Blissful, dreamy, soft, candid, and melancholic can all be said of Kali Uchis’ newest album. “Sincerely,” is a refreshing perspective on dealing with grief, love, and staying true to oneself in an age when blending in, and avoiding emotion seem to be the new norm. The album includes 19 tracks, 14 coming from the original album, and 5 new additions released with the deluxe edition “Sincerely: P.S.”.
Mainly sticking to one style, the album seems to stray from Uchis’ usual variety in musical style provided in prior albums, which in all honesty, perfectly fits the album and what it stands for. Some of the tracks are upbeat, and others are sorrowful, the tone adjusting while being consistent in its ethereal quality, courtesy of the soft, synthy instrumentals present throughout the album which are hallmarks of the R&B music genre. It makes the album relatable by providing tracks suitable for listening to while in several states of mind and still being cohesive, no track sounding too out of place.
The singer also admitted to her pregnancy being a substantial influence on her work, during an interview with “The Associated Press.”
“It just so happened that shortly after working on the album I became pregnant which was such a big part of being able to feel even deeper than I ever have,” said Uchis during an interview.
We’ve all experienced deep connections with others. Whether it be with those we consider family, friends, or loved ones in general. We build bonds with those who surround us over time, pouring time and effort into our relationships and eventually those people become our safe spaces, our homes. “Heaven is a Home…” is the first track on the album and it perfectly conveys those feelings of familiarity and safety that we feel within others but may have a hard time expressing.
With lyrics such as “‘Cause Heaven is a home, wherever I’m with you,” as well as “See a smiling face, and it gives me faith,” driving the point that a home is not necessarily a physical place, but instead a feeling comparable to “Heaven,” rooted in our deepest connections. The song also speaks on how loved ones can help us through rough times, and can restore our hope and faith when we feel lost. The love and support that comes from our relationships with loved ones becomes constant, something we fall back on, bringing us a sense of safety, something that can only be described as a home.
Also included in Uchis’ fifth studio album is “All I Can Say, the song with the most streams on the album so far, with over 40 million streams on Spotify. While “Heaven is a Home…” focused on the importance of the love we share with others, “All I Can Say” shed some light on self-love. It speaks to being unapologetically yourself even while others and the world around you seemingly wants to bring you down. The artist embraces peace of mind instead of letting herself get dragged down by others, she chooses to love to her fullest and encourages others to do so as well. Since this is the most popular song the message in it may possibly overshadow the overall message of the entire album; however, this song almost perfectly encompasses it.
Uchis’ most recent album is an ode to the strength of love and human connection. The album relays a message that many of us struggle to get across in our day to day lives, sharing our love for others and ourselves. It pushes us to embrace reality and the world around us even though the truth may be tough, it’s important to ground ourselves and deal with things head on. By letting ourselves experience emotions properly we are able to process them, heal, and grow.
