Album Review // Kali Uchis // Orquídeas

Geffen Records

4/5 stars

Kali Uchis' latest record further cements the Colombian American singer's penchant for releasing excellent albums. Coming less than a year after her third studio album Red Moon in Venus, Orquídeas could be considered its Spanish-language sibling.

This record is not Uchis' first foray into Spanish-only albums; however, it is her most authentic. On her previous effort, Sin Miedo (released in 2020), Kali sang in Spanish over American pop and R&B standards. Orquídeas pivots away from the American music scene with a full embrace of urbano (aka Latin urban) music.

Out of this experimentation come some of the most infectious bops in recent musical history. The sounds of reggaeton, dancehall, and flamenco fit excellently with Uchis' beautiful singing voice. Fitting with the shifting soundscape, the range of guests on Orquídeas come from all walks of the Latin music scene. From Mexican singer Peso Pluma on "Igual Que Un Ángel" to Colombian reggaeton artist Karol G on "Labios Mordidos," the album's guests are as varied as the songs they are showcased on.

Uchis' most musically adventurous album to date, Orquídeas is an early contender for pop album of the year, arriving just a month into the calendar.