We haven’t had official new music from The xx in a few years, but the group’s members have stayed busy. That includes Romy pressing forward with a solo career, and she has a new song out today, October 23: She teamed up with Sampha, who previously opened for The xx on early tours back in the day, on the stirring new song “I’m On Your Team.”
Romy says of the single, “It’s a love song but lyrically, it’s honest and truthful. Like ‘we’ve had the magic and dreaminess but now we’ve been through things together, so here we are and I’m putting in the work.’” Sampha adds “I love the idea of being part of a team, that you have to show up for each other, and from there you can create an even deeper connection.’ The evolving nature of a relationship crystalizes somewhere between the chorus of ‘And I hope the way I feel tonight, is the way I feel for life’ and the closing ‘I’m on your team, but I can’t always coach you.’”
The xx, meanwhile, recently had a sort of pseudo-reunion, when Romy and Oliver Sim both featured on one of Jamie xx’s new solo songs, “Waited All Night.”
Sampha doesn’t emerge from his cave very often, but when he does, it’s such a pleasure to witness him out in the wild. Even with his limited catalog, the London multi-hyphenate possesses one of the strongest amongst the rest of the talents in his playing field. Late last year, the feature powerhouse put out his sophomore album Lahai, which focuses a lot on family and big picture questions. He told NME, “I was just wondering about life and big questions, feeling the need to hold onto something or portray a bird’s eye view of my life because I felt like every day was going into every day”. The project certainly sounds as expansive as it’s themes, with sweeping and transformative instrumentals that evoke a sense of wonder and imagination.
We are almost exactly one year removed from it coming out and to help celebrate, Sampha has come through with the deluxe version of Lahai. There are four “new” songs to be had including the previously released “Satellite Business 2.0” featuring fellow UK artist and femcee, Little Simz. If there is a better fully fleshed out version of an interlude, we would like to hear it because this may be the best of its kind. Others include a more “aggressive” version of “Dancing Circles” with a “(2.0)” version, as well as “Re-Entry” and “Sensory Nectar”. Sampha says all of these tracks were either teased at shows and are evolutions of those live performances or are from the vault. Hint: These cuts make it even better.
Sampha and Little Simz collaborate for the first time on “Satellite Business 2.0,” an expansion of the interlude from Sampha’s 2023 album LAHAI. After hearing the song live during Sampha’s residency show at Brooklyn’s Pioneer Works, Simz joined him for an early revision of the track in London this year. A dynamic, constantly evolving song, “Satellite Business 2.0” now features a boastful Little Simz verse about her resiliency and ambition.
In the press release for “Satellite Business 2.0″,” Sampha explained how it was one of the last songs recorded for LAHAI. “I’d always imagined a guest verse to expand on it,” he said. “Simz’s music has been close to my heart and ears for some time now, which makes her being on this song that more special. She’s one of my favorite artists. Her confidence and creative bravery are so refreshing, it’s amazing to see someone giving so much to their art.”
Simz echoed this sentiment in her own statement, saying, “I’m so honored to be a part of this record with Sampha. He truly is one of the most important voices in music today. We have great musical chemistry and respect of each other’s process. Glad I got to stand alongside him on this.”
Listen to Sampha’s “Satellite Business 2.0” featuring Little Simz above.
People seem to forget about R&B mastermind Sampha, as well lyricist extraordinaire, Little Simz. Both are residents of London, England and are also extremely underrated. They do not have the flashy draw of their more mainstream contemporaries, but we feel their talent outweighs those that have a bigger following. Sampha and Little Simz are both Picasso’s of the music world, as they are able to paint vivid personal accounts and convey thoughts in a clever way. Take for example their first-ever collaboration together, “Satellite Business 2.0”. If this song title sounds vaguely familiar, that is because it is a title from Sampha’s latest record, Lahai.
The stunning vocalist finally dropped off his sophomore album after pouring in six hard years of work following his debut, Process. The original cut is just “Satellite Business”, and it was more an interlude. While it did sound intriguing, you could tell it was unfinished as it all it really had was a fairly repetitive verse and an outro. Now, on this “2.0” extended version, it becomes a refrain, and the run time grows from 1:24 to 4:53. The theme of the song centers around the meanings of life, its limits, and how he is able to see people, both in the past and present, in his existence. It is a very beautiful and thought-provoking track and Little Simz verse more than enough extra zest to the mix.
