Khamari

In 2017, Khamari left Berklee College of Music and moved to Los Angeles to devote himself to the pursuit of emotional R&B full time. Since then, the Boston native, born in 1997, has established himself as a troubadour of the new millennium. He has the ability to deliver soul-baring lyrics that seem read directly from his Notes app, or yours, and backs the words up with songcraft. His intensive study of the greats shows in his command of R&B’s nuanced vocal language—and in his penchant for the kind of sturdy, bass-heavy beats that conjure the ’90s. This submerged affinity with the old school takes center stage on songs such as the ’70s-flavored “Right My Wrongs” from his 2023 album, A Brief Nirvana. These references help anchor his introspective music while placing it in conversation with a long tradition of yearning in song. The result is tunes that feel like brand-new classics, lacking only the patina of time to confirm their status.