Kali Uchis blooms brighter than even 'Orquídeas'

eat
ew artists can set a scene like Kali Uchis. Each of her albums has proven that she is a ruler of the mood boards and a queen of aesthetics: Her debut album in 2018, Isolation, it was a lush world of retro R&B best enjoyed on a heart-shaped sofa. of 2023 Red Moon on Venus included shape-shifting cosmic pop songs you had to drink during a lunar eclipse. In each work, she has stitched different sonic textures together like fabric samples and placed her voice front and center — allowing her to gently guide her listeners into whatever new world she was building.

In true Kali fashion, her new album, orchids, began with a specific vision: “This album is inspired by the timeless, eerie, mystical, striking, graceful and sensual allure of the orchid,” he said in a press release that reads more like poetry. The orchid, it turns out, is the national flower of Colombia, where Uchis spent a lot of time as a child. “I have always felt intrigued and fascinated by the flower.” The goal throughout the record, Uchis continued, is to leverage that image to “redefine the way we see Latinas in music.”

Quickly activated Orchids, it becomes clear that Uchis has a few things on her mind: First of all, she wants people to know that there is no box or category that limits Latinas sonically. It bounces from icy R&B to bright merenda and liquefied dream pop. Second, the album balances a careful mix of strength and vulnerability, which adds complexity and nuance to Latina concepts in music that are often stereotyped as luscious sirens or spicy flames.

Take, for example, “Igual Que un Ángel,” a synth-pop ode to female empowerment. “He just wants peace… He never forgets what's real,” he sings in Spanish. When least expected, Mexican star Peso Pluma takes to the track, emphasizing Uchis' message of perseverance. “Perdiste” is a glowing ballad tenderly reminding an ex-lover of the woman he lost, while “Te Mata” is a regaining of independence after a toxic relationship, beautifully crafted in a contemporary bolero. It's one of the most impressive vocal performances from Uchis, who showed her ability to recreate old-school classics when she performed La Lupe's fiery “Què Te Pedí” on her first Spanish-language album, 2020 Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios).

But Orchids it's also loaded with sex action and bad bitch energy. “Labios Mordidos,” the album's centerpiece, is an empowerment anthem that enlists fellow Colombian Karol G for a hilarious perreo party. On the disco “No Hay Ley Parte 2,” he trades verses with Rauw Alejandro, then powers up “Muñekita” for a dive, featuring Dominican celebrity El Alfa and City Girls rapper JT.

Throughout the album, Uchis is bolder and more honest than on previous releases. So often, she plays the skinny cool girl, but she breaks out of her shell time and time again this time. It dives deeper into new sounds and flourishes all the way through.