"What I Am" | ||||
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Single by Zayn | ||||
from the album Room Under the Stairs | ||||
Released | 15 March 2024 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:31 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | Zayn Malik | |||
Producer(s) |
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Zayn singles chronology | ||||
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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.
"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]
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]
"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]
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 |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
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Various | 15 March 2024 | [14] | ||
Italy | Radio airplay | Universal | [15] |
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