Sampha Explained

Sampha
Birth Name:Sampha Lahai Sisay
Birth Date:1988 11, df=y
Birth Place:Morden, London, England
Occupation:
Child:yes
Children:1
Discography:Sampha discography
Years Active:2009–present

Sampha Lahai Sisay (born 16 November 1988) is a British singer, songwriter, musician and record producer from Morden, South London.[1] Sampha has collaborated with Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Frank Ocean, SBTRKT, Jessie Ware, Travis Scott, Kanye West, Solange and others.[2] Sampha has released two solo EPs: Sundanza (2010)[3] and Dual (2013).[4] Sampha's debut album, Process, was released on 3 February 2017 by Young[5] and won the 2017 Mercury Prize.[6] His second album, Lahai, was released on 20 October 2023.[7]

Early years

Sampha was born in Morden, South London to Sierra Leonean parents who moved to the United Kingdom in the 1980s. His introduction to music began with learning to play on the piano at his parents' home in Morden and listening to records given to him by his older siblings. As a teenager he discovered music production after his older brother, Sanie, built himself a makeshift home studio. He went to Ewell Castle School, studying A-Level Music: in 2017 he returned to open a new music studio building.[8]

Career

In 2007, Sampha met London producer Kwes, whose music Sampha said changed his life, through Myspace. Kwes guided him and introduced him to musicians, Mica "Micachu" Levi, Ghostpoet, Dels as well as his future record label Young. In 2009 Sampha interned at the label.[9] Also through Young, Sampha remixed "Basic Space" by The xx and meet his earliest collaborators: SBTRKT, Jessie Ware, Bullion and Lil Silva. Sampha is also the cousin of grime artist Flirta D from the grime music group SLK.[10] [11] [12]

In 2017, Sampha released his first album, Process, to critical acclaim. The album won Sampha the Mercury Prize for best album of the year. He released his second album Lahai in 2023, also to critical acclaim.

Personal life

Sampha's first child, a daughter, was born in the spring of 2020.[13]

Discography

See main article: Sampha discography.

Awards and nominations

YearOrganisationAwardWorkResult
2013BBC[15] Sound of 2014HimselfFourth
2017Mercury PrizeAlbum of the Year "Process"
Soul Train Music AwardsBest Collaboration "Don't Touch My Hair"
Best Dance Performance
2018Worldwide AwardsAlbum of the Year Process
BRIT AwardsBrit Award for British Breakthrough ActHimself
Ivor Novello Awards[16] Best Song, Musically and Lyrically"No One Knows Me (Like the Piano)"
2023Grammy Awards[17] Album of the YearMr. Morale & the Big Steppers
2024Ivor Novello Award[18] Best AlbumLahai
2024Ivor Novello AwardBest Song, Musically and LyricallySpirit 2.0
2024American Association of Independent Music Libera Awards[19] Best R&B RecordLahai

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Beggars Music – Sampha . Beggars Music . 9 September 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130927135409/http://www.beggarsmusic.com/artists/29/sampha . 27 September 2013 .
  2. Web site: Rising: Sampha . Pitchfork Media . 8 July 2013 . 9 September 2013.
  3. Web site: Sampha – Sundanza . Young. 23 April 2022.
  4. Web site: Sampha – Dual . Young . 23 April 2022.
  5. Web site: Sampha – Process . Young . 23 April 2022.
  6. Web site: Brown. Mark. Mercury prize 2017 is won by Sampha's Process. The Guardian. 15 September 2017. 14 September 2017.
  7. Web site: Strauss . Matthew . 6 September 2023 . Sampha Details Album and Tour Dates, Shares New "Only" Video . 6 September 2023 . . en-US.
  8. Web site: Mercury Prize-winner Sampha Sisay returns to Ewell Castle School. Your Local Guardian. 29 November 2017 . en. 24 June 2019.
  9. Web site: Instagram post by Young Turks • Sep 15, 2017 at 5:47pm UTC. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BZEhJOoFtAK . 24 December 2021 . registration. Instagram. 17 December 2017.
  10. Web site: Sampha's Search For Magic _ The FADER . 12 March 2017 . The FADER.
  11. Web site: Sampha the voice of generations _ Dazed . Dazed Digital . 12 March 2017. 15 February 2017 .
  12. Web site: RBMA Radio Live – Sampha. Rbmradio.com. 17 December 2017.
  13. Web site: Jenkins . Craig . 31 August 2023 . Sampha's Circle of Life . 8 September 2023 . Vulture . en-us.
  14. Web site: Murray . Robin . 24 August 2023 . Sampha Announces New Album 'LAHAI' News . 24 August 2023 . Clash . en-GB.
  15. Web site: Sound of 2014 Profile: Sampha . BBC . 7 January 2013.
  16. Web site: Ivor Novello Awards (@TheIvors) - Twitter . Twitter and Ivor Novello Awards . 25 April 2018.
  17. Web site: 15 November 2022 . 2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Nominees List . 15 November 2022 . GRAMMYs.
  18. Web site: Taylor . Mark . 2024-04-23 . Nominations announced for The Ivors with Amazon Music 2024 . 2024-05-28 . The Ivors Academy . en-GB.
  19. Web site: A2IM Libera Awards on X Congratulations to @sampha of @young_ on winning Best R&B Record for Lahai at the 2024 Libera Awards presented by @merlinnetwork tonight! https __t.co_omRMpYGIxG _ X. X. 2024-06-11.