»Lahai« is not only Sampha’s middle name and the name of his grandfather, but also the title of his latest album. The British musician has been waiting six years for the long-awaited follow-up to his début album »Process«. When he played a handful of shows in small venues this summer, it was clear that this was just the beginning. And now it’s here. One album, 14 songs, several guest appearances and an upcoming tour that will take Sampha to cities all over the world. As the inspiration for the name suggests, »LAHAI« is about life, or rather the chaos and magic inherent in it. And in Sampha’s case, it sounds like a carefully curated genre compilation of jazz, soul, rap and, of course, Afrobeats. Each track tells its own story, sometimes going melancholically deep or simply providing the drive in typical hip-hop ambition. The London-born artist is not only known as a creative force behind his own music, but also as a collaborator with many other notable figures in the music industry. Sampha has worked as a producer or songwriter with Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, Frank Ocean and Drake. It is clear that this varied work has had an influence on his own music. Because it sounds like a blueprint for a wonderful variety of genres.
Sam Morton
Daffodils & Dirt
XL Recordings