Sampha Returns with “Lahai” After Six-Year Hiatus
The long-awaited album, named after his grandfather, walks you through Sampha’s emotions.
Lahai cover
What’s felt like six years of anticipation and hopeless patience, Sampha has finally returned with his latest album, Lahai, which he named after his grandfather. The album follows after teasing with two singles, “Only” and “Spirit 2.0,” in September. The album is accompanied by a visual poem directed by him and Caleb Femi titled Lahai: Time Travels Memories.
Those who know Sampha know that despite not releasing anything for six years, artists have tapped him to produce, write, and feature in their projects. He has credits in Travis Scott’s UTOPIA, SBTRKT’s The Rat Road, Stormzy’s This Is What I Mean, Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, Alicia Keys’ Alicia, Drake’s More Life, Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo, and many more.
Many presumed that Process would end Sampha’s album run after winning the Mercury Prize and getting nominated for a Grammy. Process came from a place of grief after Sampha lost his mother. The melancholic album was a portal for artistic vulnerability. While Lahai has hints of melancholy, it explores how Sampha can progress from grief, fear, and sadness now that he is a father.
Most of Sampha’s inspiration for Lahai came from Oumou Sangaré’s six-minute song “Worotan.” Throughout the visual poem, Sampha’s directorial debut, Sampha creates his music in a dream-like state behind a synthesizer and a kora. The South London musician calls this his next musical chapter. The album comprises Sampha’s melodic and harmonious spoken words alongside his acclaimed piano-playing and synthesizing. With only one feature with Léa Sen, Sampha succeeded in tackling self-exploration through his spirit, fatherhood, dreams, and generational callings.
