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Khalid|Free Spirit

Free Spirit

Khalid

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"Everybody wants a favor, everybody needs me," Khalid exhaustedly grumbles on "Hundred," a dispirited soft pop ballad placed in the middle of Free Spirit. Going by the unrelenting campaign to keep him in the spotlight since he hit with "Location," the statement doesn't seem all that hyperbolic. During the two years that passed between American Teen and Free Spirit, he took part in a decade's worth of collaborations and stylistic crossovers, plus frequent touring amid nonstop promotional duties, all while earning five Grammy nominations and accumulating a stack of platinum certifications. As much as any other artist shot to fame on the brink of adulthood, Khalid could be forgiven for turning in a woeful post-fame album and checking out. "Hundred" isn't the only song on which he vents. The downcast "Bad Luck" lashes out at parasitic behavior, and in a number of other songs, Khalid seeks escape from stifling situations, consumed by internal conflict, this close to swearing off all communication via WiFi for at least five minutes. These feelings aren't unique to pop stars, and even though they make up a fair portion of Free Spirit, Khalid and his fellow songwriters never express them in such specific language that an everyday listener can't relate. More than anything else, the album works through emotional struggles of early adulthood -- from anguish over faltering relationships and insecurity about expressing grief, to yearning for a simple stolen moment beneath the bleachers. Consequently, Free Spirit is not illustrative as a title. In the song itself, the notion is merely aspirational and wistful, with Khalid vividly recalling, "We were drownin' down our memories/A cemetery full of broken bottles, man, that liquor bleed." Only the kind of thunderous "Heaven," involving Father John Misty and a couple of his associates, sounds too heavy in sentiment, with Khalid aching, "Lord, there's nothing for me left out here." It adds unnecessary weight to an hour-long LP with little joy or even relief, one that is nearly static in energy level despite a carousel of producers -- completely different than that of American Teen -- featuring Murda Beatz, StarGate, Disclosure, and D'Mile. An upside is that Khalid's voice is smoother, richer, and therefore more expressive here than it was on the debut. It'll probably sound even better after a long-deserved break.

© Andy Kellman /TiVo

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Free Spirit

Khalid

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1
Intro
00:03:32

Khalid, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Romero, Engineer, Assistant Engineer - Digi, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Jamil Chammas, Composer, Lyricist - Jon Castelli, Mixing Engineer - Denis Kosiak, Vocal Producer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Dale Becker, Mastering Engineer - Khalid Robinson, Composer, Lyricist - Ingmar Carlson, Engineer - Josh Deguzman, Engineer

(P) 2019 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

2
Bad Luck
00:03:51

Al Shuckburgh, Composer, Lyricist - Al Shux, Producer, Guitar, Recording Engineer, Bass - Khalid, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Riley, Composer, Lyricist - Michael Romero, Engineer - Kurtis Mckenzie, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Jon Castelli, Mixing Engineer - Denis Kosiak, Vocal Producer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Dale Becker, Mastering Engineer - Mike "Scribz" Riley, Producer - Khalid Robinson, Composer, Lyricist - Ingmar Carlson, Engineer - Josh Deguzman, Engineer

(P) 2019 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

3
My Bad
00:02:43

Khalid, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Romero, Engineer, Assistant Engineer - Dernst Emile II, Composer, Lyricist - Jon Castelli, Mixing Engineer - Dernst "D'Mile" Emile II, Producer, Piano, Programmer, Bass, Synthesizer - Denis Kosiak, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Dale Becker, Mastering Engineer - Khalid Robinson, Composer, Lyricist - Ingmar Carlson, Engineer - Josh Deguzman, Engineer

(P) 2019 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

4
Better Explicit
00:03:49

Tor Erik Hermansen, Composer, Lyricist, AssociatedPerformer - Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Composer, Lyricist, AssociatedPerformer - StarGate, Producer - Khalid, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Digi, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Jamil Chammas, Composer, Lyricist - Jon Castelli, Mixing Engineer - Denis Kosiak, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, AdditionalStudioProducer - Ryan Vojtesak, Composer, Lyricist - Tim McClain, Assistant Engineer - Charlie Handsome, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Alex Layne, Assistant Engineer - Khalid Robinson, Composer, Lyricist - Ingmar Carlson, Engineer, Assistant Engineer - Josh Deguzman, Engineer, Assistant Engineer - Christina Chow, Vocal - Michael Romero, Assistant Engineer

(P) 2018 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

5
Talk
00:03:17

Khalid, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Disclosure, Producer, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - John Kercy, Engineer - Howard Lawrence, Composer, Lyricist - Guy Lawrence, Composer, Lyricist, Mixing Engineer - Jon Castelli, Mixing Engineer - Denis Kosiak, Vocal Producer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Dale Becker, Mastering Engineer - Khalid Robinson, Composer, Lyricist - Ingmar Carlson, Engineer - Josh Deguzman, Engineer - Michael Sebastian Romero, Assistant Engineer - Khalid feat. Disclosure, AssociatedPerformer

