The “Free Spirit” album by artist Khalid was released on April 5, 2019. This album has a very chill, breezy and elevated vibe, featuring artists like John Mayer and SAFE.

Khalid’s album is the type of music one might listen to on a road trip with the windows down, thinking about nothing but the here and now. The “Free Spirit” album has contemporary influences, mixed with Khalid’s natural influences. The song “Intro” is made up of multipart vocals and clouds of feedback. Khalid’s past hit album “American Teen” was about kids coming of age and made young-dumb brokenness feel like the only way to experience teenhood. Khalid’s new album reminds us how everything nowadays is digitized and all communication is on-screen.

In his song “My Bad,” he starts drama when he says he missed ‘your’ texts because he was working late at the studio. His heartbreak and angsty teen vibes are conveyed in every ghostly note he sings. One of the lyrics in “My Bad” states “Keeping my phone alive, hoping that you call this time,” perfectly relaying the message of 21st-century relationships that are handled over the phone instead of in person. I personally love the song “Self,” where Khalid shifts from a bluesy grumble to a flighty falsetto. His lyric “Does my raw emotion make me feel less of a man?” shows the struggle of toxic masculinity in society and the self-doubt Khalid feels about himself. In high school, I think people are always trying to find out who they really are and Khalid could not have said it any better in that song.

In past interviews, Khalid has spoken about his mental health issues and how he has struggled with panic attacks, social anxiety and depression. Khalid’s singing often reflects how he is feeling at that moment in time, from vibing, living life to the fullest to the struggle of everyday life. Many say his new album is about Khalid finding himself and finding ways to improve himself in every aspect of his life. Singing along to these shockingly real melodies and lyrics will eventually turn to only fond memories, but all we can do now is hit the open road and explore new avenues. So take a chance, live on the edge a little and listen to Khalid’s new album. Maybe he will surprise you with how true his words are.