Throughout her career, Kali Uchis has proven herself adept at pulling out listeners’ every tender emotion through her ethereal vocals and magical storytelling. Her passionate embrace of the unspoken power found in femininity can be heard throughout all of her releases: Uchis’ first studio album, Por Vida, recalls the feeling of heartbreak after a failed relationship, while her most recent Latin album Orquídeas represents all of the beauty and mystique of her empowered femininity.
Uchis’ latest project Sincerely, builds on all of these themes to create a sonically cohesive piece while also offering listeners a new experience lyrically. Uchis’ latest project reflects a transitional period in her life—one marked by both grief, as she copes with the recent loss of her mother, and hope, as she learns to define motherhood herself after welcoming the birth of a new son. These two forces play off one another to present an album that embraces the rainbow amidst the storm. It accepts suffering as a part of the process of transformation—a process that liberates one from hurt and allows them to begin anew.
In a interview with Broken Record, Uchis shared that she “wanted to make a body of work that fully showed that vulnerability … [that] actually really dug deep into my heart in a way that none of my other albums ever had.” This album did just that—the project as a whole reflects Uchis’ love for her mother, while each individual track recalls the events that made her who she is today.
“Heaven is a Home…” is a dreamy opening track, pulling the listener in with string instrumentals that pair nicely with Uchis’ smooth lower register. Uchis often features her alto in vocal runs to demonstrate vulnerability and express a sense of longing. In this song, she expresses her desire to protect her family, as it is, quite literally, “her heaven on earth.” The opening track reflects an idea that carries through the rest of the album—the importance Uchis places on preserving the relationships that give her life meaning.
Airy and delicate, “Sugar! Honey! Love!” is a song about being ready to let go of the past in order to accept all the blessings of the future. Now that she has been given the gifts she once dreamed of—love, a home she cares about— she’s determined to free herself from the guilt that once held her back. A reflection on her generational trauma as a Colombian–American, Uchis sings, “I did all my time for a crime that wasn't mine,” alluding to her fear of failing to meet her mother’s unreasonable expectations.
“Lose My Cool,” shares a similar sentiment with “Heaven is a Home…” in its embrace of emotional honesty, encouraging listeners to be passionate in pursuing their goals, especially when it comes to love. The message: protect what is meaningful to you. This idea is underscored by Uchis’ strong vocal delivery in the first section of the track. The song’s back half, which softens into a more mellow rhythm, gives her a moment to take a breather and reflect while retaining her passionate tone. The track that follows, “It’s Just Us,” is not the most impactful—sonically, the song gives us nothing new, only rehashing the same themes as the rest of the album. Still, it serves its purpose in grounding the previous songs—Uchis sings, “Heaven on earth may fade away, but you and I are forever to stay in love,” emphasizing the permanence of her romantic love.
With each track, Uchis paints a broader picture of her world, inviting the listener to take a peek into her home. “For: You” is lyrically predictable, but it offers an interesting sonic take on the album’s themes. With a structure similar to a love letter and a retro sound (shoo–ba–doo/ba–ba–da) accompanied by light synths, the track’s minor flairs add to its overall charm. It perfectly sets the tone for the album’s next showstopper, “Silk Lingerie.” The song features slow and deliberate vocals from Uchis, her elongated enunciation building a sensual rhythm that breaks up the album’s freeform energy. The next song, “Territorial”, follows with a sultry tone that is soft, yet undeniably powerful. “I get reckless, I can't help it/I get territorial,” Uchis sings. Encapsulating all of the album’s themes, it's here that Uchis asserts her role as a guardian, driving home her desire to keep her family safe. She will protect what is hers, no matter what it takes.
The album takes a subtle turn on “Fall Apart,” whose opening features Uchis repeatedly asking for reassurance from a lover. Despite innovating lyrically, the track remains one–note, failing to bring anything new to the album in terms of sound. “All I Can Say,” unlike its predecessor, brings an exciting sound to the work, as Uchis uses retro vocal stylings and backing harmonies to evoke a dreamy, romantic pop sound reminiscent of older tracks such as “Hopelessly Devoted to You” or “Yearning For Your Love.”
“Daggers!” is slow but lyrically intriguing, framed as a letter to a girl friend that showcases Uchis’ unique perspective on love. The song is addressed to a friend who does not understand her worth because people are envious of her beauty. The next track, “Angels All Around Me…” is full of unapologetic self–affirmation, free and uplifting in its energy. It is about her knowing that she will be okay because she has protection and guidance from the spirits watching over her. “Breeze!” is no different in its psychedelic softness—it feels like a deep exhale, evoking a love that is “as easy as the breeze.”
As the album approaches its final two tracks, Kali Uchis’ walls begin to settle into place. Her sacred home is finally complete, and “Sunshine & Rain…” provides the closure she needs to begin healing, as Uchis tenderly grieves the loss of her mother. Opening with a clip from her mother saying “Good morning, sunshine” in a voicemail to Uchis’ son, this upbeat track captures both the warmth of maternal love and the hollowness of its absence as seasons change. “ILYSMIH” is no different, a soulful piece that ends the album to the sound of her baby’s laughter as she details her undying love for her newborn.
All in all, Sincerely, is a love letter to life itself. A vulnerable and sentimental project, Uchis wrote and executive produced the entire album herself. Though unaware of the impact the project would have on her life, Uchis confessed in an interview that “looking back, everything makes a lot more sense and is exactly what I need to hear right now.” Not every track is exciting on its own—some listeners may be turned off by the album's repetitive themes and soft, slow tone. When taken as a whole, however, the album reveals itself as something much more profound. Uchis has shared a raw and intimate part of herself, inviting us to feel with her. The album teaches the listener to grieve, to love and, ultimately, to find peace within oneself.
