Track Exploder – Sampha

Spirit 2.0

Sampha is a singer, songwriter and producer from London. His first album, Process, received the Mercury Prize in 2017. He’s collaborated with artists like the XX, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and Solange. In case you noticed the Track Exploder Netflix show, Sampha was within the Alicia Keys episode, for the music they did collectively as a duet. This 12 months, in October 2023, Sampha put out his second album, Lahai. And for this episode, I talked to Sampha in regards to the music “Spirit 2.0.” Developing, you’ll hear the unique demo, and a few early voice memos.

Sampha recruited some collaborators for the music, like producer Pablo Díaz-Reixa, aka El Guincho, who received a Grammy for his work on Rosalia’s first album; plus Yaeji; and Lisa Kaindé, from Ibeyi. However the music “Spirit 2.0” first took form when Sampha was by himself, at dwelling.

You should purchase or stream “Spirit 2.0” here.

Illustration by Carlos Lerma.

For a transcript of this episode, click here.

El Guincho – Co-writer, co-producer, programmer
Owen Pallett – Arranger, conductor
Yussef Dayes – Drums
Yaeji – Further vocals
Lisa Kaindé, from Ibeyi – Further vocals
Oberheim OB-6
Moog Mother-32
Ngoni and Kora – West African devices
Wassoulou music
“Sabu” by Oumou Sangaré, from her album Worotan
Kodwo Eshun – Author on Ghanaian percussion taking architectural type
RAK Studios
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
In Conflict – Owen Pallett album that includes “The Passions”