Leonard Simbarashe Rwodzi[1] (born 12 April 1999),[2][3] known professionally as S1mba, is a Zimbabwean-born British singer-songwriter and rapper. He rose to prominence with his single "Rover" featuring DTG, which reached number 3 on the UK Singles Chart as a result of its popularity on the video-sharing platform TikTok, and earned him his first Brit Award nomination for "Song of the Year".
S1mba | |
---|---|
Birth name | Leonard Simbarashe Rwodzi |
Born | Harare, Zimbabwe | 12 April 1999
Origin | Swindon, England |
Genres | |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 2018–present |
Labels | Parlophone Records, Rax Productions |
Website | s1mba |
Early life
editRwodzi moved from Harare to Swindon at nine years old before his father was given the job of head gardener at Pusey Estate in Oxfordshire.[4] While in Zimbabwe, he was introduced to music through his experiences with djembe drums and marimbas.[1] In England, Rwodzi formed the foundations of his musical career while at church where he discovered gospel music.[5] Rwodzi attended Faringdon Community College, in the market town of Faringdon.[4] He then attended New College in Swindon where he studied music production and music technology,[6][7] eventually recording his debut single "The Plan" in the college's music studio.[8]
Boxing career
editS1mba vs Oogway
editOn 30 August 2023, it was announced that Rwodzi would make his boxing debut against Turkish-Dutch Internet personality MasterOogwgay on the undercard of MF & DAZN: X Series 009 at the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle upon Tyne, England on 23 September.[9] However, Rwodzi would later pull out of the bout, being replaced with Armz Korleone.
Discography
editMixtapes
edit- 2021: Good Time Long Time
Singles
editAs lead artist
editTitle | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [10] |
AUS [11] |
DEN [12] |
IRE [13] |
NZ [14] |
NL [15] |
SWE [16] | ||||
"The Plan"[17] | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
"High Key"[18] | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"24/7"[19] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Rover" (featuring DTG) |
2020 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 17 | 24 | Good Time Long Time | |
"Loose" (featuring KSI) |
14 | — | — | 23 [24] |
— | — | — |
| ||
"Bounce" (featuring Tion Wayne and Stay Flee Get Lizzy)[25] |
2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"On & On" (with A7S) |
2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
"Poppin'" (with Django23 and BNXN featuring TSB) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Karolina'" (with MayTen) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Stuck (Your Heart)" (with Blxckie and MayTen) |
2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | TBA | |
"Hita" (with Young Franco)[26] |
2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
As featured artist
editTitle | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK |
AUS |
DEN |
IRE |
NZ |
NL |
SWE | ||||
"Worth It" (ZieZie featuring S1mba and Stylo G)[27] |
2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
"Tick Tock (UK Mix)" (Clean Bandit and Mabel featuring S1mba)[28] |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Naughty Naughty" (Preds Uk featuring Swarmz, S1mba and Noizy)[29] |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Ayo!" (Kamille featuring S1mba)[30] |
2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Glorious" (GRM Daily featuring Dappy and S1mba) |
2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"No Stress" (Amerado featuring S1mba) |
2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | G.I.N.A |
Remixes
editTitle | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"Get Out My Head (Swarmz & S1mba Remix)"[31] (with Shane Codd) |
2021 | Non-album single |
Guest appearances
editTitle | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
---|---|---|---|
"Could Be My Somebody"[32] | 2021 | Becky Hill | Only Honest on the Weekend |
"light on me" | 2023 | S-X | Things Change (Deluxe) |
References
edit- ^ a b Homewood, Ben (4 June 2020). "Making Waves: S1mba". Music Week. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "Appointments for Leonard Simbarashe RWODZI (born April 1999)". Companies House. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "Your life can really change in a year. God's given me so many blessings to celebrate this past year and this new age is another thing to give thanks for..." Instagram. @s1mbaofficial [verified account] on Instagram. 12 April 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ a b "S1mba's hit single experience with Rover 'surreal'". BBC News. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ Bruce, Robert (29 April 2020). "S1mba reflects on 'Rover' going viral on TikTok". Capital XTRA. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ Hill, Jamie (5 June 2020). "Former New College student bags Number 3 spot in UK music charts". Swindon Link. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "5 facts to Get to Know S1mba". Warner Music NZ. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "Teachers react as ex-New College student gets to number 3 in the Top 40 singles chart". Swindon Advertiser. 6 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ Walker, Christopher (30 August 2023). "Idris Virgo vs. Aaron Chalmers headlines MF & DAZN: X Series 009 in Newcastle". DAZN.
- ^ "S1mba ft DTG | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "Discography S1mba". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "Discography S1mba". danishcharts.dk. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "Discography S1mba". irish-charts.com. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "Discography S1mba". charts.nz. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "Discography S1mba". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "Discography S1mba". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "The Plan - Single by S1mba". Apple Music. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "High Key - Single by S1mba". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "24/7 - Single by S1mba". Apple Music. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ a b "British certifications – S1mba". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 14 August 2022. Type S1mba in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – S1mba feat. DTG – Rover". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – S1mba feat. DTG – Rover". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles, Week Ending 18 September 2020". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ "Bounce (feat. Tion Wayne & Stay Flee Get Lizzy) on Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "Young Franco Collaborates With S1mba on New Single 'Hita'". Broadway World. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- ^ "Worth It - Single by ZieZie". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "Tick Tock (feat. S1mba) (UK Mix) - Single by Clean Bandit & Mabel". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "Naughty Naughty (feat. Swarmz, S1mba and Noizy) - Single by Preds Uk". Spotify. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "AYO! (feat. Swarmz) - Single by Kamille". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "Get Out My Head (Swarmz & S1mba Remix) – Single by Shane Codd". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "Only Honest On The Weekend by Becky Hill". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 February 2022.