(P) 2019 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

6
Right Back
00:03:35

Jolyon Skinner, Composer, Lyricist - Rodney Jerkins, Composer, Lyricist - Michelle Williams, Composer, Lyricist - Tor Erik Hermansen, Composer, Lyricist, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer - Japhe Tejeda, Composer, Lyricist - Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Composer, Lyricist, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer - BRENDA RUSSELL, Composer, Lyricist - StarGate, Producer - JOE THOMAS, Composer, Lyricist - Khalid, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Romero, Engineer - Jon Castelli, Mixing Engineer - Denis Kosiak, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Vocal Producer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer, AdditionalStudioProducer - Dale Becker, Mastering Engineer - Ryan Vojtesak, Composer, Lyricist - Tim McClain, Assistant Engineer - Charlie Handsome, Producer - Mike "Scribz" Riley, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Khalid Robinson, Composer, Lyricist - Ingmar Carlson, Engineer - Josh Deguzman, Engineer

(P) 2019 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

7
Don't Pretend
00:02:45

Khalid, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Romero, Engineer, Assistant Engineer - Safe, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kameron Glasper, Composer, Lyricist - Mustafa Ahmed, Composer, Lyricist - Jon Castelli, Mixing Engineer - Denis Kosiak, Vocal Producer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Dale Becker, Mastering Engineer - Ryan Vojtesak, Composer, Lyricist - Charlie Handsome, Producer - Murda Beatz, Producer - Khalid Robinson, Composer, Lyricist - Ingmar Carlson, Engineer - Saif Musaad, Composer, Lyricist - Shane Lee Lindstrom, Composer, Lyricist - Jenna Felsenthal, Recording Engineer - Josh Deguzman, Engineer - Khalid & SAFE, AssociatedPerformer - Khalid feat. SAFE, AssociatedPerformer

(P) 2019 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

8
Paradise
00:02:54

John Hill, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Recording Engineer, Bass - Khalid, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Romero, Engineer, Assistant Engineer - DJ Dahi, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, Recording Engineer - Rob Cohen, Recording Engineer - Dacoury Natche, Composer, Lyricist - Blake Mares, Recording Engineer - Jon Castelli, Mixing Engineer - Denis Kosiak, Vocal Producer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer, AdditionalStudioProducer - Dale Becker, Mastering Engineer - Ray Suen, Guitar - Sarah Aarons, Composer, Lyricist - Khalid Robinson, Composer, Lyricist - Ingmar Carlson, Engineer - Josh Deguzman, Engineer

(P) 2019 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

9
Hundred Explicit
00:04:37

John Hill, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Programmer, Recording Engineer, Bass - Khalid, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Romero, Engineer, Assistant Engineer - Digi, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer - Jamil Chammas, Composer, Lyricist - Rob Cohen, Recording Engineer - Blake Mares, Recording Engineer - Jon Castelli, Mixing Engineer - Denis Kosiak, Vocal Producer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Dale Becker, Mastering Engineer - Ryan Vojtesak, Composer, Lyricist - Jordan Palmer, Composer, Lyricist - Charlie Handsome, Producer - Khalid Robinson, Composer, Lyricist - Ingmar Carlson, Engineer - Ari Leff, Composer, Lyricist - Josh Deguzman, Engineer

(P) 2019 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

10
Outta My Head
00:02:57

John Hill, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Recording Engineer - John Mayer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, with - Khalid, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Romero, Engineer, Assistant Engineer - Digi, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, Bass - Jamil Chammas, Composer, Lyricist - Rob Cohen, Recording Engineer - John Costello, Assistant Engineer - Blake Mares, Recording Engineer - Chad Franscoviak, Recording Engineer - Jon Castelli, Mixing Engineer - Denis Kosiak, Vocal Producer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Dale Becker, Mastering Engineer - Sarah Aarons, Composer, Lyricist - Khalid Robinson, Composer, Lyricist - Ingmar Carlson, Engineer - Josh Deguzman, Engineer - Khalid with John Mayer, AssociatedPerformer

(P) 2019 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

11
Free Spirit
00:03:02

Khalid, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Romero, Engineer - Digi, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Jamil Chammas, Composer, Lyricist - John Costello, Assistant Engineer - Justin Lucas, Guitar - Jon Castelli, Mixing Engineer - Denis Kosiak, Vocal Producer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Dale Becker, Mastering Engineer - Ryan Vojtesak, Composer, Lyricist - Charlie Handsome, Producer, Guitar - Sarah Aarons, Composer, Lyricist - Khalid Robinson, Composer, Lyricist - Ingmar Carlson, Engineer - Justin Scott Lucas, Composer, Lyricist - Josh Deguzman, Engineer

(P) 2019 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

12
Twenty One
00:03:04

Khalid, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Romero, Engineer, Assistant Engineer - Digi, Producer - Jamil Chammas, Composer, Lyricist - Emily Warren, Composer, Lyricist - Jon Castelli, Mixing Engineer - Denis Kosiak, Vocal Producer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Dale Becker, Mastering Engineer - Ryan Vojtesak, Composer, Lyricist - Charlie Handsome, Producer - Khalid Robinson, Composer, Lyricist - Ingmar Carlson, Engineer - Josh Deguzman, Engineer

