Sampha's music lies at the crux of soulful traditions. The London singer/songwriter/producer's music is steeped in the UK's foggy moods—Burial's vaporous garage, Massive Attack and Portishead's mournful trip-hop—but his melodic instincts and acoustic colors also draw from ‘80s folkies like Tracy Chapman and Afropop vanguardists like Oumou Sangaré. Looming largest of all is Sade's effortless, melancholy grace.