Her rhythm coincides perfectly with the dreamy instrumental, as she raps on topic. She talks about how she lives through her mother’s strong work ethic and how trusting in God has helped throughout her musical journey. “Satellite Business 2.0” is inspirational listen in multiple ways. After hearing it, it makes us wonder why this did not make the original album!
Pray to the Jah, Allah Never sold my soul for the pound or the dollar God flow done like no other Your dark energy won’t fade my color It’s surprise that we manage to survive But you grow thick skin when you grown up in the gutter
Ghetts is an artist we have not updated you in the past couple of years. He has had a lot of exciting things going on around him and we are excited to share it with you. 2024 is looking to be a big year for the London rapper who has been in the game for over a decade. The last project we covered of his was 2021’s Conflict Of Interest. That was also the last time Ghetts put out an LP.
Fast forward to today and we are now just two weeks away from On Purpose, With Purpose. According to Trench, Ghetts will have 18 tracks with guest appearances from Kano, Wretch 32, Pip Millett, Tiggs Da Author, Dexta Daps, Harry Aye, and more. He has already released three singles so far. Those are “Laps” with Moonchild Sanelly, “Twin Sisters” featuring Skrapz, and “Tumbi.”
He is back to presumably give fans one more taster before we get the full tape on February 23. “Double Standards” brings along Sampha, one of the most talented R&B voices period. He is coming off a great solo album release of his own, Lahai. “Double Standards” sees Ghetts painfully rap about the cold hard truths about race and how the social climate is so messed up. It is not the easiest listen, but definitely one worth your time.
What are your thoughts on this brand-new single, “Double Standards,” by Ghetts and Sampha? Is this his strongest single lately, why or why not? Do these two need to collaborate more often down the road? Do you think this is the start of an album rollout? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your hottest takes in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Ghetts and Sampha. Finally, stay with us for the most informative song posts throughout the week.
Quotable Lyrics:
I was on the phone with a pal of mine They ask me why they helping Ukraine and not Palestine And I rеplied “brown skin”, we werе so whitewashed Laughin’ at names we had problems pronouncin’ Kwame said his name was Jerome And he’s from the Caribbean just so people would leave him alone
Sampha dropped his new music video for Lahai highlight “Can’t Go Back,” but that’s not all: He also unveiled new 2024 North American tour dates in support of his recent album.
Of the song, he said, “I spent a lot of time predicting negativity would come my way based on previous life experiences. I would rush past everything thinking I had no time to do anything. I think writing this song was part of learning how to forgive myself in that state of being and to say it’s ok to start now. It’s not always too late. It’s just as important to slow down and recognise I have boundaries and a bandwidth.”
As for that tour: Starting with the Miami date on March 26, fans can currently register to participate in a presale through Sampha’s website. More information can also be found there.
Check out the “Can’t Go Back” video above. Continue scrolling to view a complete list of Sampha’s tour dates.
12/07/2023 — Paris, France @ Cirque d’Hiver Bouglione
02/23/2024 — Auckland, New Zealand @ Powerstation
02/24/2024 — Tapapakanga, New Zealand @ Splore Festival
02/26/2024 — Sydney, Australia @ Hordern Pavillion
02/27/2024 — Brisbane, Australia @ The Tivoli
03/01/2024 — Melbourne, Australia @ Margaret Court Arena
03/03/2024 — Perth, Australia @ Supreme Court Gardens
03/23/2024 — Mexico City, Mexico @ Ceremonia Festival
03/26/2024 — Miami, FL @ Miami Beach Bandshell
03/28/2024 — Birmingham, AL @ Saturn
03/29/2024 — Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl
03/30/2024 — Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
04/02/2024 — Boston, MA @ Roadrunner
04/04/2024 — Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
04/05/2024 — Madison, WI @ Majestic
04/06/2024 — Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
04/08/2024 — Denver, CO @ Summit
04/09/2024 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Complex
04/10/2024 — Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Hall
04/12/2024 — Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
04/13/2024 — Seattle, WA @ Showbox at Market
04/14/2024 — Vancouver, British Columbia @ Vogue Theatre
Six years after releasing his highly revered debut studio album, Process, Sampha has returned with new music, starting with “Simple 2.0” and “Only.” Last month, he dropped his long-awaited follow-up album Lahai. Sampha went on to share the inspiration behind the album’s title, saying, “‘Lahai’ [is my] grandfather’s name. My middle name. My next musical chapter. My next album. Fever Dreams. Continuums. Dancing. Generations. Syncopation. Bridges. Grief. Motherlands. Love. Spirit. Fear. Flesh. Flight.”
