Sampha: Beware of calm waters …

Sampha Sisay worked as a director with SBTRKT, FKA Twigs and Jessie Ware before being put to use by American superstars like Drake, Kanye West and Solange Knowles … As a solo artist, he now collects the dithyrambes with His debut album, Process , and made full house in all major cities of Europe or America.

The British-born African (his parents are from Sierra Leone), who will fill the Corona Theater tonight, has everything to bend the torso, adopt the triumphist tone of the electro-soul star he is becoming.

Now, on the other end of the line, her voice soft and ash is surprisingly timid.

“I suppose word of mouth has done its work,” he said, hesitating. My work has rained, orders have multiplied. Meanwhile, I sang my material as a first part of a few artists. For example, I shot with SBTRKT [especially in Osheaga], which enabled me to discover the power of emotion on stage. ”

Default Director

As a child and pre-adolescent, Sampha learned the rudiments of the piano, which surely helped him to define himself first as a director, although …

“Some people rely on their keyboard knowledge. Personally, I started making songs because I did not know enough! “He chuckles.

Nevertheless, each production allowed Sampha to grow, to gain confidence, to learn this trade where he excels: “I use analogue synthesizers, software, a lot of electronics. I also went through a phase where I played acoustic instruments, guitar or piano, to make more “natural”. I then realized that emotion is more important than the nature of instrumentation. ”

Finding Your Voice

Initially, Sampha saw himself essentially as a director whose voice was only one of the tools.

“I spent endless hours in front of my computer and my instruments. I had the attitude and behavior of a director, and did not focus on my own singing. I did not really see myself as a solo artist … and then I found myself very much fond of singing alone at the piano. This state of mind has made its way, I was more interested in the interpreters with whom I collaborated, in their way of doing. I learned.”

SBTRKT (2011) … (Image provided by the label) – image 2.0
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SBTRKT (2011)

IMAGE PROVIDED BY THE RECORD COMPANY

His song Subconscious , he believes, was the real trigger.

“I had only a thin original repertoire at the time, but something happened when I created this song. Several then encouraged me to continue. It was not easy, notice: I had to fight to get good results, to make my music take off. ”

“It was not easy for me to sing, but I liked to do it and I thank all those who pushed me.”

As for the style of Sampha, the principal interested in it describes the sources and the foundations: “In my family, we listened to a lot of soul / R & B. My parents also played African music at home. I liked Stevie Wonder and I listened to all kinds of artists: 4hero, D’Angelo, Daft Punk … I went from R & B to big beat, hip hop and The electro. Today? Well, it’s a mixture; It is the taste of a Briton of African origin! ”

On stage, he presents himself with a group of four musicians including him.

“We try to transcribe as best as possible the material of my recordings, so as to provide real performance in real time. My music can go through several variations of intensity but also reveals my reserved personality. That said, I’m getting stronger on stage. ”

Beware of calm waters …

At the Corona Theater this evening, 9pm. With Mal Devisa, Michele Nox.

Some collaborations of Sampha

Hold On, SBTRKT, Album: SBTRKT (2011)

Too Much, Drake, Album: Nothing Was the Same (2013)

Saint Pablo, Kanye West Album: The Life of Pablo (2016)

Do not Touch My Hair, Solange, Album: A Seat at the Table (2016)