The Power of Love and Fear in “Free”
When you press play on Little Simz Free, you’re immediately invited into something far deeper than a typical track. This isn’t just music—it’s an open diary, a moment in time, and a mirror for anyone who listens closely. Little Simz speaks openly about two forces that shape every human experience: love and fear. Both emotions live at the center of our choices, our relationships, and our creative journeys.
From the first verse, she makes it clear—love is everything. She repeats the word like a mantra: love in nearly every line. Then, as the song progresses, she contrasts it with fear, creating a duality that mirrors the constant push and pull of life. This simple yet powerful lyrical structure—repeating key words—anchors the message and keeps it echoing in your mind long after the song ends.
As an independent artist myself, I couldn’t help but connect deeply with this. The message resonates with the kind of songwriting I’ve been drawn to over the last year: love as a healer, love as the reason for peace, harmony, kindness, trust. Love as all there is. In a world that often feels dark, a song like Free is a reminder that music can shine a light exactly where it’s needed most.
Songwriting Honesty: Why “Free” Feels Like a Diary Entry
One of the most striking qualities of Little Simz Free is its raw honesty. Listening to it feels like reading a private journal—her private journal. It’s unfiltered, intimate, and unafraid of vulnerability.
It reminded me of a quote from Rick Rubin:
“Everything I make is a diary entry. The beauty of a diary entry is that I can write my diary entry and you can’t tell me that my diary entry wasn’t good enough.”
This is what makes the song powerful—it’s untouchable truth. As songwriters, we often wrestle with whether our lyrics are “good enough” or “relatable enough.” But Rubin’s point, and what Simz demonstrates here, is that truth doesn’t need permission. If you’re writing from a place of real feeling, no one can tell you it’s wrong.
When I listen to Free, I hear not only Simz’s truth but also echoes of my own. As I’ve been writing songs this year, love has been the recurring theme I keep returning to. It’s the well I draw from because it’s the most authentic part of me—and hearing Simz do the same reminds me that’s exactly where music finds its power.
Repetition: A Simple but Powerful Songwriting Tool
Let’s talk about one of the songwriting tips hidden in plain sight within Free: repetition. In the first verse, Simz repeats “love” almost every line. In the second verse, “fear” becomes the word she leans on. Then, in the chorus, both words—love and free—appear together, intertwining like a musical thesis statement.
This repetition isn’t lazy writing—it’s intentional emphasis. It works because it mirrors the way our minds latch onto important concepts. In everyday life, when something matters, we say it more than once. When something shapes us, it echoes.
For independent artists looking to strengthen their craft, this is a technique worth studying. Think about the central message of your song and repeat key words to make them stick. The repetition in Free doesn’t just reinforce the theme—it makes you feel it.
Love as a Creative Compass
At its core, Free is a song about love—not the romantic kind, but the universal force that fuels connection, understanding, and healing. For me, that’s where the song becomes more than just great music—it becomes a life lesson.
Love is the answer to every question we ask ourselves. It’s the reason we strive for peace, build trust, and connect with each other. It’s the force that can counteract fear.
When I hear Simz rap, “I think that love is everything that we need in this world. I think the key is being honest and being yourself,” I nod along because that’s exactly what I believe. But beyond agreeing with her words, I feel inspired to keep making music that puts love at the center.
As independent artists, we’re often pulled in a million directions—industry trends, social media pressure, financial stress. But if you can let love guide your creative choices, you’ll always land in a place of truth.
Fear as the Counterweight
If love is the driving force, fear is the opposing one. In the second verse, Simz turns her attention to fear, repeating it with the same intensity she gave to love. This isn’t just a lyrical contrast—it’s an emotional one. Fear holds us back, keeps us from taking creative risks, and can silence our voice entirely.
Every artist I know—including myself—has faced fear in some form. Fear of judgment, fear of failure, fear of being misunderstood. What makes Free powerful is that Simz doesn’t pretend fear doesn’t exist. She acknowledges it, names it, and puts it side by side with love.
That’s the takeaway for us: you don’t conquer fear by ignoring it—you disarm it by facing it head-on and choosing love anyway.
The Beat: Calm Yet Uplifting
The production of Free is another layer worth exploring. It’s a classic hip-hop beat—steady, grounded, and confident—but paired with uplifting vocal samples that create a lightness to match the lyrical theme.
The music supports the message perfectly. It’s not overly aggressive or dark, even when fear is in focus. Instead, it invites you to reflect while still nodding your head.
For songwriters and producers, this is a reminder that your instrumental should serve your lyrics. The beat of Free feels like a safe space to unpack big emotions—calm enough to let the words shine, but engaging enough to keep the listener hooked.
Songwriting Tip for Independent Artists: Speak Your Truth
If there’s one overarching lesson Little Simz Free offers independent artists, it’s this: speak your truth, even if it’s messy, even if it’s vulnerable, even if it scares you.
Authenticity isn’t just a buzzword—it’s your greatest strength as an artist. Listeners can spot a manufactured message from a mile away, but when you write like you’re making a diary entry, it hits differently.
Pair that honesty with intentional techniques like repetition, and you’ve got a formula that can make your music not only heard but felt.
Creative Freedom: The Simz Blueprint
Little Simz embodies creative freedom in every sense—her lyrics, her delivery, her beat choices, her public persona. She doesn’t fit herself into a mold to please the mainstream. That’s why songs like Free resonate so deeply—they sound like her, not like what she thinks she should be.
For independent artists, this is a blueprint worth following. Your freedom as a creator is your most valuable asset. Protect it, nurture it, and let it shine through in your work.
When you write and release music that feels true to you, you attract listeners who connect with that truth—and those are the fans who stick around.
Final Thoughts
Listening to Little Simz Free is more than just enjoying a good track—it’s an experience in reflection. It’s a reminder that love and fear are the two forces shaping us, and as artists, we get to decide which one leads our work.
Simz’s raw honesty, use of repetition, and refusal to compromise her creative freedom make Free not only a powerful song but also a valuable case study for any independent musician.
If there’s one thing I hope you take from this, it’s that your truth matters. Write it down. Sing it out. Let your music be your diary entry—because YOU are the person who needs to hear it.
Listen to “Free” by Little Simz
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