As the dust settles on the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Ben E. Davis brings us ‘American Boy in London’, a track that playfully embraces life between two cultures. Since moving to London in 2014, the LA-born singer has built a life abroad, even gracing the stage at the iconic 2021 Royal Variety Performance, where he supported The Greatest Showman’s Keala Settle with Some Voices choir. British audiences may recognise him from the viral video 6 Americans vs 1 Secret British Person with YouTubers Beta Squad or from the many weddings he’s performed at all over the UK.
‘American Boy in London’ channels the duality of Davis’s experience, drawing inspiration from Sting’s ‘Englishman in New York’. He flips the perspective, sharing his story of adapting to the rhythms and lifestyle of his new city. With vibrant basslines and genre-bending rap verses, the song captures the contrast between Hollywood’s “glitz and glamour” and the grounded charm of London.
The music video takes viewers on a journey through both cities, contrasting LA’s sun-drenched streets with London’s iconic landmarks like Big Ben and the London Eye. As Davis celebrates the complexities of belonging to two places, the song feels especially relevant in today’s shifting global landscape.
With ‘American Boy in London’, Davis invites listeners to reflect on their own cross-cultural experiences, offering a message of embracing new perspectives while celebrating where we come from.
