Sincere (Khalid album) explained

Sincere
Type:	studio
Cover:	Khalid - Sincere.png
Artist:	Khalid
Length:	52:03
Label:	RCA
Producer:	Edgar Barrera Blanda Chrome Sparks Matt Dugan Digi John Hill Jason Kellner Kevin Kofo Denis Kosiak Justin Lucas Nate Mingo M-Phazes Psymun Adrian Rodriguez Simon Says Blake Straus Jef Villaluna
Prev Title:	Scenic Drive
Prev Year:	2021

Sincere is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Khalid. It was released through RCA Records on August 2, 2024. His first studio album release since Free Spirit (2019), the album features a sole guest appearance from English singer-songwriter Arlo Parks, who is featured on the eighth track, "Breathe".^{[1] [2]}

Background and composition

Five years after his second studio album Free Spirit and the mixtape Scenic Drive (2021), Khalid explained that he needed time to understand what kind of artist he wanted to be after his debut at the age of seventeen.^[3] In fact, "I wasn't even writing based on my experiences. I took it back to the roots and approached it as if I were debuting as an artist again. It's like going back to the beginning of my journey, but this time with more awareness and knowledge."^[4]

The album featured severals authors and producers, including Khalid himself, Aldae, Edgar Barrera, Mark London, Psymun and John Hill; the track "Please Don't Fall in Love With Me" samples "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" by Alicia Keys and Drake.

Release and promotion

On April 5, 2024, Khalid released the lead single of the album, "Please Don't Fall in Love with Me".^[5] On June 14, 2024, he released the second single, "Adore U".^[6] On July 1, 2024, Khalid announced the album along with its cover art and release date.^[7] He released the third and final single from the album, "Ground", on July 19, 2024.^[8] He revealed the tracklist three days later.^[9]

Critics reception

Mark Kennedy of Associated Press wrote that the album "is a collection of beautiful harmonies and airy and spare rhythms", loosing the singer's songwriting past works, pointing out that it "just zips along without leaving much of a trace, [...] maybe because the artist is just treading water".^[10] Okla Jones of Essence wrote that Khalid "took a minimalist approach with this project", in which "he visits the more tumultuous side of intimacy, which provides listeners with a smooth balance of storytelling throughout the album".^[11]

Track listing

Note

• signifies an additional producer

Personnel

Musicians

• Khalid – lead vocals
• Gunnlaugur Torfi Stefánsson – bass (track 6)
• Jacek Karwan – bass (track 6)
• Þórir Jóhannsson – bass (track 6)
• Bryndís Björgvinsdóttir – cello (track 6)
• Helga B. Ágústsdóttir – cello (track 6)
• Hrafnhilduur Marta Guðmundsdóttir – cello (track 6)
• Victoria Tarveskaia – cello (track 6)
• SinfoniaNord – concert master (track 6)
• Atli Örvarsson – conductor (track 6)
• Eydís Úlfarsdóttir – viola (track 6)
• Eyjolfur Bjarni Alfreðsson – viola (track 6)
• Guðrún Hrund Harðardóttir – viola (track 6)
• Svava Bernharðsdóttir – viola (track 6)
• Chrissie Telma Guðmundsdóttir – violin (track 6)
• Greta Salóme Stefánsdóttir – violin (track 6)
• Gunnhildur Daðadóttir – violin (track 6)
• Guðbjartur Hákonarson – violin (track 6)
• Hlín Erlendsdóttir – violin (track 6)
• Kristján Matthíasson – violin (track 6)
• Marcin Lazarz – violin (track 6)
• Olga Ólafsdóttir – violin (track 6)
• Sigríður Bjarney Baldvinsdóttir – violin (track 6)
• Tomasz Kolosowski – violin (track 6)
• Vera Panitch – violin (track 6)
• Zbigniew Dubik – violin (track 6)
• Zsuzsanna Bitay – violin (track 6)
• Laura Liu – violin (track 6)
• Jef Villaluna – guitar (track 7)

Technical

• Dale Becker – mastering
• Denis Kosiak – mixing, vocal production (all tracks); engineering (tracks 1–3, 6–16)
• Leandro "Dro" Hidalgo – mixing (track 11)
• Cooper Leith – engineering (tracks 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11–13, 15, 16)
• Haukur Pálmason – engineering (track 6)
• Árni F. Sigurðsson – engineering (track 6)
• Katie Harvey – engineering assistance
• Noah McCorkle – engineering assistance (tracks 1–3, 6, 8–11, 14, 15, 16)
• Rubén Castro – engineering assistance (tracks 1, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15)
• Daniel Cullen – engineering assistance (tracks 1, 13)
• Stacy Abarca – engineering assistance (track 2)
• Brandon Hernandez – engineering assistance (tracks 4, 5, 7, 12, 13)
• Stephanie D'Arcy – engineering assistance (track 5)
• Nate Mingo – engineering assistance (track 9)
• Jean Paul Quintero – engineering assistance (track 16)

Charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"

Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[12]	46
Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums (ARIA)^[13]	11
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[14]	27

Notes and References

1. Web site: Murray . Robin . August 5, 2024 . Khalid Drops New Album 'Sincere' . August 7, 2024 . Clash.
2. Web site: Morton . Devin . August 5, 2024 . Khalid Makes His Grand Return With "Sincere" . August 7, 2024 . HotNewHipHop.
3. Web site: Mendez . Chris Malone . August 2, 2024 . Khalid Releases New Album ‘Sincere’ . August 7, 2024 . Forbes.
4. Web site: Aniftos . Rania . July 30, 2024 . Khalid Shares How a Chance Encounter in South Africa Inspired New Album ‘Sincere’ . August 7, 2024 . Billboard.
5. Web site: Gonzalez . Alex . Khalid Wants To Break The Cycle Of Heartbreak On His New Single, 'Please Don't Fall In Love With Me'. . July 19, 2024 . April 5, 2024.
6. Zemler . Emily . Khalid Reveals 'Melancholic Experience' on Intimate Single 'Adore U'. . subscription. July 19, 2024 . June 14, 2024.
7. Blistein . Jon . Khalid Officially Announces Third Album 'Sincere,' Calls It a 'Return to Form'. . subscription. July 19, 2024 . July 1, 2024.
8. Web site: Williams . Aaron . Khalid's Dreamy 'Ground' Sees Him Find His Footing In An Uncertain World. . July 19, 2024 . July 19, 2024.
9. Jessica . Lynch . Khalid Reveals Tracklist for Upcoming Album 'Sincere'. . July 23, 2024 . July 23, 2024.
10. Web site: Kennedy . Mark . August 2, 2024 . Music Review: More of the same has Khalid treading water on third album . August 7, 2024 . AP News.
11. Web site: Okla . Jones . August 6, 2024 . Khalid’s ‘Sincere’ Displays The Creative Evolution Of A Talented Artist . August 7, 2024 . Essence.
12. Web site: ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. August 12, 2024. August 9, 2024.
13. Web site: ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Albums Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. August 12, 2024. August 9, 2024.
14. Web site: NZ Top 40 Albums Chart. Recorded Music NZ. August 12, 2024. August 9, 2024.