Sampha

Sampha was born in Morden, South London to Sierra Leonean parents who moved to the United Kingdom in the 1980s.

His introduction to music began with learning to play on the piano at his parents' home in Morden and listening to records given to him by his older siblings.

As a teenager he discovered music production after his older brother, Sanie, built himself a makeshift home studio.

Sampha Lahai Sisay (born 16 November 1988) is a British singer, songwriter, musician and record producer from Morden, South London.

Sampha is widely known for his collaborative work with Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Frank Ocean, SBTRKT, Jessie Ware, Travis Scott, Kanye West, Solange and others.

In 2007, Sampha met London producer, Kwes, whose music Sampha said changed his life, through Myspace.

Kwes guided him and introduced him to musicians, Mica "Micachu" Levi, Ghostpoet, DELS as well as his future record label, Young.

In 2009 Sampha interned at the label.

Also through Young, Sampha was able to remix 'Basic Space' by The xx and meet his earliest collaborators: SBTRKT, Jessie Ware, Bullion and Lil Silva.

Sampha is also the cousin of grime artist Flirta D from the grime music group SLK.

Sampha has released two solo EPs: Sundanza (2010) and Dual (2013).

Sampha's debut album, Process, was released on 3 February 2017 by Young and won the 2017 Mercury Prize.

His second album, Lahai, was released on 20 October 2023.

He went to Ewell Castle School, studying A-Level Music: in 2017 he returned to open a new music studio building.

Sampha released his first album, Process, in 2017.

The album was critically acclaimed, and Sampha was awarded the Mercury Prize for best album of the year.

He released his second album, Lahai, in 2023, also to critical acclaim.

Sampha's first child, a daughter, was born in the spring of 2020.