We caught up with Sampha to talk the themes of family, life challenges, and spirituality that saturate ‘Lahai’
In the midst of a chilly, fog-laden day in London, fresh from a recent sojourn to the warmth of Florida, Sampha prepares to embark on his Antipodean tour.
We had the privilege of catching up with the artist to discuss the intricacies of his creative process.
Fresh from the release of ‘Lahai,’ acclaimed as one of the standout albums of the year, Sampha generously shared insights into the life experiences that shaped this profound exploration of the human journey.
The album, a celebration of existence, is deeply influenced by pivotal moments such as becoming a father and navigating the challenges of life amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic gave me the space to reflect, it was a slowing down of normal life. It allowed me to recognise the need of a shift of perspective, and what spiritually means, it gave me time to reflect on relationships, its quite a personal record, and introverted, as well as looking outwards.”
Sampha’s reflections on relationships, spirituality, and personal struggles are woven into the fabric of ‘Lahai,’ creating a tapestry that resonates with the cosmic awe found in the works of John Coltrane and Alice Coltrane.
Our conversation delved into the recording process, spanning various locales in the UK, from Sampha’s former flat to the vibrant city of London and even the sunlit ambiance of Miami.
The deliberate two-and-a-half-year timeframe allowed Sampha to sidestep the pressures inherent in album production, embodying the perfect Sampha style of rolling out an album, measured, and with a space between each breath.
Sampha consistently leans into specific narratives that resonate with him. In the context of this record, he reflects on the themes that have preoccupied his mind, stating, “family, life’s challenges, life and the other side of it.” His introspection extends to the seamless integration of spirituality into his creative process.
In ‘Lahai,’ he shares personal experiences, prompting a universal conversation about the common threads in the human experience.
And in it, that also means acknowledging struggle, “whether it’s losing people, and facing up to how that has affected me, and recognising the need to integrate spirituality, and to want a practice of some sort in my life.
Those were the themes of the record as well. Those feelings of flying, the feelings of having a birds eye perspective, because sometimes it feels like especially in your normal day to day life, its highlights, how being on tour, how different his life would be on tour, and when I come back home, you get back into the same groove, and that maybe, that needed a dramatic shift. In how I was living.”
Beyond the musical realm, Sampha shared insights into his spiritual practices, involving conversations with family and friends, diverse reading, and the infusion of mindfulness into his daily routine. The importance of connection, whether through a simple phone call or a renewed appreciation for the familiar, emerged as a recurring theme.
“Some of my practices are musical, some of his practices are mindfulness, writing things down, or just taking the time to appreciate whatever it is he is dong, whether it’s looking out the window and seeing something new, the same window he’s looked out of for two years, and recognising, oh i’ve never noticed that before.
Whatever it might be, just taking that time out, and connection as well, some of my practice is about connection, calling someone up that i’ve been meaning to call for ages, lots of different things.”
As our conversation touched on life’s challenges, Sampha revealed his commitment to mindfulness and presence, recognizing that true spiritual practice arises from confronting difficulties. The journey, he confessed, is ongoing—a perpetual walk into challenges with eyes wide open.
Venturing beyond music, Sampha draws inspiration from film, in partcualr short films, art, photography, and literature. Although his cinema attendance has waned, he enjoys occasional cinematic excursions chosen by his niece.
Reflecting on his previous visit to Australia in 2017, Sampha eagerly anticipates the upcoming tour, cherishing the prospect of creating enduring memories in different cities. His love for Australia, both musically and gastronomically, underscores the strong connection he feels with the local scene.
As our chat came to a close, we asked what makes him happy, “being around people that I like, it’s a big deal being around people you like, definitely creating, there’s a lot that makes me feel content, good food, and treating your body well, it’s nice to go through phases that promote endorphins in a positive and stable way, trying to be healthy, in a lot of different respects, because things like that can literally just change your mood, on a physiological level.”
When asked about intuition over discipline, Sampha sees the merit in the latter:
“There’s that side of life (discipline) which is freeing, because it gives you a base, as difficult as that might be, so having the discipline of a physical practice is great.
All of these things are connected, and thats like the holy grail, a physical practice, a lot of people might be able to reach a place of zen, without yoga, not that I do yoga, but its a great example, becuase its a path way to reaching that meditative state, and so there’s many different pathways to reach happiness, or conteness, and its balancing things as well, because as with anything, you can exercise and it can become a bit if a drug, it’s like, ‘oh great i’ve got these endorphins, and the when they go, it’s like oh no, where are they?’
So a lot of life is just like creating balance, in whatever respect it, balance is ever important.
In his characteristic reflective style, Sampha shared insights into the things he holds closest – people, creativity, and the ongoing quest for contentment in every aspect of life.
