The pair performed Heart on Fire together at the awards ceremony yesterday (19 February).
Last night Little Simz performed at the 76th British Academy Film Awards ceremony, which took place in London at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall and saw the annual film awards broadcast live for the first time. For her track Heart On Fire – taken from the rapper and Top Boy star’s latest album No Thank You – she was joined by prolific musician Joan Armatrading on guitar.
Following the show, Armatrading shared an image on Twitter of the two of them during soundcheck and wrote: “What a pleasure and pure delight that Little Simz invited me to play on her fabulous track Heart On Fire at the BAFTAs tonight. This is us at soundcheck. I loved every second.”
@LittleSimz What a pleasure and pure delight that Little Simz invited me to play guitar on her fabulous track Heart On Fire at the BAFTAs tonight. This is us at the sound check. I loved every second. pic.twitter.com/hVj50YxD4x
— Joan Armatrading (@ArmatradingJoan) February 19, 2023
The 2023 BAFTAs saw Charlotte Wells take home the award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for Aftersun, which she wrote and directed. The film stars Paul Mescal and features a score by Oliver Coates. We spoke to Coates and musical supervisor Lucy Bright about creating the musical universe of Aftersun.
Little Simz released surprise new album No Thank You at the end of last year, accompanied by text that read: “Emotion is energy in motion / honour your truth and feelings / eradicate fear / boundaries are important”. This latest release followed on from a busy 2022 for the artist – real name Simbi Ajikawo – who played Shelley in the latest season of Top Boy and won several awards for Sometimes I Might Be Introvert – including a Brit Award, taking home three awards at the UK Music Video Awards and winning the 2022 Mercury Prize.
Watch a clip of Little Simz and Joan Armatrading performing Heart On Fire below.
A stunning performance from the sublime @LittleSimz ✨ #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/Wu2baL3yye
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 19, 2023