Young

Wednesday 28th June: London singer, songwriter and producer Sampha returns with a brand new single, “Spirit 2.0”. Released today via Young, “Spirit 2.0” is Sampha’s first solo music in over six years, following the global success of his acclaimed 2017 debut album Process.

Those intervening years have been anything but fallow, with Sampha contributing his inimitable voice to some of music’s biggest releases including, most recently, Kendrick Lamar’s Mr Morales & The Big Steppers (on “Father Time”) and Stormzy’s This Is What I Mean (on “Sampha’s Plea”). Simultaneously, he’s been firmly focused on the creation of his highly anticipated second album alongside a close circle of friends, peers and collaborators.

“Spirit 2.0” is the first song to be released from those sessions. First previewed live as part of his rapturously received “Satellite Business” residencies in London and New York, it sees Sampha elevating his production and vocal ambitions in equal measures, the two pushing each other to ever greater heights. Featuring musical contributions from Yussef Dayes, El Guincho and Owen Pallet alongside vocals from Yaeji and Lisa-Kaindé Diaz of Ibeyi, “Spirit 2.0” acts as a beacon for new sounds, directions and perspectives. Over kicks, snares and polyrhythmic synths that evoke a contemporary take on west African folk music, Sampha summons a dreamlike, self-motivating mantra of positivity and possibility, created to lift him up when he needed it most. If Process was an artist figuring out his own place in the world, engulfed in the shadows of grief and loss, Sampha’s latest music opens to new life and lives in awe of what's beyond.

Speaking about the track, Sampha says: “It's about the importance of connection to both myself and others, and the beauty and harsh realities of just existing. It's about acknowledging those moments when you need help - that requires real strength. I hope people can enjoy that feeling of someone being there for you, even if that person doesn't have the answers. Just calling someone up without overthinking... letting go and just dancing.. wanting to see past the mundanity of things and appreciating the magic of it all, from birds nests to spaceships.”