Under The Influence with Sampa The Great

  • Under The Influence with Sampa The Great
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    Ever since laying ears on Sampa The Great and her game changing debut mixtape we've been carrying on to anyone that'll listen to us about (in our extremely expert opinion) the most exciting newcomer on the Australian music scene this year.

    So you can only imagine how stoked we were when she agreed to become a member of our Cool Accidents Singles Club and let us press up a limited edition 7" record to coincide with her upcoming Melbs & Sydney shows... And just in case you can't imagine it, it went a little something like THIS.

    To celebrate the occasion and also get a better insight into what makes our fave new artist tick, we got Sampa to run us through her musical influences both past and present and as expected she came through with THE GOODS. Don't believe us? Check it out -

     

    UNDER THE INFLUENCE WITH SAMPA THE GREAT

     

    1. Zambian Folk Music/African Folk Music:

    Vocal chants, clapping and drums are the biggest soul catchers to me. African and especially Zambian folk music has always captivated me, especially acapella. It’s so RIVITING. Even during a performance, the band will go through chants over and over again even if it’s too long just to capture the power. They are very powerful and not to mention the message and culture. Zambian and African Folk Music is a huge musical Influence


    2. Thandiswa Mazwai : {Lahlumlenze}

    Thandiswa is Cultural music embodied in woman form. Vocal heaven. She is a strong African Woman. One word describes her ORIGINALITY. I look up to this woman for words like fearless, unapologetic and original.


    3. Asa : {Eye Adaba}

    Asa is my vocal mother, Unlike Thandiswa , Lauryn and Angelique. I see similarities in my voice with Asa.

    Capturing you with simple vocals, little to no vocal gymnastics. Just PURITY Lyrics as well on other songs are captivating. Vocal heaven


    4. Angelique Kidjo: {Summertime}

    This song probably is the closest ill get to heaven :”).

    I’m continually transported back home to a safe place. Angelique Kidjo is a legend to me.

    I look up to this woman to be proud of myself. Not pride, to be PROUD of myself. She embodies African Queen like it’s her first name. I’m proud of my skin with her music, my potential and abilities


    5. Tupac Shakur: {That’s Just The Way It Is}

    The biggest rap influence I have ever had.  It’s hard to describe as well. A big influence to writing songs with MEANING and LYRICAL IMPORTANCE as well as understanding that as an artist you have influence to other people.


    6. Knaan: {America}

    First time I heard African folk music infused with Hip Hop that still sounded African. This man is beautiful.

    Epitome of UNIQUE and FRESH. I look up to this man to keep my origins In every thing I bring , to make it fresh and new while still being unique.
     

    7. Fela Kuti:

    You can’t put a song in particular to the King of Afrobeat. Fused Jazz African music to make a whole new genre. CONCIOUS of what is happening around him even though he was a huge artist, he was always about the music and the message. Always bringing to light political conversations from around the world, UNAPOLOGETICLY AFRICAN.


    8. Nina Simone: {Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood}

    You cant put a song on Nina. Though don’t let me be misunderstood was one of those riveting ones. I used to hate having a low register voice. But being the Legend that Nina Simone was, I saw EXPRESSION and SOUL from her. I look up to her to remember to be myself.


    9. Lauryn Hill/Fugees:

    I listen to everything from Lauryn Hill. She reminds me that I have a PURPOSE. She’s so influential it’s quite hard to describe in detail. Singer, Songwriter and Poet, same as myself. I see attributes of myself in her.  One of the biggest musical influences I have ever had.


    10. Mos Def:

    Everything Mos Def, the first time I heard the mixture of singing & rapping was from him. It was so captivating. Still growing, I found it hard to balance both energies. Besides Lauryn, Mos gave me an example of how to do that.

    I look to him to remind myself to be able to CAPTIVATE an audience, instead of just putting on a good show.


    11. Bob Marley:

    Everything Bob Marley has influenced me. As messed up as humanity seems to be he upheld a universal love. I keep the motion to LOVE all people as well as know my voice is powerful. I look up to him for SELF BELIEF and a sense of TOGETHERNESS.


