Singer-songwriter Kali Uchis releases her 5th studio album with a total of 14 tracks that have a rich sound that is appealing to the ears. “Sincerely,” is an album full of a collective of slow-paced, lush and soft songs that encapsulate the artists’ true feelings of love, hardships and figuring yourself out. It’s a series of letters to different versions of herself, all within an album that allows listeners to discover who Kali Uchis is.
The album starts with the emotional ballad “Heaven is a Home…” where Uchis sings of overcoming trauma and how she is desperately searching to find an answer to her feelings of insecurity and anxiety.
Trying to find yourself after feelings of betrayal is hard. In “Sugar! Honey! Love!” a guarded Uchis is unsure of who to trust and explains this feeling all too well as she repeats, “who can I trust?” Learning to be vulnerable and embarking on her healing journey.
In a relationship, it is hard to be vulnerable with your partner, at first it can feel overwhelming. “Lose My Cool,” explores the vulnerability of letting your guard down when you’re experiencing intense love, using transitions to guide the audience to a break with a calm and airy instrumental that just soothes the soul.
“It’s Just Us” is an upbeat track where Uchis sings that she had to change her way of thinking to understand her lover. She emphasizes that she doesn’t care about much other than them being together forever.
“For: You” is about devotion to your significant other. The slow-paced song is about putting her pride aside, doing everything that she can do for her relationship.
A raw track full of feelings, “Silk Lingerie,” dives through the highs and lows of self-worth. “How did you fall for someone as complicated and flawed as me?” Uchis sings on the song. She feels worthless and can’t seem to comprehend how somebody can fall for her when she’s flawed in many ways.
Songs like “Territorial” and “Fall Apart” share similar themes of possessiveness, self-defense and boundaries in relationships. “Why would I come respectfully about you disrespecting me?” suggesting that she won’t talk nicely when she feels disrespected. She is willing to walk away where she feels that she is no longer needed.
“All I Can Say” is a soulful track that is reminiscent of love songs from the ’80s, and also a track that perfectly captures who Kali Uchis is as an artist. “I’m not sorry for the way that I am. I’m not sorry for the way that I love or the heart that I have,” she says emphasizing the strong sense of identity that she has about herself.
Sweet yet devastating, “Daggers” dives into emotional turmoil. Using a real-life experience, Uchis writes the song based on her friend’s relationship who was stuck in a toxic relationship.
Words of affirmation are key for Kali Uchis. In songs like “Angels All Around Me…” and “Breeze!” the singer wishes for protection. “When I lay my head to sleep, I pray for all protection and peace.” Knowing that no matter where she goes, angels are watching and taking care of her. The middle of the track transitions from a playful beat to a warm, ethereal tune that is soothing to the ears.
“Sunshine & Rain…” is a song about sticking by someone’s side when life has its ups and downs. The continuous theme of devotion appears in her tracks, as she reflects on love and how her love remains unconditional, no matter what challenges may arise.
The emotional closing track “ILYSMIH” speaks of Uchis new experience as a mother. The tender track is named after an acronym that stands for “I love you so much it hurts,” illustrating Uchi’s selfless love towards her baby. Instrumentally, the track’s mellow calm vibe relaxes the listener and utilizes Uchis’ soft, mellow voice over a piano and guitar mix.
Kali Uchis skillful use of lyricism throughout the album clearly highlights her natural gift with words. “Sincerely,” pouring her heart out to her fans, Uchis gold lyrics line the hearts of her soulful supporters.
