Singer and songwriter Khalid released his highly-anticipated sophomore album “Free Spirit” on April 5, 2019. (Photo provided by writer)
Singer and songwriter Khalid released his highly-anticipated sophomore album “Free Spirit” on April 5, 2019. The album contains 17 tracks including singles “Better” and “Saturday Nights” from his latest EP “Suncity,” released in late 2018. Along with the album release, Khalid announced his upcoming tour dates.
Unlike his last album, “American Teen,” Khalid gets personal on “Free Spirit.” Showing his versatility, Khalid collaborated with John Mayer, SAFE and Disclosure to produce a mix of synth-pop and euphoric beats. In “Intro,” the first track of the album, Khalid sings about not knowing where his relationship stands. Khalid sings, “I feel heaven when you’re here with me / I feel hell every time you leave me / But I need to get you off my back.” He knows his relationship is no good since the girl leaves him every time so he needs to learn to move on. At the end of the verse, Khalid sings, “I gotta find my worth.” The intro song sets the tone for the rest of the album. Most of the songs on the album are about the singer’s relationship and the troubles people face in relationships.
“My Bad” is the second official single from “Free Spirit.” This is a type of song that you would want to listen to on a long car ride. Not only is it catchy, but the lyrics are also quite deep. Sticking to the theme, Khalid expresses the lack of communication between him and his lover. He knows the relationship is falling apart but he keeps his phone on silent to avoid the situation.
“Hundred” takes the listener through Khalid’s journey with mental illness. The repetition of “hundred days and I’m still alive” emphasizes that Khalid is struggling with his daily life. The 21-year-old singer has so many responsibilities thrown at him to the point where he can’t breathe. The last line of the chorus, “I’ma keep it moving, got a hundred things I gotta do today,” illustrates the singer’s busy lifestyle that can become stressful and overwhelming, but he has to keep moving.
Khalid was only 19 when he debuted his first album. Now at 21, he is much more mature and has experienced the pain of growing up. The twelfth track on the album, “Twenty One,” is about the desolation of becoming an adult. Khalid uses the pronoun “you” throughout the song, but it can be assumed he is speaking to himself since he changes to “I’m” at the end of the song. The message of the song is to hold on tight and have hope for the future. As teenagers are growing into adulthood they might feel isolated and lost in what they want to do with life. Khalid reminds them to “hold on tight” for the future, even with the anxiety that it brings.
“Free Spirit” showcases Khalid’s approach to modern pop. The lyrics are personal but are relatable to fans who are going through a difficult time with self-identity and love. Not only did Khalid release the album last Friday, but he also announced his tour dates and the film that is available on Apple Music, YouTube and selected theatres. Overall, Khalid fans will definitely appreciate this new album. The young star knows how to write and compose hits, there is no doubt that he will have a bright future in the music.
Rating: 4.5/5
Cindy Lam is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. She can be reached at cindy.lam@uconn.edu.
