Jordan Mackampa released new single “What Am I,” ahead of his North American fall tour supporting Amber Run. The soul-soaked track from the London-based singer swims in the sounds and stories of the cities he’s inhabited over the years. Inspired by his Congolese roots and mother’s love of the great soul singers like Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, and Curtis Mayfield, Jordan combines a timeless vocal with catchy melodies and heartfelt lyrics to create an exciting hybrid of alternative pop and soul which will enchant and uplift in equal measure.

With “What Am I,” Mackampa steps further into his true self. The questioning single is executed with soulful resilience against a backdrop of resplendent horns, harmonious percussion, and orchestral strings – and if you listen closely – a funk undertow. It’s the kind of song that sweeps you off your feet, carried by Mackampa’s powerful-yet-amicable vocals reminiscent of Lianne La Havas. The zenith of the track, around the three-minute mark, is especially poignant. The songwriter pivots between uplifting instrumentation and his own sense of unknowing repeating “what am I supposed to do?” in tail capturing the feeling of a generation, lost. As the track comes to an end, Mackampa leaves us without an answer, left to ponder the question on everyone’s lips. “What Am I” was produced by Dani Castelar (Paolo Nutini).

Speaking on the track, Jordan quotes: “‘What Am I’ is a modern take on Marvin Gaye’s classic ‘What’s Going On’, highlighting the state of the world right now, from multiple wars in different territories; how the earth is dying, to the border control problem & how it’s been dealt with. It’s a lot of ‘hopes and prayers’, changing of display pictures to blue, but all trickling down to a stop soon after, as it’s no longer in the forefront of the media.

I wrote this song in the mindset of how I need to do more but don’t know how because I am only one man, trying his best to make change within the means available.”

TOUR DATES

10.25 Dallas, TX – Trees **

10.26 Austin, TX – Parish **

10.27 Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall **

10.29 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade **

10.31 Washington, DC – The Black Cat **

11.01 Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry at The Fillmore **

11.02 Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw **

11.05 Toronto, ON – Opera House **

11.06 Cleveland, ON – Beachland Ballroom **

11.07 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall **

11.08 Milwaukee, WI – Colectivo **

11.09 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue **

11.12 Denver, CO – Bluebird **

11.13 Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex **

11.15 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall **

11.16 Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex **

11.25 London, UK – Village Underground

12.03 Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso-Noord

12.04 Tourcoing, FR – Le Grand Mix

12.05 Paris, FR – Point Ephémère

12.07 Prague, CZ – Café V Lese

12.08 Leipzig, Germany – UT Connewitz

12.09 Berlin, Germany – Berghain Kantine

12.10 Hamburg, Germany – Hakken

 **Dates with Amber Run