Khalid Returns to Music as a New Man & Artist (Full Interview)

Khalid went from uploading songs on SoundCloud in high school to becoming one of the defining voices of a generation. With billions of streams and global hits like “Location,” “Young Dumb & Broke,” and “Talk,” it’s easy to forget he was just a teenager figuring it out as the world watched. But this episode isn’t just about his success. It’s about the moments you don’t see. The pressure. The identity shifts. Becoming the real you. Khalid shares how overnight success changed his life forever, the highs and lows that came with it, and what it taught him about himself. He talks about writing Location in high school, watching it explode across the world, and the surreal feeling of realizing his life would never be the same. He speaks about navigating fame, self-doubt, and what it means to rebuild creatively when the world already thinks they know who you are. And he reveals why this album is his biggest risk yet, and why it’s the most true to who he is. It’s not about algorithms or streams. It’s about what it really means to grow up in public and still find your voice. If you’ve ever struggled with identity, felt pressure to be someone you’re not, or just want to see the heart behind the music, this episode is for you. I’m really grateful for the chance to talk to Khalid, who doesn’t do many interviews. Thank you for trusting us with this story. It will stay with people long after the sun goes down. 📘 FREE PDF: 15 Lessons from The Greatest Minds in Music → https://nas.io/behindthewall/products/dxue 🧢 Behind The Wall Merch Drop 👕 Use code WALL20 for 20% off → https://behindthewall.tv/collections/all ⬇️ More of Khalid New Album: https://khalid.lnk.to/atsgd?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAad3SG6nwx5AAKOeEFrc7VoZTs2PO0Z-WmtliOiIVtKRyJzgcJ-i3nnwHE_RnA_aem_Tyr4R8IZGMClo0YWTS56xw Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LuN9FCkKOj5PcnpouEgny?si=GqEt14OmRFWFqCsYco82Kw Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegr8khalid/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegr8khalid YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkntT5Je5DDopF70YUsnuEQ 🎵 Listen to the new album ⬇️ More of Daniel YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DanielsWall Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielwall TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@danielswall 00:00 - Intro 01:19 - Who is Khalid 02:59 - Why Everyone Should Know Khalid's Music 04:34 - How many songs were written before the first hit 08:15 - Freeystling The First Hit - "Saved" 13:54 - How to Build Confidence as an Artist 18:35 - When do you know when a song is done? 22:02 - What song changed Khalid's Life 24:45 - Did Khalid Know That Location Would Change His Life? 28:58 - What does it mean to be moved by a song? 35:01 - Why Khalid wishes he lived his youth differently 37:16 - How to collaborate as an artist 40:19 - Difference between Writing Now vs in the Past 42:17 - Thoughts on TikTok Virality 45:52 - Anime, K-Pop, Katseye, and Naruto 46:38 - Working with Marshmello on "Silence" 53:27 - 15 Lessons from The Greatest Minds in Music 55:03 - How to work differently with different artists 57:11 - Why Sweden Makes the Best Pop Music 01:03:24 - How to be successful as a producer working with an artist 01:07:52 - What does it mean to take risks in music? 01:09:19 - Khalid's Most Emotional Songs 01:12:35 - How Khalid Made Better 01:14:00 - Why Khalid's Secret to Writing is Freestyling 01:16:42 - The Amount of Work it Takes to Get a Great Vocal 01:21:59 - How Khalid writes his newer music 01:22:54 - How "After The Sun Goes Down" represents Khalid 01:26:43 - Song Recommendation for New Listeners 01:27:43 - Having Fun in the Studio 01:29:30 - Khalid Plays His New Song "Yes No Maybe" 01:34:51 - Khalid Plays His New Song "Nah" 01:37:33 - Dealing with Haters and the Inner Demons 01:45:13 - Checklist for Starting the Music today 01:46:48 - Khalid Plays His New Song "Out of Body" 01:50:20 - Thing that Should've been known earlier 01:52:41 - How do you Give to Music? 01:55:04 - Define Success in music 01:55:58 - Khalid's Biggest Goal in Music 01:57:00 - Advice for people looking to get into Music Full-time 01:58:23 - Khalid's Motivational Drive 01:59:54 - Thank you Khalid for Going Behind The Wall with Us

Added 15 Jun 2026