"It’s been 5 years since I’ve last seen you, Australia," Khalid wrote a few weeks ago. "I can’t wait to perform my entire album for the first time!"
On Monday the lovable singer did just that in the beautiful setting of the Sydney Opera House.
"In an already big year of music moments at Sydney Opera House, here’s an absolutely extraordinary global exclusive – the young, generation-defining artist Khalid - flying halfway around the world.... to premiere his new album," Ben Marshall, Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Music, told Rolling Stone.
On Monday the Texan live debuted his entire new album, Sincere, for the 2,600 lucky fans.
The 16-track LP is the third in his career. Since he debuted in 2017 with American Teen, Khalid has racked up 6 Grammy noms and has opened for Lorde and Ed Sheeran.
Not only did his fans Down Under get to hear him perform the new material in its entirety, but he played them in order of how it appears on the album.
When the live debuts were exhausted the 26 year-old sang a few covers, three tracks from his sophomore album Free Spirit, and two from American Teen.
"I’m not an artist who intends on making hits, I’m an artist who wants to connect. An artist to who wants to be introspective. If it finds you and you love it, then my job is complete (for now)," he tweeted earlier this month.
Of the 32 singles that have hit the charts, he hasn't had any #1s but five have made it on the top 10, which ain't too shabby.
One of those five was "Eastside" which was a collab he did with Benny Blanco and Halsey. It's one of the covers he did in the second portion of the gig.
He and Halsey performed it at Coachella together in 2019.
So even though Khalid says he's not in the game to make hits, necessarily... is it bad to be playing at night at Coachella?
Of his five Top Ten hits, all were between '17-'19.
The question is will any of Sincere find a connection not just with the audience, but with the charts?
Mark Kennedy of the Associated Press isn't so sure.
"Too many songs come and go without a noticeable difference. The whispery prayer 'Broken' leads to the ghostly harmonies of 'Who’s There To Pick Me Up.' Even Khalid's attempt to change up his vocals — like on 'Ground,' sung partly with gritted teeth — fails to jolt us out of our lazy high," he wrote.
Unlike other artists, Sincere, does not have a laundry list of featured guests, which is ballsy, nor does it have a few tunes attached to hot producers like Blanco, which is risky.
Sheeran didn't have a problem continuing his relationship with Blanco. Should Khalid?
One single from the new album that has gotten a little outside help was "Please Don't Fall In Love With Me."
On it he samples Alicia Keys' "Unthinkable," from her 2009 hit album, The Element of Freedom. On it she has a song she co-wrote with Drake as well as "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down," her answer to the Jay-Z tribute to the Big Apple.
Perhaps one lesson Khalid can learn from Keys is despite talent, it never hurts to surround yourself with other artists you either aspire to be more like or who compliment you.
And you can still call the record Freedom, sincerely.
Curiously, Khalid doesn't have a tour in place just yet. His next appearance will be at Audacy's 11th Annual We Can Survive. Justin Timberlake and, weirdly, New Kids on the Block are the headliners.
His next headlining show is in Lincoln, California at The Venue at Thunder Valley Casino. Tickets for both of those appearances can be gobbled up here.
