Artist to watch: Khalid | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Artist to watch: Khalid

Meet the 19-year-old singer who took all the air out of my lungs.

12
Artist to watch: Khalid
twitter.com/thegreatkhalid

It was 12:27 p.m. on March 6 when I heard Shot Down. The song came out of random on Spotify. I was listening to Bibi Bourelly's new album on repeat - or at least I thought I was - when this unknown beat and dreamy voice started coming out of my speakers: We've been here before, surrounded in the cold / You take me to places I've never known.

I looked at my phone's screen and it said I was playing the first album of a guy called Khalid. I went to his page and pressed the shuffle bottom. I knew my day was over as soon as Angels started playing: I've been seeing angels in my living room / That have walked the sun and have slept on the moon / Covered in the fragrance of their own perfume / Telling me the stories, stories coming true.

The alternative hip-hop/ R&B vibe reminds me of Frank Ocean peculiar musical style but sounds closer to something I have never heard before. He sings every verse as if they were taken from the first draft of love letters he has never sent. It's honest and relatable material. It's about love and pain and trying to handle both when life doesn't give you enough time to learn how.

The 19-year-old singer uses the theme "Love in the 21st century" to share his experiences with the audience. In Location, he sings I don't wanna fall in love off of subtweets so / Let's get personalwhilepleading his lover to forward her location so they can focus on giving each other a chance.

In Saved, we hear about how a relationship ended because of all the loss that comes when loving someone from a distance. There is growing you can't do with a lover on your side, but letting someone go doesn't mean keeping them away from you forever: So I'll keep your number saved / 'Cause I hope one day I'll get the pride to call you / To tell you that no one else / Is gonna hold you down the way that I do.

Khalid's voice is sour and soft. When I listen to his album it feels like I am laying on a cloud drinking burned coffee with honey out of my late grandfather's mug, and there is nothing I could love more at that moment.

Spotify randomly introduced me to Khalid. ‬That's why I don't consider my subscription to be "an unnecessary waste of money." I needed Khalid's music in my life and Spotify knew it and gave it to me. So thank you, Spotify. And thank you, Khalid. I feel like I can finally breathe.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

985
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

591
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

199689
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20580
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments