Live Review: Sampa The Great, Silentjay

Silentjay opened the sold-out show, laying down smooth, mellow beats with heavy bass, in a style that was slick and easy to enjoy. The crowd in the fast-filling venue loved it. 

Sampa The Great, aka Sampa Tembo, came on stage to the teased opening notes of Final Form. Her band filled the stage, along with a brass and woodwind section – trumpet, saxophone, flute and trombone – and the three back-up singers of Sunburnt Soul Choir.

They properly opened with the symbolic and unapologetic Freedom. Tembo has made no secret about the pressure to conform from the industry and her peers, or her journey to making her own unique sound from her own life experiences.

Sampa The Great. Photos by Hayden Nixon.

Tonight was all about that journey, with Tembo reflecting on her time in Sydney (which "birthed" her) and humbly acknowledging the packed house, a clear indication of how successfully she’s communicated her story and her sound. Tembo spoke candidly and earnestly with the crowd about her love for music and her way forward.

The band followed with 2018’s Energy and two dancers came out and brought the "energy" to life, their bodies fluid and a natural extension of the music.

A special highlight was Mwana, which featured her sister Mwanje Tembo’s impressive vocals. Sampa Tembo spoke about writing Black Girl Magik for her sister, to encourage her to create and own her own idea of beauty. The notion of owning your own narrative and identity is engaging to many and it appealed to all who struggle with self-image, and who enjoy a good tune.

Sampa The Great. Photos by Hayden Nixon.

Sampa The Great brought on Thando as a special guest, and they sang Diamond In The Ruff together. Tembo’s collaborators seem to adore her, and the love they feel for each other spilt out into the crowd.

After introducing the band one by one, and giving each band member the spotlight to showcase their incredible talents, Tembo wrapped up the gig with the punchy OMG.

As the band disappeared from the stage, the bassist and singer encouraged the crowd to keep asking for more (happy to, was going to anyway) and led a chant to bring Sampa The Great back. The rest of the group returned to stage to play Final Form and it was commanding. A pyrotechnic waterfall of sparks flying behind her, Tembo belted out The Return’s biggest hit, with everyone in the band throwing themselves into their final performance, the dancers flying around the stage. The silhouette of the dancers and Tembo with her arms raised in a display of strength during the chant "Black power", was iconic and unforgettable.

Sampa The Great. Photos by Hayden Nixon.