Learning the Meaning of Love with Kali Uchis’ “Orquídeas”

Kali Uchis, the Grammy-winning icon known for her seamless blend of English and Spanish-language projects, has once again slayed with her latest masterpiece, Orquídeas. Released under Geffen Records, this album marks Kali’s second venture into releasing an album in Spanish and her fourth LP overall. What makes this release even more captivating is the surprise announcement of her first pregnancy, revealed in the video for “Tu Corazón es Mío,” featuring her partner, Don Toliver.

We have more species of orchid than anywhere on earth. I always felt distinctly intrigued and magnetized by the flower. This album is inspired by the timeless, eerie, mystic, striking, graceful and sensual allure of the orchid. With this vast scope of fresh energy, I wish to redefine the way we look at Latinas in music.

Kali Uchis on using Colombia’s national flower, the orchid, as the aesthetic and title of the album.

Hailing from an American-Colombian background, Kali Uchis has garnered numerous accolades through to her cultural fusion flare, including Grammy, Billboard Latin Music, Billboard Music, American Music, Premios Nuestra Tierra, and Univision Premios Juventud awards. Her versatility in seamlessly alternating between English and Spanish projects has set her apart. From the breakout 2015 mixtape “Por Vida” to the Grammy-nominated “Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞” in 2020, featuring the chart-topping “telepatía,” Kali has consistently delivered lauded albums.

Orquídeas is both Uchis at her best on her own and a remarkable collaborative piece. Her divine vocals accompany some of the biggest names in Latin music throughout the length of the album. The global single “Muñekita” features El Alfa and JT from City Girls, while “Te Mata” and “Labios Mordidos” bring forth the enchanting synergy of Uchis with fellow Colombian singer Karol G. Collaborations with Peso Pluma and Rauw Alejandro add further depth to the album and lend to making it truly stand out in Uchis’ discography.

Remarkably, Orquídeas follows closely on the heels of Uchis’ critically acclaimed album, Red Moon In Venus, released just a year prior in March 2023. Time Magazine crowned it the #1 album of the year, marking Uchis’ first Top 10 charting album. This success followed through various “Best of 2023” lists, including The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, The FADER, The Washington Post, Variety, and Billboard.

The subsequent Red Moon In Venus Tour sold out completely, with Kali gracing theaters, arenas, and major festivals worldwide, including Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Tyler, The Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival.

The album, rightfully so, continues to hit milestones on streaming services and the charts. “Labios Mordidos” with Karol G, and “Igual Que Un Ángel,” performed alongside Peso Pluma, are Uchis’ seventh and eighth entries on the Billboard Hot 100 list.

It is incredibly difficult to determine which genre the album best fits into, as Uchis traverses many with ease. Orquídeas opens with the dream pop reminiscent “¿Cómo Así?” and closes with “Dame Beso // Muévete,” which is oozing with Elvis Crespo-style Merengue. It would be an insult to Kali Uchis to try confining this album to any single definition or understanding of music. Like her background, it is mixed and alluring because of its diversity.

This explorative nature lends itself to how Uchis explores different kinds of love through the LP. In “Diosa,” she sings about self-love, referring to herself as the titular “diosa,” meaning goddess. “Young Rich & In Love” is loaded with double entendres in both English and Spanish as she smoothly sings about sexuality over a delicious R&B beat. The pop energy of “Pensamientos Intrusivos” carries the adoring and innocent pining of romantic relationships, while the ballad that is “Tu Corazón Es Mío…” leans into the love of family built by two individuals coming together to make a whole. The songs shift in nature to match Uchis’ energy and the kind of amor she writes about, making it feel like a genuine and vulnerable introspection.

Critics are applauding the album’s exploration of various genres, praising the production that elevates the themes of different kinds of love that Kali delves into. Fans are echoing the sentiment that Orquídeas feels like her most effortless work yet, with each track seamlessly transitioning into the next.

Orquídeas solidifies Kali Uchis’ status as a rising star (who has criminally still not had a top ten hit!) and marks a deeply personal and significant chapter in her life as she ventures into motherhood. With enchanting melodies and collaborative brilliance, the album stands as a testament to Uchis’ continuous evolution and her commitment to rewriting the narrative for Latinas in the music industry. It can be streamed on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.