Sampha

Sampha Lahai Sisay (born 16 November 1988) is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer from Morden, South London. Sampha is known widely for his collaborative work with SBTRKT, Jessie Ware, Drake, Kanye West, Solange and others. Sampha has released two solo EPs: Sundanza (2010) and Dual (2013). Sampha's debut album, Process, was released on 3 February 2017, through Young Turks and won the 2017 Mercury Prize.

Sampha was born in Morden, South London to Sierra Leonean parents who came to the United Kingdom in the 1980s. His introduction to music came from learning to play on the piano at his parents' home in Morden and absorbing records given to him by his older siblings. Later, he discovered music production as a young teen, after his older brother, Sanie, built himself a makeshift home studio. He also went to Ewell Castle School for a number of years where he studied A-Level Music and in 2017 returned to open a new music building. Subsequently, in 2007, through Myspace.com, Sampha met London producer, Kwes, whose music Sampha said changed his life. Kwes guided and introduced Sampha to musicians, Mica "Micachu" Levi, Ghostpoet, DELS and his now label-home, Young Turks in 2009, where he interned. Through Young Turks, Sampha remixed 'Basic Space' by The xx and met his earliest collaborators: SBTRKT, Jessie Ware, Bullion and Lil Silva. Sampha is also the cousin of grime artist Flirta D from the grime music group SLK.

Albums

Extended plays

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

Other songs

Productions

• SBTRKT & Sampha – Evening Glow/Break Off
• H.A.S – The Unconscious State
• Jessie Ware & Sampha – Valentine
• SBTRKT – SBTRKT
• Lil Silva – The Patience
• Short Stories – On the Way
• Jean Deaux – Find Your Love
• Drake – Nothing Was the Same
• Katy B – Little Red
• Fabiana Palladino - For You
• FKA twigs – LP1
• Solange – A Seat at the Table
• Chip – Ten10
• Roses Gabor – Fantasy & Facts

Remixes and covers

• The xx – "Basic Space"
• The xx – "Fantasy"
• Zero 7 – "Swing"
• Bobby Caldwell – "What You Won't Do for Love"
• Chairlift – "Sidewalk Safari"
• Friendly Fires – "Blue Cassette"
• Air – "All I Need"
• Prince – "17 Days"
• Roy Davis Jr. featuring Peven Everett – "Gabriel"
• Prince / Sinead O'Connor – "Nothing Compares 2 U"
• Drake – "Controlla"
• Solange Knowles – "Cranes in the Sky"
• Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers - "Get Lucky"
• Oumou Sangare – "Minata Waraba"
• Joni Mitchell - "River (Joni Mitchell song)"

Other

• Bullion and Sampha – I Never Dance (2010, vocals, unreleased)
• Beyoncé – Mine from Beyonce LP (2013, vocals)
• Nautic – Freedom of the Floor from Navy Blue EP (2014, synths)
• CKtrl - Dolphy from Forest EP (2015, vocals, co-production)
• August Alsina - Job from This Thing Called Life LP (2015, sampled)
• Frank Ocean – Alabama from Endless LP (2016, vocals)
• Talib Kweli - The One I Love from Radio Silence LP (2017, sampled)
• ASAP Twelvyy - Strapped from 12 LP (2017, sampled)
• Domo Genesis - Overthinking from Red Corolla mixtape (2017, sampled)
• David Byrne – Everybody's Coming to My House from American Utopia (2018)
• Florence and the Machine - Grace from High as Hope (2018, co-writer, piano)
• Lil Wayne - Let It All Work Out from Tha Carter V LP (2018, sampled)
• Robyn - Send to Robin Immediately from Honey LP (2018, bass syntheziser)
• Solange – Time (Is) from When I Get Home LP (2019, vocals)
• Kindness - 3 tracks from Something Like a War LP (2019, vocals, synth)