What I Am (Zayn song)

Last updated

"What I Am"
Zayn - What I Am.png
Single by Zayn
from the album Room Under the Stairs
Released15 March 2024 (2024-03-15)
Genre
Length3:31
Label
Songwriter(s) Zayn Malik
Producer(s)
Zayn singles chronology
"Tu Hai Kahan"
(2024)
"What I Am"
(2024)
"Alienated"
(2024)
Lyric video
"What I Am" on YouTube

"What I Am" is a song by English singer-songwriter Zayn. It was released on 15 March 2024 through Mercury and Republic Records as the lead single from his fourth studio album, Room Under the Stairs . Zayn wrote the song by himself and produced it alongside American record producer Dave Cobb.

Contents

Composition

"What I Am" is a song that sees Zayn venture into the adult contemporary genre, which includes a stripped-back instrumental, while it sees him depart from the sound of his previous music. [3] Lyrically, he gets candid as he speaks about accepting himself for the way he is and requests the same acceptance from others while also describing a toxic relationship. [4] On the chorus, he sings: "Don't take me for what I'm sayin' / Just take me for what I am / 'Cause this is where I'm stayin' / My two feet are in the sand". [5]

Promotion

Through a handwritten note that he posted on social media the day of its release, he said that "this song is the first release of a special project I've been working on for years". [6] Eight days before the release of the song, Zayn announced it along with its release date and a short snippet of it before briefly appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon six days after that to share another snippet. [7]

Chart performance

"What I Am" debuted at number 89 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming his second-lowest charting single in the country as a solo artist since "Entertainer", which peaked at number 95. [8] The song also peaked at number one on the UK Asian Music chart. [9] The song reached number six on the New Zealand Hot Singles chart. [10]

Charts

Chart performance for "What I Am"
Chart (2024)Peak
position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tiparade) [11] 29
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [10] 6
UK Singles (OCC) [12] 89
UK Asian Music (OCC) [9] 1
UK British Asian Chart (OCC) [13] 3

Release history

"What I Am" release history
RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
Various15 March 2024 [14]
Italy Radio airplay Universal [15]

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References

  1. "Zayn's What I Am Embraces Country Twang Lyrical Vulnerability". Neon Music. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  2. Gragg, Michael (17 May 2024). "Zayn: Room Under the Stairs review – Nashville-produced minimalism suits him". The Guardian . Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  3. Hussain, Shahzaib (15 March 2024). "ZAYN Announces New Album 'Room Under The Stairs'". Clash . Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  4. Kedem, Maia (15 March 2024). "Zayn shares his first glimpse at new album with emotional single 'What I Am'". Audacy . Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  5. Zemler, Emily (15 March 2024). "Hear Zayn Hold His Own on Emotional New Single 'What I Am'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  6. Miller, Nola (15 March 2024). "Zayn Malik releases 'What I Am' with a special note". The News International . Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  7. Kaufman, Gil (14 March 2024). "Zayn Makes Surprise Appearance on 'Tonight Show' to Tease 'What I Am' Single". Billboard . Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  8. Hugh McIntyre (29 March 2024). "Zayn's New Single Starts With A Disappointing Response". Forbes . Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  9. 1 2 "Official Asian Music Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  10. 1 2 "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  11. "Tiparade Week 12". Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  13. "Official British Asian Chart". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  14. Reynolds, Abbie (15 March 2024). "Lyrics to Zayn's new song 'What I Am' explained". Capital . Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  15. Mancabelli, Alice (15 March 2024). "ZAYN - What I Am (Radio Date: 15-03-2024)". EarOne (in Italian). Retrieved 18 March 2024.