Movies

Kali Uchis’ new album ‘Sincerely,’ is a love letter to mothers everywhere

BBG News

To celebrate her latest album release, Kali Uchis hosted a tea party in Hollywood.

The event at Citizen News last Friday was far from a low-key occasion. Numerous elegant ladies adorned with lace, silk, and pearls flocked to the venue to celebrate the launch of the fifth studio album by the singer-songwriter, titled “Sincerely”, which hit Capitol Records on May 9th.

In a vibrant mix of spectral R&B-pop tunes imbued with life’s essence, Uchis’ latest album resounded throughout the venue while the artist herself, adorned in a frilly white chiffon gown, a Rococo-inspired corset, and pink satin platform boots, posed for photos with her fans and companions.

Notable attendees were rap artist Saweetie and drag sensation Valentina. Together with Uchis, they judged a ballroom competition featuring talented vogue dancers from House of FUBU and their rivals, House of Telfar. The judges generously awarded high scores to the performers who gracefully moved across the wooden dance floor in vibrant costumes inspired by “Alice in Wonderland”.

The Grammy-winning artist seldom makes public appearances, but the tea party was an exceptional occasion. Nowadays, she mostly resides at home in Los Angeles with her family and close friends, a fact reflected in her naming her skincare line “Homebody.

Nevertheless, the overall atmosphere of the occasion – a celebration of femininity in diverse forms – resonated sincerely with Uchis’ artistic ethos. Moreover, during the creation of “Sincerely,” a song containing her most candid verses thus far, authenticity played a crucial role.

As I prepared for the release of my album, I shared with De Los that my primary goal was to craft an autobiographical work. Each track served as a personal letter – to friends, lovers, family, and even the world at large. Unlike previous albums such as ‘Orquídeas,’ this time around, I aimed to delve deeper into my own life story rather than relying on generic tunes about my looks or charm.

Kali Uchis confirms her pregnancy news and opens up about embracing motherhood, as well as sharing correspondence with leading figures in Latin music to create her latest album titled “Orquideas.

For her 2024 album “Orquídeas,” a compilation of danceable Spanish tunes designed for the floor, Uchis enlisted various guest vocalists hailing from Latin America, including Karol G and Peso Pluma, to celebrate girl-pop fun together with her.

However, all of this transpired prior to last March, a time when the artist welcomed her son into the world, whom she co-parents with Houston-native rapper Don Toliver. It was around the same period that Uchis, now aged 30, embarked on an emotionally intense journey of reconciliation with her previously distant mother, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer.

Following a number of heartfelt, healing discussions, Uchis’ mother made efforts towards earning her daughters’ pardon and spent a lot of time with her grandson before she sadly passed away in April. This is one of the reasons why Uchis dedicated the song “Sincerely,” which was released just ahead of Mother’s Day, to her deceased mom.

According to Uchis, he attempted to engage in activities outside while keeping quiet about her passing. He felt it was disrespectful to her life and memory because it constantly occupied his thoughts, from the moment he woke up to when he fell asleep. His mother was very proud of him, and he believed honoring her by dedicating the album to her was the proper course of action.

In “Sunshine & Rain…,” an album, Uchis incorporated her mother’s voice from a home video for its upbeat lead single. Her mother cheerily says, “Good morning, sunshine!”, in a low-fi setting, while a sitar subtly plays, adding a psychedelic flavor to the soul ballad.

Karly-Marina Loaiza, known as Uchis, was born in Alexandria, Virginia. She was the youngest of five siblings in a family that was both Colombian and American. This family spent part of their time in the United States and part in Pereira, Colombia, which is her father’s hometown. Uchis had a challenging relationship with her parents, who often made their children assist in construction work for the apartment building managed by her father.

As a tender-hearted child, Uchis preferred penning poetry and performing saxophone in a school jazz ensemble with her peers; she was a high school student when she departed from home. It was during this independent living phase that she produced and recorded what eventually turned into her popular 2012 mixtape – an R&B exploration titled “Drunken Babble,” which she shared on the internet.

She remarked, looking back on her early years, “I faced numerous challenges.” She explained, “I wasn’t born into wealth … nor did I receive formal vocal training.” People often told her when she was starting out, ‘Your voice is quite unique,’ which she initially took as a criticism. But she decided to embrace it, saying, “Since it’s true, I’ll lean on that uniqueness.

Over time, Uchis has formed connections with several artists such as Tyler, the Creator from L.A., producers like BadBadNotGood and Kaytranada, who featured on her 2015 EP titled “Por Vida.” In 2017, she collaborated with Gorillaz and Juanes, and in the year after that, she toured as an opening act for Lana Del Rey. She then signed a record deal with Virgin EMI (under Universal Music Group) and put out her first album, “Isolation,” in the same year.