    12. Damien Marley ft Nas: {distant RELATIVES}

    Individually Damien and Nas are both influential artist to me. But Distant Relative was a whole other genre that they made, to me it was so underrated.

    Damien is the epitome of how cool UNIQUENESS can be, while Nas inspired turning my life into a story by being a STORYTELLER


    13. D’angelo: {Voodoo }

    Vocal heaven. A different soul take to Vocal chants that I much love.

    However uncool it may seem, I’m reminded to always keep my expression SPIRITUAL, besides, music is a spiritual exchange.



    14. Lupe Fiasco:
    Lyrical Genius. Always been inspired by Lupe to be able to play with words and the way I express myself. Keep the standard of LYRICISM high


    15. Chance the Rapper: {Wondeful Everyday}

    Chance the Rapper is my newest influence. I went back home last December and got 2 new influences.

    I had put an unreasonable pressure on myself to be some hard rap chick and get every line correct and freestyle Queen of life, it was crippling.

    This ruined what I look up to this man for, CREATIVITY and LAUGHTER.

    I forgot how to have fun with not just hip hop, soul singing and writing, everything that I do. I found out that in particular the notion of Hip Hop being a sport rather than an art, had made an unnecessary competiveness that gave little to no room for creativity and FUN. Making art should be a beautiful, fun experience. If I ever meet him I would say thanks for the reminder Chance.


    16. Kendrick Lamar

    Kendrick Lamar is my newest influence. He always has a PRESENCE in his songs as well as performances. As well as maintaing a high level of artistry.

    ~

    See. We told you. It really comes as no surpise that Sampa has GREAT taste in music, we'll leave you with a bunch of Sampa's selections in one easy to digest playlist:

    Oh and if you know what's good for you (and your soul) you'll let her CAPTIVATE you at one of the shows below and pick up one of the aforementioned limited edition records whilst you're at it!

    SYDNEY - November 11 @ Newtown Social Club - Tix | RSVP

    MELBOURNE - November 13 @ Northcote Social Club - Tix | RSVP

     

     

     

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Ever since laying ears on Sampa The Great and her game changing debut mixtape we've been carrying on to anyone that'll listen to us about (in our extremely expert opinion) the most exciting newcomer on the Australian music scene this year.

So you can only imagine how stoked we were when she agreed to become a member of our Cool Accidents Singles Club and let us press up a limited edition 7" record to coincide with her upcoming Melbs & Sydney shows... And just in case you can't imagine it, it went a little something like THIS.

To celebrate the occasion and also get a better insight into what makes our fave new artist tick, we got Sampa to run us through her musical influences both past and present and as expected she came through with THE GOODS. Don't believe us? Check it out -

 

UNDER THE INFLUENCE WITH SAMPA THE GREAT

 

1. Zambian Folk Music/African Folk Music:

Vocal chants, clapping and drums are the biggest soul catchers to me. African and especially Zambian folk music has always captivated me, especially acapella. It’s so RIVITING. Even during a performance, the band will go through chants over and over again even if it’s too long just to capture the power. They are very powerful and not to mention the message and culture. Zambian and African Folk Music is a huge musical Influence


2. Thandiswa Mazwai : {Lahlumlenze}

Thandiswa is Cultural music embodied in woman form. Vocal heaven. She is a strong African Woman. One word describes her ORIGINALITY. I look up to this woman for words like fearless, unapologetic and original.


3. Asa : {Eye Adaba}

Asa is my vocal mother, Unlike Thandiswa , Lauryn and Angelique. I see similarities in my voice with Asa.

Capturing you with simple vocals, little to no vocal gymnastics. Just PURITY Lyrics as well on other songs are captivating. Vocal heaven


4. Angelique Kidjo: {Summertime}

This song probably is the closest ill get to heaven :”).

I’m continually transported back home to a safe place. Angelique Kidjo is a legend to me.

