Who You Are
by Craig David (featuring MNEK)

Album: 22 (2021)
Charted: 39
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Craig David teams up with singer-songwriter MNEK for this uplifting song. It finds the two singers encouraging someone to be true to themselves.

    Cause the person they all see
    Doesn't matter much to me
    Already know that you're a star
    But I just wanna get to who you are


    David and MNEK want to experience the genuine person, not the front they put on for show.
  • London-born MNEK has writing credits on smash hits by the likes of Little Mix ("Wings"), and Duke Dumont ("Need U (100%)") as well as his own collaborations with Zara Larsson ("Never Forget You") and Joel Corry ("Head And Heart").
  • MNEK wrote the hook for this song, and David the verses. When the Garage King asked him to be his duet partner too, the singer-songwriter said it was a bucket list for him, adding, "Who's actually gonna say no to Craig David?"
  • David and MNEK wrote "Who You Are" with the track's producer, Digital Farm Animals (Dua Lipa's "Be The One," KSI's "Holiday"). Joel "JoJo" Hailey and Rory Bennett get credited too because it uses the same melody as their K-Ci and JoJo song "All My Life."
  • David released the song as the lead single from 22. He named the record in honor of his seminal debut album, Born to Do It, turning 22 years old in 2022.

    The numerical title has spiritual meaning, too. "There's a spiritualism in the number 22 and what it represents," David explained. "In numerology it's a very powerful number and in terms of angel numbers it's bringing balance and equilibrium to my life. We're in a world where there's a lot of me against you, and so it's bridging the gap."
  • Craig David and MNEK dropped a sequel to "Who You Are" on November 26, 2021. "Who You Are (Part 2)" is not a remix and the lyrics differ from the previous song but it still samples "All My Life."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of WayneSongwriter Interviews

The guy who brought us "Stacy's Mom" also wrote the Jane Lynch Emmy song and Stephen Colbert's Christmas songs.

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.

Dave Mason

Dave MasonSongwriter Interviews

Dave reveals the inspiration for "Feelin' Alright" and explains how the first song he ever wrote became the biggest hit for his band Traffic.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

Matt Sorum

Matt SorumSongwriter Interviews

When he joined Guns N' Roses in 1990, Matt helped them craft an orchestral sound; his mezzo fortes and pianissimos are all over "November Rain."