The EP encapsulates the bewilderment of his teenage years, not only with it's generally slow tempo and dreamy lyrics, but also with it's lack of obvious musical direction There are certainly lots of reasons to love the EP and stream it non-stop, but conversely there are some to really dislike it too, which definitely can’t be ignored. Since the release of the EP over the weekend, there has certainly been a mixed reaction to his newest project and his choice to play around with his sound on it, as opposed to sticking firmly within one genre. It’s made up of 7 very different tracks (2 of which are interludes), and marks a new period of experimentation in Khalid’s musical career, one that sees him moving away slightly from the 80s inspired synth-pop fans are used to hearing, and honing in on the more mellow quality of his voice. It’s a matter of Khalid having another hit like “Location” that will determine whether he becomes the newest pop-like, R&B artist, or risks the title of a one-hit wonder.For those who have never come across R&B/pop singer Khalid before, his newly-released EP, Suncity, may seem like a confusing disarray or mismatch of genres. “Suncity” isn’t particularly memorable, but it’s enough to tide listeners over until the next Khalid album. Khalid is well-liked by the general public and remains as one of the most wholesome and uncontroversial current artists. Nonetheless, it was also necessary in keeping up Khalid’s presence beyond his constant collaborations and previously released singles. Relatability, positivity, and general geniality seem to characterize the singer both as a person and a musician.Īlthough “Suncity” is a bit lukewarm, its tracks like the fluid, pop-inflected “Motion” and “Suncity” reveal a glimpse into what the 20-year-old could accomplish in the future. Khalid joins the ranks of Frank Ocean and SZA by including the voicemail “Salem’s Interlude.” However, unlike Ocean and SZA, the track is strangely positive and reassuring, ending with the line “And I’m just happy / I can’t complain about anything.” While the interlude doesn’t add anything of substance to “Suncity” and could have been left out of the EP, it does reveal something about Khalid, or rather, who Khalid is trying to be as an artist. “Suncity” doesn’t hold the same narrative weight as its predecessor, “American Teen.” Curiously enough, despite the EP’s vaguely angsty lyrics, it still remains lighthearted for a typical R&B album. While this makes for easy listening, especially as background music, nothing about it is particularly memorable. On “Suncity,” most of the tracks hold a basic, mid-tempo beat. While he remains an incredible add-on to any track and collaborator, he continues to struggle when it comes to leading a song on his own. It’s a bouncy, refreshing track in an otherwise somber EP, where Khalid showcases his spectacular ability to play with featured artists and switch off lyrics. The exception is the title track “Suncity,” where Khalid rides over an easy, Latin-pop beat with Empress Of. This is unlike the variety found in “American Teen.” Khalid’s easygoing tone, while soulful at times, rarely fluctuates over the course of the album and runs the risk of sounding flat and static. Most of “Suncity” blurs together, a sign that each song sounds virtually the same. However, success might have to wait until his next album. The release of “Suncity” marked the rhythm and blues singer’s next shot at becoming a household name. The “American Teen” singer pays homage to his hometown of El Paso, forever grateful to the city of the 9-1-5.Īfter countless collaborations with artists such as Normani, Billie Eilish, and Marshmello, Khalid has finally released a seven-track EP, which comes after the success of his debut album, “American Teen.” Its hit single “Location” brought Khalid fame and recognition and has remained a regular spin on Spotify playlists since 2016 until now.