SAMPA THE GREAT – SIMON SAYS

Sampa the Great has released SIMON SAYS” the new single from “Nu Zamrock,” her third studio album, coming October 30 via Loma Vista Recordings, The record grew out of a family discovery: while reconnecting with relatives back in Zambia, Sampa learned that her uncle George “Groovy Joe” Kunda was a founding member of WITCH, one of the architects of Zamrock, the country’s 1970s fusion of rock, funk and African rhythm. “Zamrock is part of my family legacy,” she says. “It’s my voice.”

The song runs on distorted vocals over high-tempo production, snares and clap motifs stacked under a chanting backdrop. It’s aimed squarely at the industry’s obsession with visibility, “Simon” standing in for a system more interested in counting numbers than judging artistry.