by Eliana Fermi
Khalid leans into the rhythm in “In Plain Sight.” There’s an undeniable ease in his delivery, a conversational warmth in his performance. His tone carries that signature velvety sound, though his vocals are processed heavily, one can still hear his natural tone peeking through. The wall of effects most vocalist hide behind in this genre is reduced, letting his vocals glide through the syncopated rhythm section. The result is a groove-forward pop-R&B track that lives and breathes in its pocket.
Khalid shows a refined control over his mid-range as he rides his chest voice with a steady, unforced breath flow. The call and response sections between Khalid and backing vocals are tasteful. His vowel shaping is smooth, slightly rounded at phrase ends, which adds a softness to the lyrics. The cadential figure moves to a different feel, maintaining the resonance of the with a new rhythmic design.
“In Plain Sight” will add to the soundtrack of a late-night mood, wrapped in a danceable sheen of seduction. The bassline has a gentle propulsion, enough to make the head nod, while the synths accent with warm pads, giving the production a modern retro gloss. Khalid’s vocal touch keeps the lyrics flowing, inviting you to move with him through the realization of the storyline.
What makes the single worth your time is Khalid’s voice. the trust the arrangement places trust in Khalid’s voice, letting more of his natural tone be heard, and less of the processed auto-tuning for prevalent in this style. In an era when pop often buries its singers under layers of digital shine, “In Plain Sight” hints that authenticity can be just as compelling. That’s the short of it!
