Khalid ushers in the next era with his first single “New Normal.”
Written by Khalid and Active Child and produced by Active Child and John Hill, the breezy track finds Khalid navigating a post-pandemic world.
“It’s almost like you’re screaming, but no one hears your voice / ‘Cause everything is changing,” he sings while offering some encouragement. “Although I can’t promise you much, you’ll be fine … It’s a new normal, it’s up for us to live in it.”
The futuristic video, directed by Andy Hines, takes place in a world with robots and space travel.
“New Normal” is the first single off Khalid’s third studio album Everything Is Changing, due this fall.
“‘New Normal’ was inspired by how I was feeling during the pandemic and the emotional toll that quarantine took on me and my friends,” said Khalid. “Everything Is Changing as an album really takes that a step further with all of the songs centering around trying to find a purpose and a sense of self in a world where everything is digitally connect but emotionally disconnected.”
He added, “As we all come out of quarantine and venture more into the world and try to reconnect with people we haven’t seen in over a year, I hope the messages explored within the album open up conversations and allow people to access their feelings in a new way.”
Earlier this month, Khalid performed the song for the crew, including Sir Richard Branson, at the launch of Virgin Galactic’s “Unity 22” Spaceflight.