Stream king Khalid shares the life and death moment that inspired his musical comeback

The stream king has launched his new album with two sold-out world premiere concerts in Australia after a life-threatening accident.

The world premiere concerts to launch pop superstar Khalid’s new album were the hottest ticket in Australia this week, with some Penrith Panthers fanboys among the lucky 5000 people to see the gigs.

Penrith stars Nathan Cleary, Mitch Kenny, Mavrik Geyer and Riley Price scored a backstage meet and greet with pop’s Mr Nice Guy at the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday.

The footy quartet inducted Khalid to their fanbase with a personalised Panthers jersey before joining the sold-out crowd to watch the global chartslayer perform one of the most euphoric and unique gigs of the year.

The two shows were exclusive to Australia to launch his new album Sincere, his first in the country since 2019.

American pop superstar Khalid with Penrith players Mavrik Geyer, Nathan Cleary, Mitch Kenny and Riley Price backstage at the Sydney Opera House ahead of his second sold out Sincere world premiere show. Credit: Brayden Smith / Supplied

The pop superstar Khalid credits his miraculous survival from a life-threatening car accident last year for inspiring his album comeback.

The 26-year-old streaming king launched his new album Sincere this week with two sold-out world premiere concerts in Australia after taking time out from his recording career a few years ago due to burnout.

But the lightning bolt that would renew his love affair with music came when the Young, Dumb and Broke star was driving to a studio in June last year during his US tour with Ed Sheeran.

His classic convertible overheated and he pulled to the side of the freeway.

As he spoke to a friend asking to be picked up, another vehicle slammed into the back of his stricken car at 110 km/h. Khalid and his vehicle were catapulted off the freeway and into a ditch.

American pop superstar Khalid performs world premiere of new album Sincere at Sydney Opera House on August 5. Picture: Jordan Munns / Supplied

The back of his car was totalled while the front passenger seat he had been in was remarkably intact.

When he regained consciousness, he had suffered only a bruised ankle, busted lip and a cut on his head which required a couple of staples.

“Two months later, you couldn’t see any of that accident on me; everything healed, but it was like it knocked me into this drive where (I felt) there’s nothing more alive than being creative. And after that crash I wrote half the album,” he said.

Khalid’s pop-up gigs brought fans from around the country. Picture: Jordan Munns / Supplied.

Khalid had just graduated from high school when his debut singles Location and Young, Dumb & Broke became sleeper hits in 2017 and propelled the then teenager to global success.

The hits came thick and fast. Love Lies with Normani, Eastside with Benny Blanco and Halsey, Silence with Marshmello, Lovely with Billie Eilish and his own singles Better and Talk generating a mammoth 30 billion streams over the past seven years.

“Alien” monoliths and stunning dancing; Khalid brought a special show to Oz. Picture: Jordan Munns / Supplied.

Everything he touched turned to platinum hits but Khalid was burnt out from saying yes to every request for a collaboration, a relentless touring schedule and feeling he had lost control of his creative direction.

Sincere is his return to R & B form and he chose to launch it in Australia with two surprise gigs at the Sydney Opera House after a five year absence from our stages because his fans here “get me.”

Khalid chose to launch the album in Australia with two shows at the Sydney Opera House. Picture: Supplied

Khalid joins a raft of international artists including British electronic superstar Fred Again booking guerrilla gigs in Australia to not just promote a new song or record but create buzzworthy events which go viral worldwide.

Australian fans have been the early champions of his latest singles including Please Don’t Fall In Love With Me, Adore U, Ground and Heatstroke.

“This is one of the most special places I’ve performed in and the love I get from my fanbase here really is like no other,” he said.

“Any time I check the analytics and (with) all the songs, Sydney is always at the top. Every single track I’ve put out, Sydney has landed it at No.1.”

Khalid is already working on a return to Australia for more shows. Picture: Jordan Munns / Supplied.

Fans travelled from around the country to see the Sincere world premiere shows which turned the Sydney Opera House concert hall into a euphoric celebration of his new music and enviable catalogue of hits.

The one-off shows in the road featured stunning choreography with set decoration reminiscent of the mysterious “alien” mirror monoliths which have popped up in American deserts in recent years.