(P) 2019 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

13
Bluffin'
00:03:19

Khalid, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Romero, Engineer, Assistant Engineer - Digi, Producer - Jamil Chammas, Composer, Lyricist - Jon Castelli, Mixing Engineer - Denis Kosiak, Vocal Producer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Dale Becker, Mastering Engineer - Ryan Vojtesak, Composer, Lyricist - Charlie Handsome, Producer - Sarah Aarons, Composer, Lyricist - Khalid Robinson, Composer, Lyricist - Ingmar Carlson, Engineer - Josh Deguzman, Engineer

(P) 2019 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

14
Self
00:03:49

Chauncey Hollis, Composer, Lyricist - Khalid, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sam Roman, Composer, Lyricist - Hit-Boy, Producer - Jon Castelli, Mixing Engineer - Denis Kosiak, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Dale Becker, Mastering Engineer - Khalid Robinson, Composer, Lyricist - Ingmar Carlson, Engineer - Josh Deguzman, Engineer - Michael Sebastian Romero, Engineer, Assistant Engineer

(P) 2019 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

15
Alive
00:02:57

John Hill, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Recording Engineer, Bass - Khalid, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Romero, Engineer, Assistant Engineer - Blanda, Keyboards, Programmer, AdditionalStudioProducer - Rob Cohen, Recording Engineer - Blake Mares, Recording Engineer - Emily Warren, Composer, Lyricist - Jon Castelli, Mixing Engineer - Hoskins, Keyboards, Programmer, AdditionalStudioProducer - Denis Kosiak, Vocal Producer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Dale Becker, Mastering Engineer - Jon Hoskins, Composer, Lyricist - Khalid Robinson, Composer, Lyricist - Ingmar Carlson, Engineer - Josh Deguzman, Engineer - John Blanda, Composer, Lyricist

(P) 2019 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

16
Heaven
00:03:33

Khalid, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Romero, Engineer - Mike Hall, Composer, Lyricist - Jon Castelli, Mixing Engineer - Josh Tillman, Vocal Producer - Denis Kosiak, Vocal Producer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Dale Becker, Mastering Engineer - Khalid Robinson, Composer, Lyricist - Dave Cerminara, Producer, Recording Engineer - Ingmar Carlson, Engineer - Josh Deguzman, Engineer - Bobby "Haxan Cloak" Krlic, Producer

(P) 2019 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

17
Saturday Nights
00:03:29

Colin Leonard, Mastering Engineer - Khalid, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Digi, Producer - Jamil Chammas, Composer, Lyricist - Jon Castelli, Mixing Engineer - Denis Kosiak, Vocal Producer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Ryan Vojtesak, Composer, Lyricist - Charlie Handsome, Producer - Alex Layne, Assistant Engineer - Khalid Robinson, Composer, Lyricist - Ingmar Carlson, Engineer - Josh Deguzman, Engineer - Michael Sebastian Romero, Assistant Engineer

(P) 2018 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

Album review

"Everybody wants a favor, everybody needs me," Khalid exhaustedly grumbles on "Hundred," a dispirited soft pop ballad placed in the middle of Free Spirit. Going by the unrelenting campaign to keep him in the spotlight since he hit with "Location," the statement doesn't seem all that hyperbolic. During the two years that passed between American Teen and Free Spirit, he took part in a decade's worth of collaborations and stylistic crossovers, plus frequent touring amid nonstop promotional duties, all while earning five Grammy nominations and accumulating a stack of platinum certifications. As much as any other artist shot to fame on the brink of adulthood, Khalid could be forgiven for turning in a woeful post-fame album and checking out. "Hundred" isn't the only song on which he vents. The downcast "Bad Luck" lashes out at parasitic behavior, and in a number of other songs, Khalid seeks escape from stifling situations, consumed by internal conflict, this close to swearing off all communication via WiFi for at least five minutes. These feelings aren't unique to pop stars, and even though they make up a fair portion of Free Spirit, Khalid and his fellow songwriters never express them in such specific language that an everyday listener can't relate. More than anything else, the album works through emotional struggles of early adulthood -- from anguish over faltering relationships and insecurity about expressing grief, to yearning for a simple stolen moment beneath the bleachers. Consequently, Free Spirit is not illustrative as a title. In the song itself, the notion is merely aspirational and wistful, with Khalid vividly recalling, "We were drownin' down our memories/A cemetery full of broken bottles, man, that liquor bleed." Only the kind of thunderous "Heaven," involving Father John Misty and a couple of his associates, sounds too heavy in sentiment, with Khalid aching, "Lord, there's nothing for me left out here." It adds unnecessary weight to an hour-long LP with little joy or even relief, one that is nearly static in energy level despite a carousel of producers -- completely different than that of American Teen -- featuring Murda Beatz, StarGate, Disclosure, and D'Mile. An upside is that Khalid's voice is smoother, richer, and therefore more expressive here than it was on the debut. It'll probably sound even better after a long-deserved break.

© Andy Kellman /TiVo

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