Sampha Sisay’s long-awaited debut album Process is finally here to enjoy in full. Yes, it’s early in the year still, but it’s highly likely this will show up on many end-of-year lists come December.
Known for his collaborations with artists including Kanye West, Drake, Solange and SBTRKT, apart from some early EPs, it has been some time since we heard Sampha’s music through his own lens.
The album was preceded by three diverse singles which gave us a taste of what to expect: Timmy’s Prayer, the dance-floor grooves of Blood On Me and the crushing, intimate (No One Knows Me) Like The Piano – for which Sampha also released a high-tech virtual reality 360 degree video earlier this week – each offered a completely different angle to the London artist, each thread of which is furthered throughout the whole record.
The album questions what it means to be human, to process human emotion, to live through relationships, love, loss and beyond. Sampha’s stunning, unique voice is utterly captivating throughout. As I already wrote, Process is pristinely assembled; sagacious yet vulnerable, it neither conceals nor avoids what lies at its core: real, imperfect, uncertain humanity.
Stream the full album here. Below, check out Sampha’s upcoming Australian tour dates.
May 24: Studio, Auckland
May 25: The Triffid, Brisbane
May 27: Sydney Opera House, Sydney
May 28: Sydney Opera House, Sydney
May 29: The Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne
Image: Supplied
On the eve of releasing his debut album Process, Sampha has shared an immersive, emotional video clip to coincide with his intimate single (No One Knows Me) Like The Piano. In a collaboration with Youtube, the video utilises cutting edge virtual reality technology to create something not only beautiful, but really really cool. Directed by Jamie James Medine, it stars Sampha at his piano, and model Adwoa Aboah, who acts as the sole audience, and later, dancer. The video begins simply, but as it begins to unravel emotionally, we see Aboah physically coming apart as well.
The video is available as both a regular clip and in 360 degree VR. They’re really different, so it’s worth taking a look, even if you don’t own any VR software.
Here’s the regular video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NSuIYwBxu4&feature=youtu.be
Don’t forget that with 360 degree videos, you can click the screen and drag it around to see the scene from every angle. Check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-ncE-yR8mI&feature=youtu.be
Sampha will release his debut album Process this Friday February 3 via Young Turks.
He will also be visiting Australia in May this year, dates below:
May 24: Studio, Auckland
May 25: The Triffid, Brisbane
May 27: Sydney Opera House, Sydney
May 28: Sydney Opera House, Sydney
May 29: The Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne
Image: Supplied
Ahead of releasing his debut album Process on February 2, last week, Sampha released a new single, (No One Knows Me) Like The Piano – his third from the upcoming record. The intimate, stripped back track features nothing more than Sampha and his piano, and is a tenderly moving ode to the piano he grew up with in his mother’s home, and his mother, who passed away last year after battling cancer; Sampha had moved back home to care for her in her final years, during which he wrote the majority of Process on the piano.
Just a couple of days after the release, the London-born, 27-year-old Sampha Sisay took his new track over to the US to perform on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. While footage exists of Sampha performing the song during several recent concerts, the typically grainy, fan-shot footage is nothing compared to this. The stripped back video resembles a more high-production version of the single’s accompanying artwork, which similarly featured the artist sitting at his piano, the only items in a large, bare space. Armed by nothing – no effects, backing track, or electronic augmentation in any way, the intimacy of this performance – despite taking place in front of an audience of millions – is incredible.
Grab the tissues – no, really – and immerse yourself in what will probably be one of the most beautiful songs of 2017. And yes I’m aware that’s a big call to make on the 15th of January.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4A9caNvh_s
Although he his widely known for his collaborations with SBTRKT, Drake, Kanye West, Solange, Frank Ocean and FKA Twigs to name just a few, Sampha’s debut EPs showcased what he’s capable of without external influence or direction. We truly cannot wait to hear how this sound is expanded upon throughout his upcoming album, easily one of the most highly anticipated of 2017.
