likened to a keyboard. He also began playing the djembe drums, which also evoked within him an ability to pick up new and varied instruments, informing his versatility as an artist. But the inspiration didn’t just come from within the four walls of the church - “in our house we listened to a lot of Oliver Mtukudzi and Leonard Dembo”.
Photo Credit : Elliot Hensford
“I moved to a small town in Oxfordshire, Faringdon, when I was 9, and there I began to listen to a lot of pop music - Adele, The Vamps, all sorts of artists. I was also listening to a lot of dance, EDM and drum’n’bass”. This helped him explore new sounds, which S1MBA argues has helped him with the music he is creating now. But he still had that heavy afro-inspired background. “My father listened to a lot of afropop, afrobeats, but also reggae. My mum was into a lot of 90s R&B”.
I mentioned a recent article in the Swindon Gazette which charts his success and the reaction of his former college teachers. “The love I’m getting from Faringdon is crazy man. It’s quite a small place and there are not a lot of people who have made it from there. I went back there and the teachers told me about this kid who sits where I used to sit in school and he won’t ever sit anywhere else”. In contrast to this, we begin talking about ‘Rover’ being nominated for a BRIT Award, Best British Single, of which S1MBA says he wondered why he was even there. “It’s mental, just being on the red carpet and brushing shoulders with the stars. I spoke to Dua Lipa and Taylor Swift, who actually said she loved the tune [Rover]”.
Photo Credit : Elliot Hensford
“I get messages from people in China, Thailand and everywhere else.”
- S1MBA
Recently, S1MBA has appeared on a variety of collaborative tracks, including Toddla T’s ‘Shaker’ Remix, Shane Codd’s ‘Get Out of My Head’ Remix and on his own track, ‘Bounce’ with Tion Wayne and Stay Flee Get Lizzy. As the former tracks are dance tracks, we spoke about S1MBA’s love for the genre, and plans to get more involved. “Yeah, a lot of people don’t know that about me, I love dance music and EDM. Obviously, a lot of my tunes are afro-inspired, but I’ve been working with some people like Sigala for example, and I can’t wait to show everyone some of my new stuff”.
‘Good Time Long Time’ is out now via Parlophone Records.
Watch his latest visuals for lead single ‘Twice’ below!
YouTube/S1MBA
Stream ‘Good Time Long Time’ HERE
Follow S1MBA on socials:
Instagram: @s1mbamusic
Facebook: @s1mbaofficial
Twitter: @s1mbaofficial