Sampha has detailed his new album, Lahai, out on October 20th via Young. What’s more, the English singer has also mapped out an accompanying fall tour and shared the latest single, “Only.”
The album title references the name of Sampha’s paternal grandfather, which is also the artist’s middle name. Clocking in at 14 tracks, Lahai features contributions from Yaeji, Léa Sen, Sheila Maurice Grey (Kokoroko), Ibeyi, Morgan Simpson (Black Midi), Yussef Dayes, Laura Groves, and Kwake Bass. It’s described in a press release as a “communal affair” in which Sampha explores human connection while crossing genres including jazz, soul, rap, dance, jungle, and West African music.
Sampha’s supporting tour will kick off with a three-date London residency at Hackney Church beginning October 12th ahead of North American dates in Chicago, Toronto, New York City, and more. It will wrap up in December with a brief run of Europe; see the full itinerary below. A Live Nation pre-sale begins on Thursday, September 14th (use access code STUDIO) ahead of the general on-sale slated for September 15th via Ticketmaster.
Once tickets are on sale, you can also find them at StubHub for US dates or viagogo for shows in the UK and Europe. StubHub is a secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand.
Featuring a skittering beat co-produced by El Guincho and Sampha himself, “Only” is a contemplative track in which Sampha ponders his very existence. “I been on this grind like it’s gonna break my fall,” he sings. “Careerism pothole, like ‘Where my love one goes?’/ Obediently blindly, I trust you and you know.” Watch the accompanying video, directed by Dexter Navy, below.
Lahai also features the previous single “Spirit 2.0. It marks the follow-up to Sampha’s excellent 2017 debut, Process.
Lahai Artwork:
Lahai Tracklist:
01. Stereo Colour Cloud (shaman’s dream)
02. Spirit 2.0
03. Dancing Circles
04. Suspended
05. Satellite Business
06. Jonathan L. Seagull
07. Inclination Compass (Tenderness)
08. Only
09. Time Piece
10. Can’t Go Back
11. Evidence
12. Wave Therapy
13. What If You Hypnotise Me?
14. Rose Tint
Sampha 2023 Tour Dates:
10/12 – London, UK @ St John at Hackney Church
10/13 – London, UK @ St John at Hackney Church
10/14 – London, UK @ St John at Hackney Church
10/25 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
10/29 – San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom
11/01 – Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre
11/04 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
11/07 – New York City, NY @ Webster Hall
11/11 – Washington, DC @ Howard Theatre
11/13 – Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall
11/15 – Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern
12/04 – Berlin, DE @ Theater Des Westens
12/05 – Amsterdam, NL @ Royal Theatre Carré
12/07 – Paris, FR @ Cirque d’Hiver
