Khalid is laser-focused on someone special, describing their connection on his new song “Satellite.”
The El Paso, Texas, native glides on nylon-string guitar strokes, coated in spaghetti-western whistles and drums, to sing about a particular someone he can’t stop thinking of.
“You’re like a satellite / Crossing through my mind / It always leads me straight, straight, straight to you,” Khalid sings on the chorus.
Speaking on the new single, Khalid says, “‘Satellite’ is a visual portrait of my growth as a human being & the self-love journey I have experienced in my life.”
“Satellite” arrives with an accompanying video directed by Levi Turner. It sees a mini-sized Khalid in a multiverse environment. Dancers join him to perform the song.
Khalid’s latest single marks his first solo single since “Skyline,” which was released on April 29. His latter track was announced as the lead single to his much-teased third album, out later this year via Right Hand Music Group/RCA Records.
At this time, it’s unclear if the follow-up to 2019’s Free Spirit is still under the working-title Everything Is Changing. Nor are there additional details to support if “New Normal,” released last July, will make the tracklist.
While Khalid dropped “Last Call” this spring, it was only to celebrate the 5th anniversary of his Grammy-nominated debut album American Teen.
“I’m really excited to share ‘Last Call’ with all my fans. It’s important to me to commemorate this day and look back at everything that has happened. I can’t believe it’s been 5 years already,” Khalid said. “I hope you guys enjoy it and celebrate with me and all we’ve done together.”
His 2017 full-length is now certified 4x multi-platinum with cumulative U.S. sales of more than four million equivalent units sold.
As for its breakthrough single, “Location,” became the 75th song in RIAA history to advance to diamond status, recognizing more than 10 million equivalent units.
Following his second song released this year, Khalid collaborated with masked electronic DJ/producer Marshmello for “Numb.” The popular song has a series of remixes and has amassed more than 108 million streams on Spotify. It peaked at No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Then, in August, Khalid also worked with Lukas Graham for “Wish You Were Here” and Alicia Keys for “Come For Me (Unlocked).”
In late 2021, Khalid debuted Scenic Drive (The Tape), which Rated R&B reviewed. The brief collection of new songs featured appearances from Keys, Ari Lennox, Lucky Daye, 6LACK, QUIÑ, Kiana Ledé, Majid Jordan, JID and Smino.
Listen to Khalid’s new song “Satellite” below. Also, watch the music video.