Sampha

Sampha Sisay deals in beauty. His loss-tinged debut album ‘Process’ is one of the most captivating records of recent years, which saw the London-based singer, songwriter and producer craft a meditative farewell to his late mother. This in memoriam was rightly awarded the 2017 Mercury Prize. Sampha’s roll of honour was already rather impressive at the time, starting with work for SBTRKT and Jessie Ware, which in turn led to collaborations with the likes of Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean and Solange. His second album ‘Lahai’ (2023) is a counterweight to ‘Process’, with violin crescendos, chic guitar riffs, euphoric synths and clattering percussion. Sampha is clearly searching for joy while slowly revealing himself as a 21st-century Stevie Wonder.