Kali Uchis’s last outing, 2023’s dreamy, romantic Red Moon in Venus, earned the supple-voiced Colombian-American bouquets of praise. Orquídeas – her Spanish-language follow-up – was recorded alongside Red Moon and feels very much like the yang to Red Moon’s immersive yin.
Lively, festive, and showcasing a diverse group of collaborators from various Latin American countries, including popular Colombian artist Karol G (Vevo’s top artist in 2023) and Mexican singer Peso Pluma (YouTube’s most-watched artist in 2023), Uchis’s second album with a Latinx focus demonstrates her versatility and skill in blending cultural influences.
The theme of tradition is prominent in the intense range of Te Mata (It Kills You), where Uchis brings a bold bolero about escaping a toxic relationship with the same confidence as Amy Winehouse. This showcases one of her most impressive vocal performances in either English or Spanish. In other tracks, there are many lively duets, such as No Hay Ley (Parte 2) – There Is No Law (Part 2) – where Uchis engages in tongue wrestling with reggaeton artist Rauw Alejandro, and Labios Mordidos (Bitten Lips), where Uchis and Karol G could use a private room.
Named after Colombia’s national flower, Orquídeas is not a complete concept album like Red Moon due to its variation. However, in today’s diverse pop scene where Spanglish is becoming a common language, Uchis’s talent and depth surpass any perceived cultural barriers.
Source: theguardian.com