In late 2020, her fame reached new heights when she launched her debut Spanish-language album titled “Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios)”. The single “Telepatía” soared to the top of the Billboard Latin Songs chart and made it to No. 25 on the Hot 100 in 2021. Her subsequent albums, “Red Moon in Venus” from 2023 and “Orquídeas”, climbed up the Billboard 200 charts to reach positions 4 and 2 respectively.

The album “Sincerely,” which was released following Capitol Records’ merger with Interscope in March, had been in development for two years prior. In 2023, shortly after finding out about her pregnancy, Uchis composed the opening track, “Heaven Is a Home.” As the responsibilities of motherhood began to affect her, she chose to express her intentions in this song – to heal the generational trauma from her immigrant family and establish what she refers to as her own sanctuary of protection and light.

As it turned out, crafting life activated the same creative zone in my brain that art did. On the very day my little boy was born in the hospital, I penned the ballad “ILYSMIH (I Love You So Much It Hurts)”. Later on, I chose to incorporate his precious laughter into the song, making him a co-creator of sorts: He’s now officially credited as “Pooks” on Spotify.

“I want him to have his moment — and to have publishing [rights],” she explained.

She chuckled as she reminisced, “When he began speaking, I instantly thought, ‘I must record his voice!'” It wasn’t until a few months back that his talking spree truly began. I’ve been trying to get him to say ‘mama,’ especially for the song, so it’s quite recent.

From the start, I found immense joy in collaborating with others while working remotely, even before motherhood entered my life. My twenties were a whirlwind of moving from one studio to another, all in the pursuit of building a strong portfolio. Nowadays, I firmly believe in writing, recording, and producing my work right here at home.

In the realm of filmmaking, I find ideas bubbling up wherever I am – even in unexpected places like the shower or the car. Unlike laboring in a traditional studio setting, crafting my work on-the-go feels more authentic and instinctive. Inspiration strikes at unpredictable moments, and my phone serves as my creative companion, capturing those fleeting ideas as they come to me.

In her album “Sincerely,” Uchi maintains the soulful and doo-wop vibes of the 1960s, especially in tracks like “All I Can Say” and “Daggers!” However, she also explores alternative music genres, as evident in the second half of “Lose My Cool” and the subsequent track, “It’s Just Us.” These songs take you on a journey reminiscent of 1990s dream-pop, where Uchi sings about love in a hazy, romantic sequence. Her voice is enveloped by the echoes of electric guitars, creating a dreamy atmosphere. She mentioned that for about a week, she was focused on creating tracks inspired by Cocteau Twins, which led to this series of love songs.

For each album, Uchis draws inspiration from numerous female role models; her previous sources of inspiration have spanned from La Lupe to Nancy Sinatra. She mentioned that for her recent work, she has been greatly influenced by women who possess a deeper quality in their songwriting, such as Fiona Apple, Sade, Amy Winehouse, The Cranberries, and Brenda Lee.

In her role as both writer and executive producer, Amara La Negra penned and oversaw every aspect of “Sincerely” – a crucial move for an artist like herself who values delving into various genres, a choice that sometimes risks losing fan support. Instead of being influenced by the trends she explores, she continues to be the central figure, with her sounds revolving around her, not vice versa.

On numerous occasions, people have shown frustration, be it fans, labels, or anyone else,” she casually noted. “Not everyone shares the unique upbringing and influences I’ve had. My main message to aspiring artists is to embrace what sets them apart. Throughout my career, I’ve never altered who I am or tried to fit into a specific mold.

Artists like Charli XCX often express their appreciation openly; in a nod to Kali Uchis, she displayed the message “Kali Uchis Summer” on the screen during her performance at this year’s Coachella festival.

As a movie buff excitedly looking ahead, I’ve got some exciting news to share! This upcoming summer, I’m planning a grand tour across North America, starting on August 14 in the beautiful city of Portland, Oregon. Of course, no tour would be complete without a stop in the City of Angels, so mark your calendars for August 20, as I’ll be gracing the stage at the iconic Kia Forum in Los Angeles. Can’t wait to see you all there!

For the first time, she’ll embark on a journey as a mother; much like her music, this is another adventure she eagerly welcomes.

She expressed that she was already sensitive, but her emotions have grown even deeper since her pregnancy. People may know mothers exist, but the true experience is only understood when you become one. When your child enters the world, it’s like undergoing a rebirth in many aspects. It can feel like both an ending and a new beginning. However, I believe there’s also a great deal of joy and optimism that comes with this transformation.

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2025-05-14 16:31

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