Heavily inspired by the likes of Beyoncé’s “We Like To Party” and Earth Wind & Fire’s “Let’s Groove,” British-Congolese - Zaire by way of London, England, to be exact - musician, Jordan Mackampa’s latest single / video, “STEP BY STEP,” is a bonafide backyard BBQ party starter.
The anthem-like feel-good offering comes courtesy of his highly anticipated sophomore collection, Welcome Home, Kid [AWAL Recordings], the eagerly awaited follow-up to 2020’s Foreigner.
This spring make sure and catch Mackampa igniting stages across the U.S. and Canada on his not-to-be-missed headlining “Homecoming Tour.”
Muzikscribe: Let’s hop right into this latest body of work, Welcome Home, Kid!— Conceptually, what does this title represent both to and for you?
Jordan Mackampa: For me, it represents where I’m at now as an artist and a person. It’s a project about my life told in 3 phases; growth, love and acceptance. It’s my proudest work to date.
Muzikscribe: How then does Welcome Home, Kid! either differ and / or compare to previous Jordan Mackampa efforts?
Jordan Mackampa: This album is a lot more introspective and far more personal, if that’s even possible. I made a conscious decision in writing from a selfish POV where I wasn’t attempting to relate to anything / anybody and just talk about my experiences, exactly as and when they happened. I’ve not been this naked within my songwriting before, but it’s freeing.
Muzikscribe: As a songwriter, when you sit down to pen your lyrics where do you draw inspiration from?
Jordan Mackampa: I only speak about what I know and how it made me feel. I could write a song about being stuck on a train and make it sound like heartbreak, with an insane RnB bridge from the ‘90’s — songwriting to me is about how (to) deliver something sonically, so that even if you don’t speak the native tongue, the message behind it is unmissable.
Muzikscribe: Reflecting, tell me your whole inception into music -- When did you first become interested in it? And, how did it all begin for Jordan Mackampa?
Jordan Mackampa: Me and music have been best friends since I was very young and as best friends do, we don’t always see eye to eye but we’re there for each other when we need to be. Now It feels like we are entering our prime, after almost 9 years together professionally, we’ve found a new way of existing side by side.
Muzikscribe: Switching gears here, what exactly do you want people to get from your music?
Jordan Mackampa: A stronger sense of who they are through seeing me be so unashamedly confident and open about who I am.
Muzikscribe: If you could collaborate with any one artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Jordan Mackampa: Put me in a room with anybody and you’re getting a quadruple platinum level body of work. Top of my list right now though is Jorja Smith; I see where she’s heading musically, and I’ve got so many ideas I know she’d love.
Muzikscribe: If you could play any venue in the world, which one would you choose and why?
Jordan Mackampa: Honestly, I think playing a show inside a museum like The Lourve or MoMA would be unreal. The Forum would be cool also, but, you know, baby steps.
Muzikscribe: On a more serious note, are you happy with the current state of music?
Jordan Mackampa: Some of it yes, but there are some other areas that need a lot of work. A LOT.
Muzikscribe: What do you feel has and will continue to be the key to your longevity?
Jordan Mackampa: Being stubborn asf really and truly. I know for 1000000% fact I have music that should be heard because I devote every fibre of my soul into being an artist. If I felt like this was a hobby or something to do for fun, I wouldn’t have made it as far as I have. I’m also a “let the quality of what it is I do speak for itself” kinda guy. I know my name holds weight in any room it’s mentioned in, but not everyone can lift it. The key is to make the quality of your work so heavy that it has to be admired before it can be dissected.
Muzikscribe: Do you have any other outside / additional (future) aspirations, maybe even completely away from music?
Jordan Mackampa: I most definitely do, and they are already in motion.
Muzikscribe: To date, what has been your biggest career moment(s), at least thus far anyway?
Jordan Mackampa: A few global campaigns have featured my music, sold out shows, but to date I think my biggest flex is being able to have my therapist’s name in my thank you notes on my album.
Muzikscribe: What’s an average day like for you?
Jordan Mackampa: Average.
Muzikscribe: Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans...
Jordan Mackampa: It’s a give and take relationship; I give them music and they take it (if they want to), but I think that’s all it should be. A lot of artists abuse the power they have with their “fame” by taking advantage of them financially, emotionally, sometimes physically.
Muzikscribe: What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? And, why?
Jordan Mackampa: The Adrenaline high you get from playing a great show and being able to share with other likeminded people.
Muzikscribe: What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Jordan Mackampa: Don’t. Unless you’re willing to sacrifice everything you have and will ever own, on top dealing with an unquantifiable amount of stress, disappointment, unmeetable expectations that you set on yourself, anxiety, heartache, in search of fleeting seconds of happiness. Don’t do it.
…And if what if said didn’t shake you at all or make you question even the tiniest detail about this pursuit we’re on, Good. I’ll see you at soundcheck.
Muzikscribe: Looking ahead, say five or maybe even ten years from now, where do you see yourself?
Jordan Mackampa: Hopefully in a Thom Browne suit getting ready for a show or a date night with my partner.
Muzikscribe: As for the immediate, what's next for you, Jordan?
Jordan Mackampa: Getting this tour out the way, then seeing what the summer looks like…hopefully, it’s full of festivals and syncs deals.
Muzikscribe: Is there anything I left out or just plain forgot to mention?
Jordan Mackampa: Not to my knowledge, but if there is we can do this again for sure!
Muzikscribe: Lastly, any “parting” words for our readers?
Jordan Mackampa: Free Palestine.
Check out the latest from Jordan Mackampa on Spotify. Click Here!
