The Music
The Art of Sami Yusuf
SAMi
EP
2018
SAMi is a side project by this prolific artist that grew out of his desire to explore his British musical roots. The sound is contemporary and minimalist; the lyrics shine a light on the path that Sami has traveled on his own spiritual journey. It’s a side of the musician that is fully developed here for the first time. The songs are direct; they are personal. And they are about transcendence—about seeing the big picture and where we fit in. SAMi is an evolutionary album from this well-loved musician, one that brings us face to face with a mature Sami Yusuf and reflects the increasing metaphysical depth of his artistic expression.
1
Shadowless
Simultaneously floating and rooted, the opening of Sami Yusuf’s composition ‘River of Paradise’ seduces its audience with hypnotic melodies and rhythms of the kora and classical guitar. As the performance unfolds, voices of the instruments assembled on stage seamlessly add to the meditative mood. This is music that speaks with one voice through the prisms of many cultures, embracing and illuminating us. Ballaké Sissoko on kora and Antoine Morinière on classical guitar deliver evocative solos, and Nabyla Maan joins Sami Yusuf in a stunning vocal performance. ‘River of Paradise’ is a new composition by Sami Yusuf from the second of his ‘When Paths Meet’ series. It features The Sami Yusuf Ensemble, The Scoring Orchestra of Paris, The Métaboles, and stellar soloists and specialist musicians in a stunning collaboration. Performed at the Paris Philharmonic.
2
Wanderer
3
8
4
Call My Name
5
Crazy
6
Grounded