I look up to this woman to be proud of myself. Not pride, to be PROUD of myself. She embodies African Queen like it’s her first name. I’m proud of my skin with her music, my potential and abilities


5. Tupac Shakur: {That’s Just The Way It Is}

The biggest rap influence I have ever had.  It’s hard to describe as well. A big influence to writing songs with MEANING and LYRICAL IMPORTANCE as well as understanding that as an artist you have influence to other people.


6. Knaan: {America}

First time I heard African folk music infused with Hip Hop that still sounded African. This man is beautiful.

Epitome of UNIQUE and FRESH. I look up to this man to keep my origins In every thing I bring , to make it fresh and new while still being unique.
 

7. Fela Kuti:

You can’t put a song in particular to the King of Afrobeat. Fused Jazz African music to make a whole new genre. CONCIOUS of what is happening around him even though he was a huge artist, he was always about the music and the message. Always bringing to light political conversations from around the world, UNAPOLOGETICLY AFRICAN.


8. Nina Simone: {Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood}

You cant put a song on Nina. Though don’t let me be misunderstood was one of those riveting ones. I used to hate having a low register voice. But being the Legend that Nina Simone was, I saw EXPRESSION and SOUL from her. I look up to her to remember to be myself.


9. Lauryn Hill/Fugees:

I listen to everything from Lauryn Hill. She reminds me that I have a PURPOSE. She’s so influential it’s quite hard to describe in detail. Singer, Songwriter and Poet, same as myself. I see attributes of myself in her.  One of the biggest musical influences I have ever had.


10. Mos Def:

Everything Mos Def, the first time I heard the mixture of singing & rapping was from him. It was so captivating. Still growing, I found it hard to balance both energies. Besides Lauryn, Mos gave me an example of how to do that.

I look to him to remind myself to be able to CAPTIVATE an audience, instead of just putting on a good show.


11. Bob Marley:

Everything Bob Marley has influenced me. As messed up as humanity seems to be he upheld a universal love. I keep the motion to LOVE all people as well as know my voice is powerful. I look up to him for SELF BELIEF and a sense of TOGETHERNESS.


12. Damien Marley ft Nas: {distant RELATIVES}

Individually Damien and Nas are both influential artist to me. But Distant Relative was a whole other genre that they made, to me it was so underrated.

Damien is the epitome of how cool UNIQUENESS can be, while Nas inspired turning my life into a story by being a STORYTELLER


13. D’angelo: {Voodoo }

Vocal heaven. A different soul take to Vocal chants that I much love.

However uncool it may seem, I’m reminded to always keep my expression SPIRITUAL, besides, music is a spiritual exchange.



14. Lupe Fiasco:
Lyrical Genius. Always been inspired by Lupe to be able to play with words and the way I express myself. Keep the standard of LYRICISM high


15. Chance the Rapper: {Wondeful Everyday}

Chance the Rapper is my newest influence. I went back home last December and got 2 new influences.

I had put an unreasonable pressure on myself to be some hard rap chick and get every line correct and freestyle Queen of life, it was crippling.

This ruined what I look up to this man for, CREATIVITY and LAUGHTER.

I forgot how to have fun with not just hip hop, soul singing and writing, everything that I do. I found out that in particular the notion of Hip Hop being a sport rather than an art, had made an unnecessary competiveness that gave little to no room for creativity and FUN. Making art should be a beautiful, fun experience. If I ever meet him I would say thanks for the reminder Chance.


16. Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar is my newest influence. He always has a PRESENCE in his songs as well as performances. As well as maintaing a high level of artistry.

~

See. We told you. It really comes as no surpise that Sampa has GREAT taste in music, we'll leave you with a bunch of Sampa's selections in one easy to digest playlist:

Oh and if you know what's good for you (and your soul) you'll let her CAPTIVATE you at one of the shows below and pick up one of the aforementioned limited edition records whilst you're at it!

SYDNEY - November 11 @ Newtown Social Club - Tix | RSVP

MELBOURNE - November 13 @ Northcote Social Club - Tix | RSVP

 

 

 

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