07 November 2023
Newsdesk
Singer, songwriter, and producer Sampha joins Zane Lowe in studio on Apple Music 1 to discuss the creation of his new album, 'Lahai'. Two and a half years in the making, Sampha’s second album is an exploration of human connection and the depth of life itself. The pair discuss music being a snapshot of a certain time in an artist's life and artificial intelligence in music. Their conversation then shifts to some of the more technical aspects of music creation and live performance, and lessons learned from fatherhood.
Also airing today was the fourth episode of Sampha’s ‘Wave Therapy’ radio series on Apple Music 1, with Malian singer, Oumou Sangaré, on the show. Sampha and Oumou Sangaré record a new version of ‘Kun Fe Ko’, from her album ‘Worotan’, while the show also includes music from Fatoumata Diawara, Ohio Players and Sudan Archives.
Sampha on the feelings felt after finally accepting ‘Lahai’ was ready to be released, and if there’s any melancholy attached to it…
It's a strange emotion because when I did finish it, even through listening to it again and showing people, I kept learning new things about a record that I've made, which is a strange feeling. In that sense, it feels a little bit beyond me to a certain degree. So yeah, I wouldn't call it melancholy, but it definitely was like I was still figuring it out. And even releasing it, it now sounds different to me again. I'm like, "Oh wow." Now it feels really like I can really let it go, and it feels like beforehand I was still like, "Oh, what about that sound?"
Sampha on the making of ‘Lahai’ and the tracks being born from a intuitive place…
Yeah, it is a funny thing because the way I make music is quite... I don't go in with a concept. I just know I want to go into the studio and create something, so a lot of it comes from an intuitive place or a place of intuition. So I feel like it's a snapshot of where I am. I feel like process is a photo of that time, and this also feels like a bit of a sonic photo of where I am or where I was at. And I can see that, yeah, I have moved on a bit.
Sampha tells Zane about who he was when he was making the album, using it as a process when to deal with grief, and where its left him…
I guess I was going through some once in a lifetime things and losing someone whos been with me for all my life, and going through that and having music as a canvas going through that time. And as I say, I always see it as a document, because there are some things that are really beautiful. Because the worst thing for me sometimes is forgetting how something feels or becoming numb or apathetic. So for me, it's a beautiful document of even the tough things I was going through or even the relationships or what me and my brothers went through, and I have that as a reminder. And even if it does bring off some difficult emotions, I'm happier that it's there. It is a bit of time travel, I guess. It's like a memory. And if anything, I still see myself in there, obviously.
Sampha discusses growing up in a musical family with four brothers…
I've got four older brothers and I've been musical, I guess, since a young age. I feel like they're all super into music, and I've got a brother who plays guitar and makes music himself. And so yeah, they're really always been super encouraging. And I've got a brother whos had super eclectic taste, so he was playing everything. The Strokes, and then it'll be Joyce one minute, and it'll be Stevie Wonder the next, and it'd be like Wu-Tang. And then I've got another brother who likes Todd Edwards and I took it in as well. You know what I mean? From a young age, so we talk a lot on the musical level. In terms of an emotional level and what the songs are about, I don't really talk about it. I hardly talk about that with anyone really. And there are times, but if anything, they pull me up, like, "What exactly are you talking about?" And my brothers are really direct. They're like, "You might need some help in them drums.” And "Where's the bass?”
Sampha on making music with SBTRKT and how his evolution as a singer-songwriting on their music came organically..
He didn't have to encourage me (to sing), per se, but it was like, "Oh, maybe we should develop this into. Or write some more. Maybe write some more lyrics." And he would like... Because I would just naturally just start humming and I can't help myself. That's why I feature on so many things because I get into a space and I start just naturally humming. But yeah, no, it really kind of... That was a space where I kind of honed in songwriting more so and alongside production. And obviously having him as a bit of a mentor, he would show me how this is how he is able to do this and dah, dah dah, and he was really open in that sense. And DJing and playing live. And it was the first time I had songs on the radio.
Sampha on where he starts first when making music…
I feel like I need to find a sonic palette and then I suppose. As opposed to, I sort of got into music more so just making beats and stuff, and that's my main thing. Aside from me, I do play piano and I write songs, but generally speaking, especially when it comes to the thought of making a record, it comes from a sonic palette first.
Sampha discussing the insular concept behind the recent Satellite Business live shows…
It is partly that, definitely. And just the kind of anxiety sometimes I feel about performing, in terms of the gaze, I guess, or the way that I feel like the world has changed so much in the time that I've been away from the stage in this particular configuration of playing my music with the full band. So yeah, it was kind of like me, caveating, all that, creating a safe space for all of us. I've got a completely new band also, and got some relatively difficult music to try and learn and play, and just remind ourselves that this is a space for expression and not for perfection and, you know. Which can be a difficult one to take on, because naturally I want things to be great, but yeah, just giving that space, like this is a space to feel a sort element of freedom, like a reminder. There's times when we're playing, I guess every musician will know. Sometimes your mind will just wander about... Just wander off, and you'll even think, "What am I actually doing here?" And sometimes you're just reconnecting to what you're doing and playing with people and the connection, just the purity of it. Kind of like a circle, I guess.
Sampha discussing the future and following his gut when making music…
In terms of trajectory, there's a few directions I feel like I want to go in, but I recognise that I'm someone who sort of follows their gut and things can be quite fluid in the moment. I can look at this record and I can see where I hit a ceiling. I'm like, "Oh yeah. I hit a ceiling there. Okay. Maybe I need to go and figure some stuff out from there." And then there's other points where it's like, "Don't be so hard on yourself. Let go. It's all right. Just have fun and give thanks.”
