19-year-old artist Khalid is in town for his two sold out shows at New York City’s Terminal 5 and stopped by the 92.3 AMP Radio studios to talk with Astra about what he has in store for fans in the coming months.
Khalid’s first of two sold out NYC shows was last night (August 13th) at Terminal 5 and Khalid is riding the high of his recent success. “It’s crazy,” Khalid says of how his life has been changed by the support of his fans. “It’s exhilarating. I feel so much energy from everyone — all the fans, all the people who support me — and, I mean, it’s wild to think about the album coming out March 3rd and not even a year later I’m at this point. So, it’s amazing.”
The current tour, in support of his debut album American Teen, is his second time out on the road, but Khalid admits he feels more pride this time around. “That… means a lot to me because it lets me know that the music is resonating and people are getting it.”
The Georgia-born artist broke onto the scene with the help of one Kylie Jenner, who featured his song “Location” in her Snapchat, and the two have since become friends. “She was so nice when I met her,” says Khalid. “We just talked about our mutual love for music in general. You know, she didn’t have to put my song on Snapchat — but she did and she did it more than once.”
Khalid’s high school-themed music video for his second single “Young, Dumb & Broke” features a host of cameos, including Fifth Harmony singer Normani Kordei as his Prom Queen. “Normani, she’s awesome. She’s a really good friend of mine. I’m so glad she came out for the video and came to support me as well. We just had so much fun, even off set. She’s a great person.” And yes, the video was based on actual events, Khalid was crowned prom king in high school.
Just released on August 11th, Khalid is featured on EDM producer Marshmello’s new cut “Silence.”
“That’s a song that means so much to me,” says Khalid. “And it’s one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written because it’s so personal and it’s about accepting loneliness and using that to your advantage and becoming creative and expressing yourself. You know, finding peace in violence.”
“He’s an amazing person so I’m so proud of everything that he’s going through right now — he’s on top of the world and he’s gonna continue killin’ it.”
Speaking of killin’ it, Khalid has been nominated for Best New Artist at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards alongside Kodak Black, SZA, Young M.A, Julia Michaels, and Noah Cyrus.
See Also: Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, Katy Perry Lead VMA Nominees
We’re already predicting a big win for Khalid so he better have a speech ready — but he’s playing it cool by shouting out those who have been nominated with him.
“The good thing about the VMAs and the Best New Artist category is that I feel like there are so many deserving artists who are also up for it. You know, SZA, her album is on repeat. Julia Michaels is killing it right now. It’s great because I look back and I’m like ‘wow I’m not in High School anymore, I’m actually recording music, people actually listen to my music and now I’m up for something I used to watch.’
“It’s crazy, it’s slightly overwhelming… but I feel like it’s exciting and hopefully I win.”
If and when that win comes, Khalid says he knows exactly where to put the ‘Moon Person’ statue.
“My mom’s house. That’s where everything goes. I won a Woodies at SXSW and I have a place where I’m going to put it next to that and keep piling it up, you know. The wall is for the plaques”
“Not even just so I can see the achievements, just so my mom can realize, “‘Wow!’ My mom is my biggest supporter, my biggest fan, and my best friend. So she keeps everything, I let her have it.”
–Joe Cingrana/92.3 AMP Radio
