If I didn't move to El Paso, my life wouldn't be where it is right now. A lot of the old friends that I had in New York were temporary, and they fell off, but I met a lot of lifelong friends in El Paso who helped me and even pushed me to be in the career that I am right now. But I felt like it just gave me a sense of realization that I needed, which is the fact that a lot of things that we surround ourselves with are temporary only if we allow them to be. Well, you didn't live in El Paso that long, right? Isn't that part of what motivated the album? That you had just gotten transferred at the end of your senior year, which was kind of tough. A lot of the friends I have back home too - we're kinda disconnected, a little bit, but I just can't wait until I have this show in El Paso in around two weeks. Because when I used to move around, I moved around with family.

Khalid Robinson: It does get a little bit stressful.

But is it a little bit hard to be away from home? And I know as an army kid you're used to moving around a bit. Michel Martin: Khalid, you are on tour right now. Hear the full interview - including a spontaneous mother-son duet on SWV's 'Weak' - at the audio link, and read on for an edited transcript. They both spoke with NPR's Michel Martin about their bond and about Khalid's music. While his lyrics are very much of the moment, the themes he explores - belonging, love, loneliness, loss - are timeless.Īnd even though American Teen is blowing up the charts, Khalid hasn't gotten too big to credit his biggest influence: his mom, Linda Wolfe, a singer who has performed with the U.S. He has been called a pop prodigy by Rolling Stone and counts people like Elton John among his fans. Khalid's debut album, American Teen, explores timeless themes of love and loss.Īre you still trying to understand that intense first love? Are you grounded from messing up your mom's car? Are you passionate about music that makes it all worthwhile? If so, then maybe you're a teenager looking for an anthem.Įnter Khalid Robinson with his debut album, American Teen, which he wrote when he was a senior in high school.

American teen album khalid