Uchis released her fourth studio album on Jan. 12 titled “ORQUIDEAS.” With this release, Uchis cemented herself as one of the most talented Latin music artists. Uchis brought us amazing vocals within songs such as “Igual Que Un Angel,” “Diosa” and “Te Mata.” Uchis should be respected for her ability to create such quality albums in such a short amount of time. Uchis’ previous album was released March 3, 2023, which is an extremely impressive turnaround for new music. One of the most significant negatives for this album was that the featured list could have been more impressive. When you are such a famous and influential artist, fans expect the artist to have just as popular features. With Uchis collaborating with artists in the past, such as Steve Lacy, Tyler The Creator and Summer Walker, fans were disappointed to see the lack of star-studded features.
Uchis’ unique talent shines in this album, particularly her ability to create a cohesive narrative in both Spanish and English. This bilingual approach demonstrates her versatility as an artist and her dedication to bring music to her Spanish and English speaking fans. Even if you don’t understand the language she’s singing in, Uchis’ music has a way to transcend language barriers, allowing listeners to connect with her emotions. If you can understand both languages, it will make your listening experience better because each song has catchy and heartfelt lyrics.
The standout track from the album is undoubtedly “Munekita (with El Alfa & JT).” This high-energy, dance-inducing song is a delightful surprise, particularly with JT’s unexpected yet fitting feature. Despite most of the song being in Spanish, JT’s verse seamlessly fits with the other artists, demonstrating Uchis’ talents for blending different styles and languages. Uchis’ ability to switch between rapping and singing throughout the song further showcases her versatility and further proved that she is much more than a pop singer — that she can also compete with bigger names in the women rap game such as JT.
“Te Mata” is another album highlight, showcasing Uchis’ angelic vocals in a way that demands attention. Uchis’ vocal talent has often been overlooked, but this song is a powerful reminder of her capabilities. The classical instruments, such as violins and pianos, beautifully complement Uchis’ powerful voice, elevating the music to new heights. The violin intro sets the tone for the rest of the song, allowing Uchis’ heartfelt lyrics and powerful voice to shine without distraction.
Within the only English-titled song on the album, “Young Rich & In Love,” Uchis brought us an intimate and catchy song. Uchis is known for creating loving and warm music, perfectly illustrated in this song. Uchis has the ability to make the listener feel all the emotions that she is feeling while singing. That is a critical component of why so many people can relate to Kali Uchis’s music: it takes you on a journey where sheputs you in her point of view. That is the sign of a fantastic artist who is an excellent storyteller.
“Dame Beso // Muévete” was the perfect song to close out this album. The entire song is very fun and upbeat. It’s the type of song you can’t help but move and dance to because it’s so catchy. A party song is a wonderful way to close out an album that is filled to the brim with emotional and heart wrenching songs. The closing song of the album was the type of song you hear during end-credit scenes, and in the future, I could see this song being played at parties and events. It could even become a staple party song in the partying scene.
Uchis did not disappoint on this album. She showed she could do more than just beautiful vocals and set herself aside from other artists. Although Uchis has been pre-established in the music industry, this album will show everyone how she accumulated such a huge fanbase. The vocals, lyricism and production alone make this album one of the best Latin albums released recently. This is one of those albums where you can shuffle it and be satisfied with which song is played because each song is excellent in its own way. Kali Uchis is becoming one of the enormous names in the music industry. With this album, her fame will only continue to grow. You should expect to see a lot more of her in the future, and get ready for Kali Uchis to become a household name.
“ORQUÍDEAS”: ★★★★☆
