(Pop, R&B) Khalid Robinson - American Teen - 2017, MP3, 320 kbps

Khalid's soft-lit ‘80s synths and heartfelt, raspy vocal will catch your attention from the start, but his debut is most impressive for the effortless warmth and sincerity that lingers throughout. American Teen is all about summer sunshine, young love, and the adventures of tight-knit friends—subjects perfectly matched with the elegant blend of throwback R&B, ‘80s pop, and glitchy future-soul. The best tunes, openhearted ballads like “Saved” and “Shot Down,” are earnest without being overwrought and easily establish the songwriter as one of 2017’s most impressive newcomers.
Combining a voice that sounds made for classic soul with cutting-edge music, Khalid is a singer/songwriter from El Paso, Texas. Raised by a military family, Khalid lived in Germany and upstate New York before settling in Texas. He was first inspired to make music by his mother, who was a singer and loved '90s R&B artists such as Brandy and TLC. While still a teenager, he began making music in 2015, incorporating influences as wide-ranging as Frank Ocean, India.Arie, Alt-J, and Father John Misty in the songs he posted online. He eventually connected with the producer SykSense, who, along with Tunji Ige and Smash David, worked on Khalid's bittersweet breakout single "Location." Released in mid-2016, the song hit the Top 10 of Billboard's Hot R&B Songs chart the following January. Another single, "Hopeless," preceded Khalid's debut album American Teen, which arrived in March 2017.