Sampha’s Process comes out on February 2, 2017 via Young Turks / Remote Control Records. He will also be touring internationally throughout the year, local dates can be found below:
May 24: Studio, Auckland
May 25: The Triffid, Brisbane
May 27: Sydney Opera House, Sydney
May 29: The Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne
Image: Youtube
We’re just a few weeks away from Process, the highly anticipated debut album of the ludicrously talented Sampha. It’s strange to consider that this is his “debut”, considering how well we know him through the many others who have sought him out for collaborations, including Kanye, Drake, Frank Ocean, Solange, FKA Twigs and of course SBTRKT.
(No One Knows Me) Like The Piano is the third song to come from the album. A wise choice given how different it is to previous singles Timmy’s Prayer and Blood on Me, hinting at the diversity of the album. The track, as you’ve probably guessed from the title, simply features Sampha’s voice and a piano. It’s already become a regular number during his live sets, and today has been officially released alongside a video.
It’s heartbreaking and irresistible all at once. All in all, this is one of the most lyrically, melodically and emotionally magnificent songs I’ve heard in a long time, probably since Frank Ocean’s Blonde (Sampha doesn’t feature on this album, but he does on the track Alabama from visual release Endless). The accompanying image of Sampha at his piano in a wide, empty space, is appropriately bare and intimate.
“You know I left, I flew the nest,” begins the chorus. “And you know I won’t be alone. And in my chest you know me best, and you know I’ll be back home.”
The song is an ode to the piano he grew up with since age 3, on which much of this album was composed. It’s also an ode to his mother, who lost a lengthy on-again, off-again battle with cancer in 2015. Sampha had moved back in with her in 2014 to care for her until she passed, and wrote the song soon after. ““There’s not ‘the grieving process,’” he said in an interview with The Fader. “It’s like a dream you never… It’s never gonna feel real.”
Speaking more directly about his mother, he sings, “An angel by her side, all the times I knew we couldn’t cope. They said that it’s her time, no tears in sight, I kept the feelings close.”
https://youtu.be/njHcZMLDdSc
Sampha’s debut album Process comes out on February 2, 2017.
He will also be visiting Australia and New Zealand in May this year, dates are below.
May 24: Studio, Auckland
May 25: The Triffid, Brisbane
May 27: Sydney Opera House, Sydney
May 28: Sydney Opera House, Sydney
May 29: The Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne
Image: Supplied
2016 was a huge year in music, no question. Release after release of insanely high quality music and 2017 is shaping up to be a very promising year in music as well. Here are some of the albums we’re looking forward to in the new year and some of the rumours that are getting us excited for what’s to come:
The xx, I See You
Expected release date: January 13
It’s been just a little over four years since The xx released their sophomore effort Coexist. The friend who introduced me to what is now one of my favourite bands once described their self titled debut and Coexist as ‘the stories teenage infatuation followed by the stories of adult relationships’ as their sound matured over time. We’ve been given a taste of what is to come with lead single On Hold and the newly dropped Say Something Loving, we may be looking at an xx album that explores the moments where you realise your relationship isn’t working, and you have no idea where you go from here. Prepare to feel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blJKoXWlqJk
Kehlani, SweetSexySavage
Expected release date: January 27
After dropping her mixtape You Should Be Here in 2015 to massive acclaim, 2016 was an intense, emotional year for Kehlani. Following a damaging social media incident, Kehlani was briefly hospitalised. Soon, she returned to the live scene with the beautiful 24/7, in which she shed light on the incident and, before following it up with teaser singles CRZY, Distraction and Advice. From what we’ve heard so far, SweetSexySavage is going to be an R&B-heavy album with incredibly personal lyrics. Kehlani was named ‘one to watch’ in 2015 and in 2017 I believe she’s about to prove that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1waZCoYbts
Big Sean, I Decided
Expected release date: February 3
After crafting a modern classic with his 2015 third album Dark Sky Paradise Big Sean is only moving from strength to strength. Last year he joined forces with Jhené Aiko to release TWENTY88, commenced work on G.O.O.D Music’s second compilation album Cruel Winter and was nominated for a slew of awards. Released in succession, lead singles Bounce Back and No More Interviews immediately set the bar high, as well as new single Moves, which came out with the official album announcement late last month. One of G.O.O.D’s most consistently promising artists, this should be a great album indeed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phr1pOFK1V8
