As it’s the start of a new year and all that I’d like to introduce you to a new artist that’s set for big things this year: Sampha.
Now, if some of you are thinking ‘He’s not new at all! He’s been around for a couple of years now’ then yes! I agree with you and give yourself some Her Campus points for this music knowledge. He has indeed been on the music scene for a year or two after he featured on SBTRKT’s self titled album which was released in 2011. The South London-born 24-year-old has not only featured on SBTRKT and Jessie Ware’s albums but has also done some work across the pond with huge international stars. On Drake’s most recent album ‘Nothing Was The Same’ that unique and chilled out voice you can hear in ‘The Motion’ and ‘Too Much’ is Sampha’s and he even co-wrote these tracks. Not only that but he assisted with background vocals in Beyonce’s track ‘Mine’ in her new album and has collaborated with her sister Solange many times. Impressive eh?
Despite rubbing shoulders with stars of this calibre he is yet to completely breakthrough into the mainstream as a solo artist. However, having been shortlisted on the BBC’s ‘Sound of 2014’ Top 5 along with the likes of winner Sam Smith and Ella Eyre (featured on Rudimental’s track ‘Waiting All Night’) his profile is sure to be raised.
His EP ‘Dual’, released in the summer, gives us a taster of his solo work which reminds me of Frank Ocean with its many layers of sound and background noises. His unique voice which has been compared to Tracey Chapman and James Blake is also a welcome change to a lot of artists about at the moment who all sound the same and it adds to the chilled atmosphere that his music creates.
Although in an interview with Radio 1’s Rob Da Bank he was reluctant to confirm an album would be released this year, he did say some new material is on its way. So we may have to play his EP to death until an album comes out but it’s clear that his name is one we will be hearing a lot in the following year and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
Photo Sources
http://www.sampha.com/img/sampha_fb.jpg
Edited by Caroline Chan