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Artist News Gigs & Festivals Releases
Sampa The Great announces Zamrock-inspired new album
By Andy Malt | Published on Thursday 30 June 2022
Sampa The Great will release her second album, ‘As Above, So Below’, in September this year, she has announced. First single ‘Never Forget’ is out now.
Having relocated back to Zambia from Australia during the pandemic, ‘As Above, So Below’ sees her work with collaborators in the Zambian and South African music scenes, and take influence from local sub-genres, such as Zamrock, which inspired the new single.
“’Never Forget’ is an ode to Zamrock music, a genre born in the 70s combining traditional Zambian music and psychedelic rock”, she says. “In particular, the song focuses on kalindula music. This tribute was inspired by the band Witch and their lead singer Mr Jagari Chanda, who has become one of my musical mentors”.
“I discovered Zamrock later in my life and was surprised that this music was known globally, yet not fully celebrated and acknowledged in Zambia today”, she continues. “It hit home for me as I felt similarities in my own journey, having had my career take off outside my birth country. I thought it was fitting to pay homage to those who came before me and merge past, present and future through music and imagery; passing the baton from one generation to the next”.
‘As Above, So Below’ is set for release on 9 Sep. The single, which also features Chef 187, Tio Nason and Mwanjé, is out now. Watch the video here:
You can also catch Sampa The Great live in the UK at Gorilla in Manchester on 12 Oct and Koko in London on 15 Oct.