Before the album was made available online, Sampha revealed he would embark on the Lahai Tour with stops in the United Kingdom and the US. The North American leg kicked off at the Regency Ballroom on October 29 in San Francisco, California. Here is Sampha’s Lahai Tour setlist, according to Setlist.fm.
1. “Plastic 100°C”
2. “Hold On” (SBTRKT cover)
3. “Satellite Business”
4. “Suspended”
5. “Inclination Compass (Tenderness)”
6. “Without”
7. “Gabriel” (Roy Davis Jr. cover)
8. “Stereo Colour Cloud (Shaman’s Dream)”
9. “Spirit 2.0”
10. “Too Much”
11. “(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano”
12. “Can’t Go Back”
13. “Dancing Circles”
14. “Only”
15. “Can’t Get Close”
16. “Blood on Me”
Encore:
17. “Happens”
View the remaining tour stops below.
11/7 — New York City @ Webster Hall
11/11 — Washington, D.C. @ Howard Theatre
11/13 — Philadelphia @ Franklin Music Hall
11/15 — Atlanta @ The Eastern
12/4 — Berlin @ Theater des Westens
12/5 — Amsterdam @ Royal Theatre Carré
12/7 — Paris @ Cirque d’Hiver
The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.
Time always progresses, whether it be one day closer to when our taxes are due or one day closer to when our existence on Earth is over. The sun rises, it sets, and the moon appears. It progresses whether we’re ready for it or not. Sampha seems to understand that on his second album Lahai, his first body of work in six years and first since 2017’s Process.
However, for the London singer, accepting it is a more difficult task. Amid heartbreak and grief, it almost feels like Sampha hoped time would be courteous enough to wait for him, allow him to sort and recover from his feelings, and not be so fast to move on. The opening record on Lahai, “Stereo Color Cloud (Shaman’s Dream),” begins with a female voice that chants choppily, “I wish you, could, time / Time, missile, back, forward / I miss you, time, misuse / Time flies, life issues.” Though broken up and missing words, the message is still clear.
In “Jonathan L. Seagull,” Sampha poses a question that seems to be directed at this progression of time, among other things. “We’ve both dealt with loss and grief in separate ways / On the same track running at a different pace / Will I catch up or will you just race away someday?” Watching the world continue to spin as you work through grief or heartbreak can make the task of catching up insurmountable. The balance between the days where we fall behind and the ones we feel faster than the world keeps us on pace.
For someone who questioned so much in the face of loss, Sampha sings with hard-won clarity throughout the 14 songs on Lahai. He stands optimistic under blue skies and the bright sun, opposing pessimism under rain clouds with records that aim to be the light at the end of the tunnel for listeners who might be struggling with the latter. “Only” encapsulates Sampha’s existential questions well while also coming clean about the emotional damage that was incurred over time.
Sampha’s lyrics capture the swarm of uncertainties that lie in his head. Fluttering and erratic instruments are juxtaposed with Sampha’s soothing vocals as a way to show that peace can exist amid the whirlpool of the unknown as Sampha acknowledges the freedom to be him with love and protection from others on “Spirit 2.0.” Likewise, he conquers regression on “Can’t Go Back” as rapid drums and high hats dance in the background. There’s a mental and emotional fight at hand and Sampha excels at both telling, showing, and making us feel its existence.
