LOS ANGELES — On her fourth studio album, the largely Spanish-language “Orquídeas” (“Orchids” in English), Colombian American singer Kali Uchis ‘ ability to create lush sonic worlds reaches new heights.
Across her discography, Uchis’ power has always been her fluidity: of culture, of genre, and of language, moving from Spanish to English in her sultry sounds about love, loss, and divination. On “Orquídeas,” that spirit continues — these are self-possessed songs across a spectrum of heritages, made cohesive through her unique filter.
The first single, “Muñekita” (“Little Doll”), is restrained reggaeton — speedy with her syrupy voice, hitting the listener like a strobe light interrupting a haze of smoke in a crowded club, further ornamented by the features from Dominican rapper El Alfa (the King of Dembow) and City Girls’ JT.
These are vastly different works — exemplars of Uchis’ range, the smoothness in which she approaches her chosen genres, a quality she learned after years of shaping her particular approach to alt-R&B.
Those singles aren’t the only surprises: “Igual Que Un Ángel” (“Just Like An Angel”), which features corridos tumbados star Peso Pluma, is synth-pop; “Labios Mordidos” (“Bitten Lips”), which features Colombian superstar Karol G, is sapphic pleasure. “Dame Beso // Muévete” (“Give Me A Kiss // Move It”) is vintage merengue.
In a press release for “Orquídeas,” Uchis said she found inspiration in the “timeless, eerie, mystic, striking, graceful and sensual allure of the orchid,” a fascination she’s held since childhood. “I always felt distinctly intrigued and magnetized by the flower,” she wrote, adding she wanted to “re-define the way we look at Latinas in music.”
Across “Orquídeas,” Uchis offers a new framework in which to consider her multitude of identities — by experimenting with a range of sounds and centering her femininity in both introspective songs and party-ready bangers.
