Process

“Process” is the debut studio album by English singer Sampha, released on 3 February 2017 by Young Turks. Co-produced by Sampha and Scottish producer Rodaidh McDonald, the album won the Mercury Prize for 2017.

The recording of “Process” marked a shift from Sampha’s usual home recording style to professional studios. The majority of the album was recorded in London, with additional sessions at Ocean Sound Recordings on the Norwegian island of Giske.

The album’s lead single, “Blood on Me,” was released on 26 August 2016, followed by “(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano” on 12 January 2017. The music video for “(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano,” directed by Jamie-James Medina, was released on 31 January 2017 in both standard and virtual reality formats.

“Process” received widespread acclaim and was recognised in several year-end lists. It was featured in BBC Radio 6 Music’s Top 10 Albums of 2017, Clash’s Top 50 Albums of 2017, and Pitchfork’s list of The 50 Best Albums of 2017. Additionally, the single “(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano” was included in Pitchfork’s 200 Best Songs of the 2010s.

Samples used in the album include Neil Armstrong’s moon landing dialogue in “Plastic 100°C” and various other recordings for tracks such as “Timmy’s Prayer.”

“Process” features contributions from a range of artists and professionals including Rodaidh McDonald (production), David Wrench (mixing), and Matt Colton (mastering). Sampha Sisay served as the primary writer, performer, and producer.

The album performed well on the charts, reaching number 7 on the UK Albums Chart and number 51 on the US Billboard 200. It achieved silver certification in the UK for 60,000 units sold.