Abi Sampa

Abi Sampa is a singer from London in the Indian classical tradition. She appeared in The Voice UK in 2013.[1] She sings Qawwali, Carnatic and Western music.[2] She was the first singer from an Asian tradition to appear on The Voice. She and Rushil Ranjan formed Orchestral Qawwali in 2020.

Abi Sampa
Orchestral Qawwali's Abi Sampa at WOMAD in 2023
OccupationSinger, dentist Edit this on Wikidata

Life

Sampa was born in about 1986 and brought up in London by her Hindu Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. By the age of seven she playing the veena and she discovered her singing talent while performing Carnatic.[3]

Orchestral Qawwali at WOMAD 2023

She qualified as a dentist in 2011,[4] and continues to practice dental work in London after her rise to fame on The Voice.

She accompanies herself on the Veena and other Asian instruments, generally with other musicians.[5]

She supported Bryan Adams's tour of India in Ahmedabad in 2018[6] and was involved in the remake of We Are the World in 2018.[7]

In 2020 during lockdown the duo of Sampa and Rushil Ranjan (aka Orchestral Qawwali) released their first qawwali titled, Man Kunto Maula. Their version of the 700 year old song was viewed four million times on YouTube.[3]

They have played with the Firdaus Orchestra and sold out the Southbank centre.[3]

References
  1. "Abi Sampa". BBC One. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  2. "A View of London's Easter Ragas". India Currents. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  3. Khan, Aina J. (17 January 2023). "'It's a spiritual experience': the whirlwind rise of Orchestral Qawwali Project". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  4. "Dentist Abi Sampa hits an emotional nerve on The Voice". Evening Standard. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  5. "The Voice contestant to sing at Rhosygilwen". County Echo. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  6. "Harshdeep, Aditi to open for Bryan Adams on India tour". The Statesman. 9 October 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  7. "Channel Aid: We are the World 2018 - Remake für den guten Zweck!". Originaltext-Service GmbH. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
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