Jordan Mackampa: Embracing Identity and Musical Evolution on ‘Welcome Home, Kid!’
When Jordan Mackampa introduced himself, he boldly began, “I’m not straight, not white, not cis.” His introduction is as revealing and confident as he is.
Mackampa, a London-based artist known for his unique blend of R&B, soul, and gospel, released his new album Welcome Home, Kid! on February 16, 2024. The album promises to celebrate Black boy joy, encompassing a range of emotions from happiness and contentment to heartbreak and sadness. Mackampa’s music is deeply personal, reflecting his experiences as a Black man navigating life’s challenges and joys.
“It’s about how the scale of black boy joy is always ever-changing where you experience moments of true happiness and contentment and gratitude for your life, but at the same time you can also experience really sad and depressing moments and moments of heartbreak,” Mackampa said. “All of that is encapsulated within those moments of joy—in how fleeting it is and how important it is to make the most of those joyous moments you have, whether it’s with family, friends, or your partner.”
Sitting down with Mackampa, he shared insights into his identity and its impact on his art. He emphasized the importance of being upfront about who he is, including his sexuality, race, and gender identity, to avoid any assumptions or misunderstandings. His music aims to empower listeners and encourage them to embrace their own identities.
“It’s just important for me to let people know who I am so that they hear it come from me first before they make any assumptions or guesses as to who I am and what I stand for,” he said.
Mackampa’s musical journey began in church, where he was exposed to gospel music from a young age. His professional career took off at 16, where he soon began uploading tracks onto Bandcamp and SoundCloud. This led to a series of successful singles, EPs, and tours. His debut album, Foreigner, released in 2020, was well-received, but the pandemic hindered his plans for a worldwide tour.
He explained that in between his debut album and now, he is “still the same fundamentally,” but with improvements that have helped him through his career. “I’m more aware and confident of who I am and what I stand for, and what I’m not willing to let go of, for the sake of both professional gain and fame or like, financial gain and prosperity,” Mackampa said.
Mackampa shared that, compared to his first record, this one is more “introspective” and personal. Through his growth as an artist, Mackampa has been able to use language to apply directly to him rather than referencing “the outside world” and his environment “for the sake of relatability.” He is honest with himself in this album and is not leaving anything behind. “There are things I’m talking about on this record [that] I’ve never really spoken about—either online or within my music,” Mackampa said.
Two of the album tracks that Mackampa points to are “GIRLS ON FILM” and “FRIENDS YOU’VE MADE.” Both songs depart from subjects Mackampa typically writes about and granted an opportunity for him to evolve as an artist. “GIRLS ON FILM” pays homage to late-90s and early-2000s R&B albums, drawing on various musical artists for the track.
“I was listening to SWV, Brandy, Monica, what Babyface was doing with his music at the time, 112 and En Vogue,” Mackampa said. “Just those crying-in-the-rain, longing and loving R&B records that were like, ‘I need you right now right here’.”
He described how important “physical intimacy” was to him, a realization that hit after the pandemic, and forced him to direct those energies into his music.
“That’s how the song came about—the idea of longing and wanting someone so, so badly that everywhere you look on your phone, on TV…on the side of the bus, you just see their face,” he said.
When asked about his influences, Mackampa cited Stevie Wonder, Tyler the Creator, Alicia Keys, and Coldplay, among others. He appreciates artists who consistently produce quality music and remain true to themselves. Mackampa looked at the artist’s careers and noted how well they “played the game.” He notes how they “basically lived in [his] house”, emphasizing a phantom musical presence based on his mother’s taste.
“You would have thought that we were all like roommates the way that she played songs in our house growing up,” he said. “I love that they’re able to just continuously provide good music that goes with the times and remain who they are as people and not lose sight of what is important: putting out quality music.”
Mackampa classified his own music in a similar style: R&B, Alternative R&B with inspiration from gospel and funk. “Crying in the rain” music, as he dubbed it. Welcome Home, Kid! is exactly this and is a testament to Mackampa’s artistic growth and commitment to authenticity. The record is a special invitation to listeners to join him on a journey of self-discovery.
Welcome Home, Kid! is out now via AWAL.