Khalid.Photo: Levi Turner on behalf of Coca-Cola
In honor of his new collaboration with Cola-Cola on the Real Magic campaign, the 23-year-old singer dove into his newest musical release,Scenic Drive (The Tape)— a glimpse at his full-length album set to release in 2022.
Khalid releasedScenic Drive (The Tape)on Friday, two years after droppingFree Spiritin 2019 — and he tells PEOPLE it’s “one of those projects that I’ve been holding onto my heart for so long.”
Since the release ofFree Spirit,Khalid says he experienced pivotal years as he’s entered his 20s — and he says fans will now “get a new understanding of who I am as an adult.”
“I’ve learned a lot about myself and who I am as a creative and I feel like the collaborators that I worked with as well are adults that I respect,” the “Location” singer says. “When I listen to this project, it just sounds like a more mature version of myself.”
Aside from his work on the album, however, Khalid teamed up with Coca-Cola to pursue another passion of his — lifting BIPOC communities.
“The thing that gravitated me to Coca-Cola for the platform that they’re releasing, Real Magic, is being a Black creator, person of color, and just being an advocate for that support that actually is necessary — especially this day and age,” he says. “I’m all about inclusivity, spreading love, [and] spreading positivity.”
Under the Real Magic campaign, Coca-Cola is launching its TikTok channel with the #ShareTheMagic challenge — and Khalid’s new track “Open” is the soundtrack.
Khalid.Levi Turner on behalf of Coca-Cola
For the Coca-Cola collab,Jalaiah Harmon, the 16-year-old who created the “Renegade” TikTok dance will choreograph a dance to “Open,” and will serve as a judge to culminate a “best of” mash-up of participants after Dec. 21st, which marks the end of the challenge.
Along with new music and as the holidays approach, it’s an exciting time for Khalid as he also recently collaborated with “legends"Mariah Careyand Kirk Franklin on “Fall in Love at Christmas,” which was released on Nov. 5 — and was featured in Carey’snewly released Christmas special.
“They are legends. Legends. Icons. So to be in that picture and to be a part of this amazing, beautiful song, that’s special and just embodies the holidays is something that I will forever be appreciative for as an artist myself,” he tells PEOPLE of working with Carey, 52, and Franklin 51.
He adds, “I can’t wait for people to enjoy it and share it with their family for the holidays.”
source: people.com
