Sampha Returns After Six Years With “Spirit 2.0”
Sampha has returned with a new single, “Spirit 2.0” after a six-year hiatus. The English musician/producer first gained traction in 2013 with his EP, Dual. During the earlier years of his career, Sampha collaborated with established names, including Beyoncé, Drake, Frank Ocean, Kanye West, SBTRKT, and Solange. His critically-acclaimed debut album, Process, was released in 2017 and won the Mercury Prize, an annual award given for the best album released by a British or Irish act. Following the release of Process, Sampha took a step back from the solo spotlight and focused on collaborations again. He has since collaborated with more established names, including Actress, Alicia Keys, Florence + Machine, and Kendrick Lamar, who he was nominated for a Grammy with as a featured artist and songwriter on Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. He also worked with Stormzy on This Is What I Mean as a featured artist and songwriter, earning a track named after him, “Sampha’s Plea.”
While “Process” demonstrates the grief Sampha experienced over the loss of his mother and looks back on his childhood and relationship with his piano, “Spirit 2.0” demonstrates his optimism today. He opens the song with, “Waves will catch you (Oh), Light will catch you (Oh), Love will catch you (Oh), Spirit gon’ catch you, yeah (Oh-oh),” which later plays a part in the comforting chorus. He continues his growth and puts trust in himself and other connections in the pre-chorus, “And now I’m driftin’ into open skies (Yeah), I ain’t scared as before, ain’t as scared as before.”
Sampha debuted “Spirit 2.0,” produced by himself, El Guincho, and Riccardo Damian, at his Satellite Business shows in New York and London this past June. The shows involved Sampha and his band facing each other on an elevated circular stage. Using a wide range of instruments, they played released and unreleased tracks.
While no album or tour has been announced, fans can get excited about what Sampha has planned for the future. The visualiser for “Spirit 2.0” can be watched below.
Featured Image Credit: Sampha on Twitter