Much of Lahai is inspired by Richard Bach’s 1970 book Jonathan Livingston Seagull. As Jonathan, a literal seagull, aims to discover more about the capabilities of their own body through their growing passion for flight and travel, Sampha seeks to accomplish the same level of self-discovery, growth, and more. In the book’s namesake track, he sings “Even though we’ve been through the same / Doesn’t always mean we feel the same
/ Doesn’t always mean we heal the same / You are not me and that’s okay” — a reminder that comparison is the thief of joy.
SLahai contemplates life, death, love, and the time to experience it all. Although the questions are neverending and the answers often don’t arrive as quickly as we’d like them to, there’s no fear in Sampha’s eyes. Instead, he runs head-on into and through the uncertainty that lies ahead of him. He’s now on the other side and proud of the progress he made.
Lahai is an enchanting display of growth and acceptance as a result of unfortunate events. His sophomore album was created with the intention of capturing both the swarming winds and settled dust that occurs on the journey. Six years gives you plenty of time to figure things out, and with that time available for him to use, Sampha made the absolute best of it.
Lahai is out now via Young Recordings. Find out more information here.
Sampha has a gift that not many other artists in general have. He has a knack for being able to connect the listeners to the stimulations and feelings he wants to recreate. This remains true on one of the songs off of his sophomore album, Lahai. The six-year wait is finally over and it is safe to say that Sampha’s patience and meticulousness paid off. “Dancing Circles” sees the London singer explaining how it feels to talk to someone you have not seen in some time.
Many people will undoubtedly relate to this. Whatever the reasons are, sometimes even the people closest to us can sometimes drift far apart. But, when you do get to see them and talk for hours with them it feels great to reconnect. That is what Sampha is trying to convey on this track.
In an interview with Apple Music, he broke down what the meaning behind the song is and how it came to be. Sampha says, “I sort of freestyled some lyrics and came up with the dancing refrain.” He goes on, “Then [I] had this idea of someone having a conversation with someone they hadn’t seen in a long time, and just remembering how good it is, how good it felt to dance with them.” The production is also fitting for the track as it builds tension. But, it is not uncomfortable. It is a feeling of excitement that you finally get to see the person again that you have missed so much.
What are your initial thoughts on this brand-new song from Sampha off of Lahai, “Dancing Circles?” Is this your favorite song for right now? Is he one of the best at making his listeners feel connected to the story he is trying to tell? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around Sampha, as well as all of the hottest song drops.
Quotable Lyrics:
Runnin’ off adrenaline It’s been a little long time (Time) Since I talked tonight to the birds fly by We talked about minds We talkin’ ’bout, hmm, the feedback it grew Spinnin’ with your cigarette, spinnin’ like laundry ware
Morden, South London singer and songwriter Sampha is an extremely elusive artist. However, fans are always willing to wait however long it needs to be to get new music from him. In this case, six years have gone by since the release of his debut tape, Process. That album won the coveted Mercury Prize, which is the award for the best album to come from the UK or Ireland. He might be in contention for that honor yet again with his sophomore album, Lahai. What set that record apart from the rest was its ability to tell emotional stories of isolation.
Lahai is sort of a follow-up in a way to these previous feelings. According to Sampha’s Apple Music interview, he shows that he is beginning to recover from all of the loss and anxieties he was dealing with. Hence the previous album was titled the way it was. He says, “I don’t necessarily live by what I’m saying but there’s times where I recognize that I need to reconnect to family and friends—times where I can really lose connection by being too busy with my own things.”
In addition to this, Sampha shared some meaning behind the record on his Instagram a little bit ago. This was on his announcement post for Lahai. “My grandfather’s name My middle name My next musical chapter My next album.” He continued, “Fever Dreams. Continuums. Dancing. Generations. Syncopation. Bridges. Grief. Motherlands. Love. Spirit. Fear. Flesh. Flight.” You can experience all of this and more with the links above.
What are your initial thoughts on this brand-new album from Sampha, Lahai? Is this project better than his debut LP, Process? What are your top five tracks right now? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around Sampha, as well as all of the hottest album drops.