Sampha, Process
Expected release date: February 3
On a routine flight between Melbourne and Sydney some time ago, I opened the inflight magazine. In the music section was a feature on, at the time, up and coming electronic musician SBTRKT. The visuals were so intriguing that I went a bought his self-titled debut the same day. This also introduced me to British crooner Sampha, who features heavily on SBTRKT’s work, and has since been called up to sing and produce with some of the world’s biggest names, like Kanye West, Drake, Solange and Frank Ocean. Sampha’s voice is a work of art in and of itself and his production talents are second to none. Having released two EPs and featuring on so many other songs over the past few years, it’s almost difficult to believe that Process is his debut album, but we absolutely cannot wait to experience the fully realised project, particularly as a solo artist, rather than as a collaborator. Pre-released singles Timmy’s Prayer and Blood On Me are both outstanding – this will undoubtedly be one of the best “debuts” of 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oM1DFL43Lk
Thundamentals, Everyone We Know
Expected release date: February 10
Sydney legends Thundamentals have been off the scene since their 2014 release So We Can Remember but have come roaring back with the announcement of their next album Everyone We Know. In 2016 we were treated to four singles Late Nights, Never Say Never, Think About It and Ignorance Is Bliss as well as a huge national tour with Pez and Mallrat (check out H&E’s review of their Melbourne show here). 2017 is set to be a huge year for the Thundas, let’s get it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t61f8PZtK8k
Rumours
G.O.O.D MUSIC (Various artists), Cruel Winter– G.O.O.D Music/Various Artists
Kanye West’s beloved imprint released its first compilation Cruel Summer was released back in 2012, and its follow-up, Cruel Winter has been constantly rumoured ever since. In the middle of 2016, West released a massive collaborative track, Champions, featuring heavyweights Gucci Mane, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Travis Scott, Yo Gotti, Quavo and Desiigner. The track, as well as a few related social media posts, sparked more interest in the compilation. It has now been rumoured for a February release, although this is completely tentative; considering how busy Kanye West has been in both his personal life and careers, not to mention so many of their artists releasing their own albums and embarking on world tours (Desiigner is in Australia right now and Big Sean’s album is out next month, to name just two examples,) exactly where they found the time to piece it together is unknown. That said, they have had almost five years, so you never know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyfOvJ6ByIY
Arcade Fire
During a reddit AMA in mid-2016, the band’s frontman Win Butler hinted that the next Arcade Fire album could be ready for the North American spring of 2017. Back in October, the Canadian group also played a secret show, during which they apparently debuted several new songs. Considering that Will Butler released his solo album last year, the 3+ year break since 2013’s Reflektor is understandable, but we’re hoping that 2017 will see the band’s fifth studio album.
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys members have been busy with their own projects, including Alex Turner’s Last Shadow Puppets, and drummer Matt Helders spent much of 2016 touring with Iggy Pop. Now that that’s all been wrapepd up, it’s looking like a follow-up to 2014’s AM is on its way; the boys were recently spotted arriving in their home town, spurring rumours that they’re back in the studio.
https://twitter.com/1892AnfieldRoad/status/807193215703142401
Bad Religion
Donald Trump is President of the United States, so of course Bad Religion are making an album.
Gorillaz
Gorillaz creator Damon Albarn has been hinting at a new Gorillaz album throughout 2016, sending the internet into a frenzy. Now slated for 2017 the album is rumoured to feature Vic Mensa, De La Soul, Snoop Dogg, LCD Soundsystem, André 3000 and The Horrors, just to name a few.
London Grammar
Fresh from performing at Falls Festival, London Grammar dropped an ethereal new track on January 1, no doubt a first taste of their long-awaited follow up to 2013’s If you Wait. Judging by the ethereal atmospherics and the spotlight firmly focused on Hannah Reid’s stirring vocals, it’s looking like the album will no doubt expand on the sound fans came to know and love on their groundbreaking debut.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqhgXAGP4Ho
Schoolboy Q
Although he only dropped Blank Face last year, Q recently posted on Instagram that he’s already working on a new album, which will hopefully see the light of day this year. We’re cool with that!
