SAMPA THE GREAT
to share short film
“THE RETURN”

PREMIERE LINK HERE

Live 11pm AEST
Wednesday April 22

DEBUT ALBUM THE RETURN IS OUT NOW VIA
NINJA TUNE
BUY/STREAM HERE

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Zambian-born, Botswana-raised and now Melbourne-based artist, Sampa The Great continues her unstoppable rise, announcing The Return short film. Premiering via YouTube tonight at 11PM AEST, Wednesday April 22 (LA 6AM / NY 9AM / UK 2PM / ZM 3PM), the visual shares a moment-by-moment reflection on the powerful musical and personal evolution behind her most affirming release to date. As part of the premiere, fans also have the chance to submit questions that will be answered in a live chat box Q&A with Sampa.

Directed by longtime collaborator Sanjay De Silva (director of “Final Form” and “OMG”), The Return presents a behind-the-scenes look inside the journey to self re-discovery that shaped the album, from a formative return to her home country of Zambia to collaborative sessions in her Melbourne studio, and meeting the artists, family, friends and community who inspired or lended their own voices to the project. Guided by track excerpts, reflective 8 mm-shots and BTS clips, as well as Sampa’s narration, the piece navigates themes of belonging, displacement, identity and freedom alongside landmark moments that forged the body of work. The story’s dance of expression, emotions, and experiences past and present culminates in Sampa’s presiding purpose, “to step out and remember what it was to just create, just be an artist, just feel free.” 

Sampa The Great on the short film: “I knew when the album was being made it was a very important time for me musically and personally. My debut album was, in a sense, a release of control of the sound direction. Going back to root inspirations stronger than ever before with a clear and concise definition of all I am as an artist and as a person. With all that, myself and my team knew the experience and journey had to be documented. Everyone behind the album, from executive producer, to artists, to studios, management and team stg. As well as the people behind the music videos, directors, producers, cinematographers and the Zambia team. We put everything together in the spirit of home – and it’s only the beginning.”

Sanjay De Silva on the short film: “I wanted the short film to weave two different narrative threads that represent two very different sides to Sampa while she was making the album. On one hand, we have the studio sessions, where Sampa “captains the ship”, working closely with her team and collaborators on the music. This is the Sampa we know, she’s strong, she’s a leader and she has a clear vision. The other side is a much more personal look into what the album meant for her. It’s a symbolic journey of her return to self as she travels back home to explore her roots. This is the vulnerable, self-conscious Sampa who isn’t sure of her place in the world.”

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Sampa the Great has forged a reputation for breaking both personal and industry records while writing herself into history books, this year becoming the first musician to ever claim the prestigious AMP title twice in their career, having won just two years prior with her 2017 breakthrough mixtape Birds and the BEE9. The prize continued the building of a prolific legacy alongside lasting industry acclaim for The Return, following her win at the 2019 ARIA awards, when she took home the first ever ARIA for Best Hip Hop Release with her single, “Final Form”. Alongside Kaiit, the pair were recognised as the first women of colour to achieve the title (and in previous category, Best Urban Release). Alongside the ARIAs, Sampa took home multiple titles at the annual J Awards, including Video of the Year for “Final Form” and Double J’s Artist of the Year, while also achieving the title of Best Hip Hop Act at the Music Victoria Music Awards and The Return being recognised as Bandcamp’s #1 album of the year.

With her next chapter in The Return, Sampa the Great continues to inspire and create conversation with her intimate story while solidifying her status as an icon in the making. Tune in to the first public screening of the piece tonight, where Sampa will also be answering a live Chat Box Q&A with fans. 

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THE RETURN
short film is out
11pm AEST Wednesday April 22
via SAMPA’s YouTube
with live Q&A

WATCH TRAILER HERE

PREMIERE LINK HERE

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THE RETURN
is out now via
Ninja Tune
BUY/STREAM HERE

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Follow SAMPA THE GREAT
WEBSITE – FACEBOOK – TWITTER
INSTAGRAM – MERCH

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AMNPLIFY – DB