One year after being outed as gay by an ex, and nearly a decade since Location became a global sensation, Khalid is stepping into the spotlight on his own terms.
In a raw and reflective interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, the 26-year-old singer opened up about his newfound freedom, the impact of being forcibly outed, and how his latest album, After the Sun Goes Down, reflects his personal rebirth.
“If you liked my music before, there’s a high chance that you’re gonna continue to like my music,” Khalid told Lowe. “Because I’ve always been gay. It just doesn’t make sense [to think otherwise].”
Parasocial Pressures, Privacy & Identity
The interview began with a discussion around boundaries between fans and artists, particularly how social media blurs them. Lowe noted that artists owe honesty through their art — not their personal lives.
But when Khalid was outed by an ex, fans and critics alike responded with confusion and even backlash.
“One of the weirdest things I heard was, ‘Oh my god, he’s gay, now his music is gonna suck.’ I’m like, what do you mean?!” Khalid said with frustration. “It’s none of your business — and it never was.”
Processing Trauma, Then Reclaiming It
Khalid admitted there was deep trauma tied to being outed. While some close friends — like Kiana Ledé and Normani — already knew, he hadn’t planned to come out so publicly, so suddenly.
“I was dipping my toe into the pool,” he explained, referencing his third album Sincere as the first hint at his full truth. “And then I got pushed into the pool.”
Still, in retrospect, Khalid feels stronger:
“You know what? It’s actually not that bad. If anything, I love it here.”
From Sincere to After the Sun Goes Down: Music with Heart
Khalid described his 2024 album Sincere as a stepping stone — one that helped him shed sadness, fear, and years of internalised pressure. That emotional release paved the way for something brighter.
“After the Sun Goes Down is full of love, freedom, and lightness,” he said. “I’m not hiding anymore. I’ve done that already.”
Where previous albums (Free Spirit, Sincere) were weighed down by obligation and overthinking, After the Sun Goes Down is a return to self-expression — like his breakout LP, American Teen.
A Love Letter to His Younger Self
Described as a “letter to my inner child”, After the Sun Goes Down celebrates the wide-eyed, pop-obsessed Khalid who grew up watching music evolve through the 2000s and 2010s.
“It’s for the young boy in me — the one who didn’t know if it was safe to be himself. This album tells him: ‘You’re gonna be just fine.’”
Musically, Khalid cites Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, and the era of “dirty pop” as major influences — risk-takers who redefined the genre and culture.
“This is my homage to those pop rebels who did it their way,” he said. “Now it’s my turn.”