System of a Down
SOAD have been spotted on Instagram practicing new material, and have just announced a string of new shows. If this is a new album, it’s the bands first in 12 years. Further evidence of new material is that they have announced a few European tour dates, and it’s looking like they’ll perform at a few festivals as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSvFpBOe8eY
It’ll be hard for 2017 to live up to the amazing music that 2016 produced, but considering that these are just a tiny percentage of the albums we’re waiting on, it’s looking pretty promising.
It’s time for your weekly dose of the hottest new musical visuals, and this week we’ve got a bit of everything, including healthy doses of nostalgia, action and surrealism. Some of these videos are truly cinematographic while others are a bit of fun, either way they’re made for solid viewing, so you best pull up a seat.
Kllo – Sense
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSPETjXwLOA
First up for this week’s collection of weird and wonderful videos is the new one from Melbourne duo Kllo, off their EP Well Worn. A hazy meander, the video for Sense opens with a shot of the instantly recognisable Royal Arcade off Bourke Street. From there,the duo travel through the suburb they grew up in and wrote a majority of their music and other parts of the city they hold dear – everything from a typically chilly coastal adventure to restaurants, arcades, shopping centres and blossom dappled, homely gardens. The muted tones (courtesy of the Super 8 camera the entire thing was filmed on) of the video offset the nostalgia dripped mumble of the track, the piecing together of the different locations calling to mind the duo’s knack for blending pop and r&b. Intentionally unrefined, the duo have said that the am of the video was to “capture the honest aspects of our life at the moment,” in the same way they do their music.
Rainbow Chan – Pearled Into
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbifrpOlWOg
Headed to Sydney now with Rainbow Chan’s new visuals from her debut album Spacings. Her clip for Pearled Into is decidedly minimalist and plays with blank space. Dressed in all black, she pulls shapes around a stark white box of a room. The simplicity of the clip is captivating and calls attention to the crux of the song, which about working to rebuild yourself. With Rainbow’s angular, interpretive moves and the song’s themes, there is a wonderful marriage between the idea of dancing as though no one is watching and the line “Wear it with pride, girl/ Nothing can hurt you now”. Directed by Rainbow’s frequent collaborator Ellie Graham, the dance was choreographed by Amrita Hepi and while at first it seems simple and perhaps delicate, as it progresses it becomes clear that there is a certain strength at play here.
Tkay Maidza – Carry On ft. Killer Mike
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXKN_IBdhRA
Back down to Adelaide and we’ve got a fresh clip from the wonderfully talented Tkay Maidza. The first single off her highly anticipated, upcoming debut album TKAY (out October 28) Carry On was already a beast of a track and now it’s got a video equal parts gritty and vibrant to go with it. While the song features one half of Run The Jewels, Killer Mike, who was quoted last year singing the praises of Tkay, he doesn’t make an appearance in the clip. Rather, the video focus on Tkay and a small troupe of dancers as they switch up outfits, stomp around what looks like a makeshift photoshoot set and unashamedly make their presence known, as Tkay so often does. Filmed in London during her recent UK & European tour, the clip is a frenetic flurry of colour, style and shape that calls to mind Tkay’s live show and makes you want to dance like nothing else.
L-FRESH The Lion unBECOME ft. Jimblah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry4YrknLDdU
While Sydney’s L-FRESH The Lion has just finished a national tour, that doesn’t mean he isn’t taking time off. He’s just dropped the video for his Jimblah featuring track unBECOME. A captivating gray scale simplicity, the clips follows L-FRESH and Jimblah as they explore the implications of burnout that is often experienced by activists and social workers. Speaking about the concept, L-FRESH said that upon first approaching Jimblah to feature on the track, they spoke about “balancing your own expectations with other people, including you own community’s… We’d spoken about all of this a few times in the past.” The song itself discusses the anxiety that can come with trying to balance all those expectations while still doing the work to be a better person every day and how “many times, we are our own worst enemies.” The stripped back approach to the video allows the lyrics to really come across on their own.
