I am drawn to the elusive ones. Artists who dwell in those in-between spaces — liminal, amorphous, ephemeral – particularly musicians who are often pigeonholed and pegged to genres. That’s why Ghanaian-born, Peckham-raised Sam Akpro stood out from the jump.
There’s almost constant motion in his music, where a song might take us from a grungey raw riposte to a hazy soundscape in a few minutes. Nocturnal murmurings and rumblings. Bass and drums going for the gut, fx beckoning and beguiling like floaters in the murky night sky. Guitar in one hand, synth in the other, he’s that guy making connections between Sonic Youth and The Alchemist and a whole lot more.
There’s also space, which we talked about in this podcast special. Sam knows how to hold it and harness it, punctuating it with pithy confessions and resolutions. The one who “woke up just to wake again”, who knows that “cutting corners in the dark, won’t get you far” around here.
His past releases suggested an individual with his own ideas. Someone open to collaborating with whoever he crossed paths with, and yet set on navigating his way through the maze. Going left, way out west…
Debut album Evenfall feels so much more assured. A record of serious conviction where all that matters is catching a vibe and moving with real intention. It’s the sound of someone who knows what they want to say and how. If you get it, Evenfall will feel more cohesive than disparate.
The album is very evocative of London life in 2025, with all the restlessness, paranoia, anticipation and impluse the metropolis can bring for a youngblood trying to find their place in it all. Here’s James Massiah locating Evenfall in the now at the climax of his accompanying poem.
“Long time no see friend. Come around. Listen to this record. I know what you’re thinking. I fully agree. This will take us through this wild time. This will still be the soundtrack on those sunny days. Still hearing it. Sat tight. Cold nights. Running riot. Sipping something strong. Nothing long. Fresh as Daisy. Felt like fresh hell but it’s fine now. Or it’s not but. At least we’re getting it done. Play the song.”
Settle in as Sam and I chop it up on myriad topics including finding community in the crowd, how ideas form, writing from somewhere real and staying true to yourself, having faith in the listener and the role of videos and gigs in presenting his ever-expanding world.
PS Check out this tracklist and some of those influences! Towards the end of the podcast Sam introduces me to some great ‘new’ artists emerging from down south. We gon’ be alright.
Evenfall is released on 28 March through ANTI– records.
Sam plays Rough Trade East on 12 April and MOTH Club on 24 April in London.
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SAM AKPRO – Nights away, Part 2 [Pelmard]
AR KANE – Sperm Whale Trip Over [Luaka Bop]
Neil Kulkarni interview
101: AR Kane
IAN DURY & THE SEVEN SEAS PLAYERS – Spasticus Autisticus (Version) [Polydor]
ARMAND HAMMER & THE ALCHEMIST (featuring Fielded) – Aubergine [ALC/Backwoodz Studioz]
FREDDIE GIBBS – Baby $hit (produced by The Alchemist) [ESGN/ALC/Empire]
DEAN BLUNT – Sketamine [Rough Trade]
SAM AKPRO – Tunnel Vision [ANTI-]
📺 Sam Akpro & The CityScrapers live on Morning After (2021)
PRETTY V & JADASEA– Dollarsign
FEEO – It Was Then That I
Dialetik podcast ✨
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