Sampha
Delve into Sampha’s journey — from South London beginnings to Mercury Prize winner — and explore his musical evolution, creative philosophy, and standout quotes.
Introduction
Sampha Lahai Sisay (born November 16, 1988) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer from Morden, South London.
His solo work, though relatively sparse, is deeply felt: his debut album Process (2017) won the Mercury Prize, and after a six-year hiatus, he released his second album Lahai (2023), named after his middle name and paternal grandfather.
Early Life and Family
Sampha was born in Morden, South London to parents of Sierra Leonean descent. five brothers.
His musical beginnings were rooted in his household: his father brought home a piano, and his older siblings gave him records and musical exposure.
Sampha attended Ewell Castle School, where he studied A-Level Music, and later briefly attended Chester University (though he did not complete a long academic path).
His early life also carried emotional challenges. His father died from lung cancer in 1998, his older brother suffered a cerebral stroke, and his mother was later diagnosed with cancer.
Musical Beginnings & Collaborative Work
Sampha entered the music scene gradually, first through supporting and collaborative roles. He connected with producer Kwes via Myspace, which helped him meet artists like SBTRKT, Jessie Ware, Lil Silva, and sign with the label Young (then Young Turks) in 2009.
One of his earliest public works was a remix of The xx’s “Basic Space,” which helped him gain recognition.
His collaborative credits include co-writing and singing on Drake’s “Too Much,” among other high profile features.
Solo Career: EPs and Albums
EPs
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Sundanza (2010)
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Dual (2013)
Process (2017)
Sampha’s debut studio album Process came out on February 3, 2017, on Young. It received widespread critical acclaim and won the Mercury Prize for best album of the year.
The album is intensely personal, centered on the losses and spiritual reckoning in his life, particularly the memories of his mother and father.
Lahai (2023)
After six years, Sampha returned with his second album Lahai, released on October 20, 2023.
Lahai features collaborations from artists such as Yaeji, Léa Sen, Sheila Maurice-Grey, Ibeyi, Yussef Dayes, Laura Groves, and others.
About his creative process for Lahai, Sampha said:
“I don’t go in with a concept. I just know I want to go into …”
He also noted that many of the songs on Lahai were created in his home (bedroom) during lockdowns, as the external plan was disrupted by global events.
Musical Style & Themes
Sampha’s style blends alternative R&B, soul, electronic, jazz, and ambient textures.
Lyrically, his music deeply engages with loss, memory, spiritual questioning, family, identity, and vulnerability.
His emotional honesty, quiet intensity, and ability to shift between intimacy and expansiveness are core to his signature sound.
Legacy and Influence
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Emotional collaborator: Even before his solo work, Sampha provided soulful refrains and emotional resonance to high-profile tracks in hip hop and R&B, becoming a sought-after feature artist.
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Voice of vulnerability: His solo albums stand out in a genre often dominated by bravado — his willingness to expose fragility and personal journeys has influenced other artists seeking emotional depth.
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Prize-winning artistry: Winning the Mercury Prize for Process cemented Sampha’s place among leading UK artists.
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Bridge across genres: His ability to cross between electronic, R&B, soul, and jazz accents, while retaining his identity, marks him as a boundary-transcending artist.
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Cultural memory & heritage: Lahai shows his commitment to family lineage, diaspora identity, and the notion that music can carry ancestral stories forward.
He continues to be nominated in songwriting categories, such as the Ivor Novello Awards in 2024 for Lahai and its tracks.
Personality, Creative Philosophy & Approach
Sampha often speaks softly but with intentionality. He describes much of his creative process as intuitive and feeling-based, resisting rigid conceptual frameworks.
He has acknowledged fear, vulnerability, and the fragility of being an artist in public:
“For me, when I’m writing something really personal, I don’t feel good about it. It’s weird that people can connect to something that came from a really crap place. You have to be quite brave to write about something that you honestly feel and think.”
In another reflection:
“When you feel totally alone in your thoughts…”
He views music as a space for introspection, emotional processing, and connection across time — a form of memory, healing, and transcendence.
He has also spoken about “not going in with a concept” but letting the emotional core guide the shape of the music.
Representative Quotes
Here are some notable Sampha quotes that offer insight into his mindset and creative ethos:
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“When you feel totally alone in your thoughts…”
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“For me, when I’m writing something really personal, I don’t feel good about it. It’s weird that people can connect to something that came from a really crap place. You have to be quite brave to write about something that you honestly feel and think.”
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“I don’t go in with a concept. I just know I want to go into …”
These lines reflect his humility, emotional courage, and the tension between privacy and expression.
Lessons from Sampha
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Let emotion, not formula, lead the work
Sampha’s work shows that deeply felt music can emerge when one trusts vulnerability over rigid structures. -
Stillness can be powerful
His music often uses silence, space, and restraint — reminders that absence can speak as loudly as presence. -
Own your narrative
By rooting Lahai in family lineage and ancestral story, Sampha demonstrates how personal history can become universal. -
Courage in exposure
Sharing from “a really crap place” is risky — but it can resonate deeply when done with honesty. -
Patience and depth over quantity
Sampha releases relatively slowly, but each project reveals growth, change, and introspection.
Conclusion
Sampha is an artist of rare emotional clarity and cross-genre resonance. From his early collaborations to his award-winning solo work, he has shaped a space where vulnerability, memory, and spirituality meet sound. Process and Lahai stand not just as albums, but as documents of life, grief, love, and lineage.
If you’d like, I can create a visual timeline of Sampha’s career, or curate a “Top 5 Sampha Tracks” list with commentary. Do you want me to do that?