Ta-ku & Wafia – (m)edian
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSQUYCh1rd-SSrQW6ckOofOtIDovWEiVh
Not content with selling out a New York date on their maiden US voyage, for their next trick Australian duo Ta-ku and Wafia have presented not one, not two, but three new videos for an EP they’ve titled (m)edian. Comprising of three tracks, the videos were co-directed by Ta-ku (his debut) with Collider’s Damon Cameron. A surreal, a cool-toned three part series, videos for the songs Treading Water, Meet in the Middle and the inescapable Love Somebody make up (m)edian. As the videos progress, we follow a number of central characters on their strange adventures that are best explained through simply watching the videos themselves. A highly stylized aesthetic which showcases Ta-ku as a multi-talented and yet utterly focused artist, the series feel more like a short, wordless and wonderfully perplexing film than video clips.
Sampha – Blood On Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oM1DFL43Lk
The international entry for this video roundup comes courtesy of one of the most intriguing acts out of the UK, singer-songwriter Sampha. Having collaborated extensively with a number of widely acclaimed artists (we’re talking everyone from FKA twigs and SBTRKT to Beyonce, Kanye West and Frank Ocean), Sampha has given us a frankly stunning piece of film which cuts together a number of threatening and somewhat bizarre scenarios. Perhaps most fitting thematically is the shot of Sampha running on a greyhound track before eventually collapsing, however it is the dramatic ending to the entire piece that tends to stick with you, giving off a sort of Weasley’s-flying car-meets-macabre-Green-witch vibe.
Pixx – Grip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4kONnKvqG0&feature=youtu.be
Also out of the UK is the new offering from Pixx (real name Hannah Rodgers), titled Grip. The song is lifted from her debut album slated for release early next year. Through a series of angular yet fluid movement and a forever twisting and turning camera, the song shows Pixx in what appears to be an abandoned home. Of the song and video, which seems to defy gravity, she said that “we go through life facing backwards, moving forwards without a clue what is in front of us.” much in the way we did watching the video, she said that is a concept she finds herself getting lost in.
Flatbush ZOMBiES – Trade-Off
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPYsfMd16JQ&feature=youtu.be
Finally, we wind things up in Shanghai with the new video from Flatbush ZOMBiES and the short film that provides the visuals for their track Trade-Off. Titled 65 to Life, the film was written and directed by British filmmaker Jayga Rayn and produced by his Shanghai-based production house. The video follows a, perhaps unlikely, duo as they embark on a night’s wicked antics. From a convenience store hold up to the drunken outing that ensues to the call into work the next morning, the film is fast-aced and utterly frenetic and makes for entertaining, enthralling viewing.
Image: Pixx (supplied)
It’s been nearly three years since London’s Sampha Sisay dropped second solo EP Dual .
While surfacing on a leak of Kanye West‘s Saint Pablo and SBTRKT‘s Wonder Where We Land, the introverted artist’s social media channels have remained relatively silent since 2013.
Continuing his proclivity for a sparse blending of acoustic elements and electronica, Timmy’s Prayer builds over an infectiously laid-back groove. High-end synth hooks swirl around a distinctive blending of clean and processed vocals. As always it’s a less-is-more aesthetic that hammers Sampha’s introspective and heartbroken lyrics. Even by the artist’s standards it’s a subdued cut, but the UK producer is more than adept at working minimalism to his advantage.
Accompanying the new track is was a personal yet cryptic message to fans. “It’s been a while. I’ve had a lot to process these past couple of years, as we all do, and it’s hard to articulate sometimes. I wanted to say thank you to all the people who’ve shown me so much love and support. I’m looking forward to start sharing my music with you again,” Sisay reveals.
The artist’s words reflect the idea behind Timmy’s Prayer. It teases interest on what’s to come. Sampha has returned, but he isn’t willing to give too much away, just yet.
https://youtu.be/ZQXDVZf3akg
Image: Stereogum