SBTRKT & Sampha

Biography

SBTRKT (Aaron Jerome) and Sampha (Sampha Lahai Sisay) are two influential British musicians whose collaborative work helped define the sound of UK electronic and alternative R&B in the early 2010s. SBTRKT, born in London, began his career as a producer and remixer, quickly gaining recognition for his innovative blend of garage, dubstep, and pop. Sampha, born in Morden, South London to Sierra Leonean parents, started making music as a teenager, learning piano at home and later discovering music production through his older brother. Both artists met through the Young Turks label, where Sampha interned and SBTRKT was already an emerging producer. Their partnership flourished on SBTRKT’s self-titled debut album in 2011, with Sampha contributing vocals, songwriting, and production to eight of the thirteen tracks. The album’s critical success established both artists as central figures in the UK’s electronic music scene.

Musically, SBTRKT is known for his masked persona and genre-blending production, while Sampha’s emotive, soulful voice and introspective songwriting have become his signature. Their collaborative style fused electronic beats with heartfelt lyrics, influencing a generation of artists across genres. Sampha’s solo career took off with the release of his Mercury Prize-winning album Process in 2017, while SBTRKT continued to release acclaimed solo work and collaborate with artists like Jessie Ware and Little Dragon. Together, their legacy is marked by a unique synergy that bridged underground and mainstream audiences, pushing the boundaries of electronic and R&B music.

Fun Facts

• Sampha’s debut EP Sundanza was released on limited hand-sprayed CD-Rs by Young Turks.
• SBTRKT is known for performing with a mask, which became a signature part of his stage persona.
• Sampha is the cousin of grime artist Flirta D from the group SLK.
• Sampha’s debut album Process won the 2017 Mercury Prize, a major UK music award.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Kwes - Producer and mentor who introduced Sampha to the Young Turks label and other musicians (Young Turks label, collaborations with Micachu, Ghostpoet, Dels) [2007–2009]

Key Collaborators

• SBTRKT - Frequent collaborator and bandmate; Sampha provided vocals, songwriting, and production (SBTRKT (2011), 'Hold On' (2011), 'Trials of the Past' (2011)) [2009–2012]
• Jessie Ware - Collaborator on various tracks and live performances (Devotion (2012), live shows) [2010–2012]
• Lil Silva - Early collaborator and fellow Young Turks artist (Various remixes and live shows) [2009–2011]

Artists Influenced

• Fred again.. - Cited Sampha’s emotive style and production as an influence (Actual Life series) [2020s]
• Loyle Carner - Collaborated with Sampha and cited his work as inspirational (Not Waving, But Drowning (2017)) [2017–present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Wildfire (SBTRKT (Deluxe Version))
2. Hold On (SBTRKT (Deluxe Version))
3. Pharaohs (SBTRKT (Deluxe Version))
4. NEW DORP. NEW YORK (Wonder Where We Land)
5. Wildfire (SBTRKT)
6. Trials of the Past (SBTRKT (Deluxe Version))
7. BET YOU NEVER
8. Right Thing to Do (SBTRKT (Deluxe Version))
9. FORWARD
10. TURN YOUR HEART AROUND

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia