Album Review: Jordan Mackampa – 'Foreigner'
London based singer-songwriter Jordan Mackampa goes on a journey of introspection and soul-searching in debut album ‘Foreigner’, combining his Congolese roots and midlands upbringing to create a unique blend of indie-infused soul.
On eleven tracks, Jordan tells stories of love, struggle and family that take on different soundscapes from heart-warming feel-good tracks (‘Magic’) over politically charged current-climate-commentary (‘What Am I’) to touching ballads (‘Tight’).
However, stand-out moments on the album are its most personal stories that come in form of title track ‘Foreigner’ and moving soul centre-piece ‘Care For Your Mother’ – both talking about Jordan’s childhood. While, in ‘Foreigner’, Jordan addresses his own struggles trying to fit into a new culture without losing sight of his roots, ‘Care For Your Mother’ takes on the (fictitious) perspective of his absent father, holding advice Jordan wishes he would have been around to give – “Son, stay out of trouble, be kind and always be humble […] be the man I could not be”.
Speaking about the album, Jordan says: “This album is a collection of songs inspired by my journey from boyhood to manhood; from falling in and out of love, to feeling alienated, to being able to use my voice to say something meaningful. That’s why I called it ‘Foreigner’...it’s a word that holds a lot of power and I want to change the way people view it so it’s no longer taboo. It should represent a strength or even something deeper than that. Through this album, I’ve been able to share emotions and memories of the people who have been in my life.“
‘Foreigner’ effortlessly turns stories into sound. With timeless melodies and his emotive songwriting Jordan Mackampa has created an impressive record that feels like coming home.
Words by Laura Freyaldenhoven