Khamari Is the Sound We’ve Been Missing

There’s a few hills I’m willing to die on, and honoring individuality is somewhere near the top of my list. I’ve always thought there’s something kind of sacred about letting people—and artists alike—show us who they are before we put them in familiar boxes. But let’s be real, comparison is lowkey a natural human reflex. We typically reach for the closest feeling we’ve known in order to make sense of new ones. A story may hit close to home. A certain tone may transport you to the bridge of a familiar song you’ve loved for years. 

So as much as I may sound like a contradiction to my opening statement, that’s what happened one night—wrapped up in bed, doomscrolling my way through X. I stumbled across a quoted retweet that felt like a secret I was meant to find. Atop Khamari’s announcement of his debut single, “Head in a Jar,” a fan aggressively wrote into the void: “Y’all realize this man has been putting out music for almost 5 years now?? Get it together and stop sleeping on his discography.” 

Unhinged energy from a stranger? Absolutely. But for some reason, I felt them. Along with feeling guilt-tripped and curious, I hit play. The song instantly teleported me back to the first time my high school self heard Frank Ocean’s “We All Try” from his EP Nostalgia, Ultra. 

“Head in a Jar” had me in a trance, and once I managed to escape it, I oddly found myself bothered. Don’t get me wrong—it was a stunning song—but my first thought was, “Damn, I hear Frank, and he really left us high and dry.” The way Khamari came in with stacked vocals, guitar riffs in the background guiding the emotional experience, lyrics that had meaning—the vulnerable balance of masculinity and softness. It was too good, but reminiscent of sentiments I’ve had when hearing Ocean’s music. 

Khamari’s single gave me a feeling I guess I didn’t realize I’d been craving in R&B since Frank’s been on hiatus. It was time I clocked in and had no choice but to admit: that random Twitter user was right. I was sleep. What I heard was honest. It was necessary. And it needed to be shared with others who might feel the same as I do. 

So I set out to learn who Khamari is, and what I found? He’s got a captivating sound we all need more of. 

Who Is Khamari? Lore According to My Midnight Spiral

Khamari is a Boston-born artist quietly releasing some of the most honest, carefully crafted R&B since 2020. His introspective lyrics merge perfectly with his moody production and melodies that don’t demand attention, yet stay with you. A former Berklee College of Music student and multitalented musician, he ditched school to find his own voice and now oversees every part of his music—from writing to producing to arranging. 

Raised in Dorchester, he pulls inspiration from artists like Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, and Frank Ocean. But while those influences are clear, he’s not following in their footsteps in their entirety. His music is intentional, thoughtful, and emotionally open in its own lane. 

After his debut EP Eldorado in 2020 earned praise for its storytelling, Khamari took a quieter approach that echoed Frank Ocean’s elusive style. He then reemerged with new singles, and his career took off with a trio of Spotify New Music Friday placements, including a #10 spot with his sophomore single, “The Heat.” He earned editorial support as Spotify’s Fresh Finds cover artist, with additional playlist features in spaces like Apple Music’s FEELS. His first three songs racked up over 10 million streams, with “The Heat” pulling in 500k in its first week on Spotify alone.

Khamari’s 2023 album, A Brief Nirvana, had singles like “These Four Walls” circulated through R&B radio, earning him a COLORS performance and a spot at Tyler, the Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw Festival. He was also VEVO’s Artist to Watch in 2024. 

Songs We Love & Khamari’s Upcoming Album

Khamari’s catalog is small but mighty. One of the first standouts for me is “Doctor, My Eyes.” If you’ve ever found yourself at the epicenter of self-doubt and feeling directionless, this song is an honest ode to that. He questions, “Aren’t these supposed to be my glory days?” and admits to feeling entirely too much as a twenty-something. It’s raw without being overly dramatic. And Khamari doesn’t seem to overcomplicate his feelings. His words feel like quiet confessions and feel packaged in a similar way we’ve fallen for Frank. 

“Sycamore Tree,” one of his newer tracks from 2025, immediately pulls you in with a wave of ’90s nostalgia. Real ones recognize the nod he gives to D’Angelo’s “How Does It Feel” directly upon hitting play. But what unravels is more metaphor than slow jam. The “tree” becomes this sort of stand-in for a relationship he’s watched blossom over time. Beauty is present, but there’s also pain—like rose thorns he speaks of, nestled below the tree. He knows it hurts, but it feels familiar. He’s torn, and the lyrics reflect his indecision. 

Khamari also dropped a new single, “Lonely in the Jungle,” and took to X to share that his next album is “officially turned in” as of July 2025. No word yet on a release date, but he did leave fans with a teasing “see you soon.” 

What I know now: What’s coming next from Khamari will be worth the wait.

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