Sampha | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Samphas artful and emotive mix of pop, R&B;, and electronic music isnt easily categorizable, and is further distinguished by a heartfelt vocal style that tends to sound as if its on the brink of choking back tears. Prior to releasing Process (2017), his debut album, the artist established himself as a valued remixer and studio collaborator sought by emergent underground talents and mainstream stars alike, including SBTRKT, Jessie Ware, Drake, Beyoncé, and Kanye West. After his first full-length won the Mercury Prize, he humbly continued to assist a similarly vast range of artists, including Roses Gabor and Florence + the Machine. The singer, songwriter, keyboardist, and producer, born Sampha Sisay, started making music in his early teenage years. In 2009, the South London native broke through with a remix of the xxs "Basic Space," which led to a busy schedule across 2010 and 2011. This period entailed collaborations with SBTRKT, Jessie Ware, and Lil Silva, as well as a solo debut with Sundanza, an EP issued on the Young Turks label. After a less eventful 2012, the following year Sampha was featured on Drakes "Too Much" and Beyoncés "Mine," and issued Dual, his second Young Turks EP, an abstract and skeletal showcase for his fragile-sounding yet expressive voice. As he continued to work with fellow U.K. natives SBTRKT, Bullion, and FKA twigs, Sampha was also sought by more high-profile North American artists, and in 2016 alone appeared on Kanye Wests The Life of Pablo, Frank Oceans Endless, and Solanges A Seat at the Table. His own "Timmys Prayer" (co-written by West) and "Blood on Me" were out by the end of the year as previews of his first full-length. Out in February 2017, Process, Samphas debut album, hit the Top Ten in the U.K. and narrowly missed the Top 50 in the U.S. Later in the year, Sampha made appearances on Drakes More Life and releases from Richard Russells Everything Is Recorded project. Process went on to win the 2017 Mercury Prize, as well as Gilles Petersons Worldwide Awards Album of the Year. The following year, Sampha remixed a track by Oumou Sangaré ("Minata Waraba") and collaborated with Roses Gabor ("Illusions") and Florence + the Machine ("Grace"). | ||
 | Album: 1 of 3 Title: Sundanza Released: 2010-06-21 Tracks: 6 Duration: 19:04 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Kij (01:57) 2 Curves (02:35) 3 Rainstars (04:03) 4 Arctic (03:37) 5 Shades (04:42) 6 Subconscious (02:10) |
 | Album: 2 of 3 Title: Dual EP Released: 2013-07-29 Tracks: 6 Duration: 16:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Demons (00:56) 2 Beneath the Tree (03:48) 3 Without (03:40) 4 Hesitant Oath (00:32) 5 Indecision (04:24) 6 Can’t Get Close (03:37) |
 | Album: 3 of 3 Title: Process Released: 2017-02-03 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:04:36 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Plastic 100°C (05:16) 2 Blood on Me (04:06) 3 Kora Sings (04:17) 4 (No One Knows Me) Like the Piano (03:38) 5 Take Me Inside (02:18) 6 Reverse Faults (04:13) 7 Under (04:41) 8 Timmy’s Prayer (04:23) 9 Incomplete Kisses (03:53) 10 What Shouldn’t I Be? (03:32) 11 In-Between and Overseas (03:27) 12 Answer (04:27) 13 Too Much (03:01) 14 Happens (05:07) 15 Without (03:47) 16 Indecision (04:24) |
| Process : Allmusic album Review : The categorically elusive Sampha arrived in 2010 with a co-headlined SBTRKT collaboration and a solo EP, then became known more for supporting roles as a songwriter, producer, vocalist, and keyboardist. After he recorded with fellow Brits Lil Silva and Jessie Ware, his commercial presence was magnified by Drake, whose Nothing Was the Same featured him on a couple tracks. Within a few years, Sampha had collected credits on works by a slew of mainstream artists, including Beyoncé, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, and Solange, as he assisted comparatively marginal but significant figures like FKA Twigs and Bullion. He also inched toward the completion of Process, an artful and accessible debut full-length. Admirably, the album is without opportunistic reciprocal collaborations, unless one inconspicuous Kanye West co-composition counts. Its largely a solitary and intensely personal effort, co-produced by Rodaidh McDonald, ranging from placid piano ballads to urgent electro-soul. All the narratives, expressed in anguished, repentant, and haunted terms, befit a voice that always sounds as if its on the brink of choking back tears. Samphas vocals can be an acquired taste, but theyre instantly identifiable and heartfelt. Theyre all the more compelling when detailing interpersonal ruptures, drawing imagery like "I took the shape of a letter, slipped myself underneath your door," or in a state of agitation, "gasping for air." The album reaches its most stirring point in "Kora Sings," built on an alternately serene and jittery production, over which Sampha sings to his dying mother, trailing off after "You dont know how strong you are." None of it is particularly light. Samphas exquisite melodies and detailed productions nonetheless make all the references to longing, disturbed sleep, injurious heat, and shattered glass go down easy. "Reverse Faults," sparkling low-profile trap with a dizzying combination of smeared glints and jutting background vocals, might be the best display of Samphas skill set. Another marvel is the hurtling, breakbeat-propelled "Blood on Me," its last 40 seconds juiced with some of the nastiest synthesized bass since Alexander ONeals "Fake." In a way, this all makes the previous output seem merely preliminary. | ||