Kali Uchis Opens Up about Heartfelt Themes in New Album Sincerely
- Century Records
- May 19
- 4 min read
By NEWS BLEND 360
Updated 11:30 AM CDT, May 19, 2025
LOS ANGELES (NB360) — Kali Uchis created the album she anticipated her future self would need to hear. The Grammy-winning artist was unknowingly crafting her own auditory remedy.
“I truly made the music necessary for my grieving process, for the stage of life I’m currently in,” she says about the album releasing on Friday.
“Sincerely,” (indeed, the title includes the comma) started as a series of letters to herself, friends, and loved ones but gained deeper significance as the Colombian American songwriter welcomed her first child and coped with her mother’s recent passing. The first single, “Sunshine & Rain...,” features a clip of Uchis’ mother saying, “Good morning, sunshine.”
“I wanted to immortalize her in the project,” Uchis stated. “I thought it was a beautiful way to begin the album.”
The 14-track album showcases Uchis proudly expressing her emotions with songs like “Daggers!,” where she encourages a close friend to embrace self-love, or “ILYSMIH,” which begins with baby coos and was written while she was in her hospital bed with her newborn.
Uchis wishes that her fifth full album will help fans feel a deeper connection to themselves and become more aware of their emotions: “I hope it provides them with some kind of solace.”
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
NB360: What was your thought process regarding the themes you wanted to explore when you chose to delve into this album and embrace that realm of tenderness and strength?
UCHIS: I’m a very deep feeler, highly empathetic, and I experience emotions intensely. I wanted to create a body of work that fully expressed that vulnerability and truly delved into my heart in a way none of my previous albums had.
I felt ready to do this because I had been making music for a long time and believed it was the right moment for me. Coincidentally, shortly after starting work on the album, I became pregnant, which significantly contributed to my ability to feel more deeply than ever before.
NB360: In what ways was working on this album a healing experience for you?
UCHIS: It’s wild because often, and especially with this album, I felt like I was creating music that my future self would need, even though I didn’t know it at the time.
The album is actually dedicated to my mom. Later, my mom was diagnosed, and she’s no longer with us. ... So, all of the songs ended up having a deeper meaning for me because of that and because it’s dedicated to her. ... I might not have even realized subconsciously that I was creating all of this to heal myself.
NB360: Is that how you arrived at the title “Sincerely,”?
UCHIS: At one point, I decided to ensure that each of these songs felt like a letter to the world, to a specific person, or to myself. I aimed to conceptualize this album in a way I hadn't done before. When my mom passed away, many of the things I had from her were letters she wrote to me. This reinforced my belief that the title was perfect for the project.
NB360: When you're alone in the studio, what do you start with? Is it the melody or the lyrics? How did you go about creating this album?
UCHIS: I don't adhere to a single process, but a notable approach for many of the songs was that they were mostly written without any music, just songs that naturally came to me.
For example, “ILYSMIH” — I came up with that one while I was recovering from labor, with my son sleeping beside me; I was still in my hospital bed when the idea for the song struck me. I started recording it on my phone and jotting down some lyrics. ... There's another called “All I Can Say.” I wrote the entire song in the car on the way to the studio. ... I aim to create beauty from all of my experiences.
NB360: Online fans mentioned that "Sunshine and Rain" is the counterpart to "After the Storm." Do you agree with this, and if so, how does it feel to acknowledge this connection five albums later?
UCHIS: Nature is a recurring theme in my music because it deeply inspires me. I believe nature is where God resides, and it fuels my creativity.
It seemed to happen naturally. Later, I wondered, “Is this too similar to my previous work?” But I just love what I love and return to those nostalgic elements. I might explore what others consider different sounds. For example, on “Orquídeas,” I experimented with various genres on “Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios),” but it still feels nostalgic because it’s music I grew up with.
I often revisit things that hold core memories for me. It calms my nervous system. I'm someone who re-watches the same episodes of my favorite TV shows repeatedly. I think the beauty lies in seeing the evolution while staying true to myself. It remains authentic to my musical roots and beginnings, yet it's an evolved version.
NB360: How does it feel to have your mother's voice included in the album?
UCHIS: After she passed away, one of the first things I did was listen to all the audio messages she had ever sent me, repeatedly playing them to hear her voice. When I came across one message, I thought, “How perfect is it that the song is called ‘Sunshine & Rain...,’” and she had said, “Good morning, sunshine.” That message was for my son. I felt it was a beautiful way to start the album, especially since it’s dedicated to her.
I grappled with whether or not to share because I’m a very private person. I struggled with revealing that my mom was no longer with us, but I realized I needed to embrace that vulnerability and not act like it didn’t affect me when it had such a significant impact on my life and still does. I also wanted to honor her and her life through art in a way that I know she would have loved and been proud of.
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