After the Sun Goes Down (stylized in all lowercase) is the fourth studio album by American singer and songwriter Khalid. It follows his third studio album, Sincere (2024), and was released through RCA Records on October 10, 2025. Preceded by the singles "In Plain Sight" and "Out of Body," major influences on the record included pop artists Rihanna, Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, and the pop genre during the 2000s and early 2010s.[1]
My new era of music feels like I'm finally ready to be the artist I've always dreamt of being. It goes back to the regressions of when I was a child—imagining myself and thinking, 'I want to be this artist one day.' Now I feel like I have the confidence to finally be that artist.
After getting outed by an ex on the social platform X (formerly known as Twitter) in November 2024, Khalid confessed to Paper, "I thought I'd be devastated when the world found out I was gay. That was something I always feared".[3] He retrospectively named it a "blessing in disguise" but the outing itself was "so nasty".[4] For the new album, he got to authentically be himself, where during Sincere he was healing and tapped into his vulnerability, but Sun Goes Down was extrovert and "about who I am and my place in my community".[3]
On August 15, 2025, Khalid announced his new album, which was executive produced by Ilya Salmanzadeh.[1] He explained in a press release, "This chapter is about taking my power back, living in my truth, and being able to express myself freely. I'm excited for my fans to experience this new era with me, not just musically, but personally".[5] Alongside the announcement was the release of the album's lead single, "In Plain Sight," with the music video directed by 91 Rules.[6] The album's second single, "Out of Body," was released on September 26, 2025. The accompanying music video was directed by Levi Turner.[7]
Andy Kellman of AllMusic wrote in his assessment, "These full-blown pop moves foster a greater emphasis on hooks and enunciation, another major development for Khalid. Whenever he sounds like the somnolent mumbler of yore, it seems more likely an effect of a long night out than one of lonesome doomscrolling. A weight has been lifted".[8] Ed Power of The Irish Times called it a "gorgeously gauzy" record where Khalid "basks in the glow of love and freedom".[9] Mark Kennedy, writing for Associated Press, gave a favorable review. He likened some tracks to fit on a Troye Sivan record and how Khalid's openness gave his music more directness.[10]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Khalid Robinson, with co-writers noted.
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