Sincere (Khalid album)

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.^[7] 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."^[8]

The album featured several 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.^[9]

On April 5, 2024, Khalid released the lead single of the album, "Please Don't Fall in Love with Me".^[9] On June 14, 2024, he released the second single, "Adore U".^[10] On July 1, 2024, Khalid announced the album along with its cover art and release date.^[11] He released the third single from the album, "Ground", on July 19, 2024.^[12] He revealed the tracklist three days later.^[13] "Heatstroke" impacted US contemporary hit radio on August 23, 2024, as the album's fourth and final single.^[3]

More information Review scores, Source ...

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[14]
The Daily Telegraph	[15]

Close

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".^[16] 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".^[17]

Andy Kellman of AllMusic penned in a less sanguine review, "doesn't seem to be titled to distinguish the material from what preceded it, though the lyrics are certainly more frank, especially with regard to relationships. The development can be easy to miss; Khalid remains so committed to his groggy and earnest vocal technique that he sticks with it even when he divulges that he wants to incinerate an ex's belongings".^[14] Sophie Carlin acknowledged there being "standout, beautiful moments," though in similar sentiments to Kellman, felt several tracks leaned into "blandness," where there was "little to differentiate them, blur into a kind of impressionistic wash".^[15]

Note

• ^{^[a]} signifies an additional producer

Musicians

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)