Khalid's life is about to change, for real. The 18-year-old R&B singer is set to drop his debut album American Teen on March 3 and The FADER was there to capture these last moments before the world receives his first, impressive musical statement. The album features tender and dazzling songs about love, like "Location," which was released last May and has received a ton of attention.
Khalid spent his life moving around the country with his mother, Linda Wolfe, a single mom and member of the U.S. Army chorus. He reveals in the documentary that she's his most important musical inspiration and says he was always shy to show off his talents in front of her because of her incredibly strong gift. Those maternal gifts are on full display as Khalid steps in front of the mic to record "Shot Down," an incredible ballad which will appear on American Teen and will be released on Friday.
The singer found his true home and a place to belong in El Paso, Texas, where the family moved before his senior year of high school. In the documentary, we see Khalid head to a Friday night football game and a fast food parking lot with friends and family. "I get so much love, from a city that I'm not even predominantly from, everyone is nice and welcoming and they treat me like their own," he reflects.
Director: Scott Perry
Producer: Tessa Travis
Executive Producers: Rob Semmer, Naomi Zeichner
Executive Producers: Jon Cohen, Rob Stone, Anthony Holland, Andy Cohn
Director of Photography: Scott Perry
Editor: Orian Barki
Assistant Editor: Scott Perry
Sound: Carlos Corral
Colorist: Bryan Smaller at Company 3
Sound Mix/Sound Design: Eugene Wasserman