Amid the ever-evolving soundscape of modern music, Kali Uchis stands out for her ability to fuse R&B, soul, Latin pop, and vintage flair into a style entirely her own. Born Karly-Marina Loaiza , the Colombian-American singer, songwriter, producer, and director has carved a unique path, defined by genre fluidity, bilingual expression, and an unwavering commitment to her artistic vision.
From self-released mixtapes recorded in her car to Grammy-winning collaborations and chart-topping albums, Uchis’s journey is one of resilience, creative evolution, and the powerful assertion of a bicultural identity.
Biography
- Name: Kali Uchis
- Birth Name: Karly-Marina Loaiza
- Birthday: July 17, 1994
- Zodiac Sign: Cancer
- Height: 165 cm (5 ft 5 in)
- Instagram: @kaliuchis
- Twitter: @KALIUCHIS
Fun Facts
- She is fluent in both English and Spanish and identifies as bisexual.
- Her hobbies reflect her artistic inclinations, including photography, playing saxophone and piano, and writing poetry.
- She played saxophone in her high school’s jazz band.
- Her stage name, Kali Uchis, is pronounced like a single word rather than two distinct names (so like Kaliuchis).
- She is the youngest of five siblings in her family.
- She was a rebel and often skipped classes to work on her music cover art. Her attitude got her kicked out by her parents and living in her car for a while.
- During her high school graduation period, Kali Uchis was earning money through creative work. She had bought a camera and was photographing artwork and filming music videos—primarily for local artists in the Virginia area, which was heavily dominated by the rap scene.
- Kali Uchis has long admired women in music who possessed a distinct sound, strong presence, and unmistakable voices. She often cites Sade as a major influence, and in the realm of Latin music, she gravitated toward iconic vintage vocalists like Claudia de Colombia—women who sang with such emotion and individuality that their voices were instantly recognizable.
Career
The Ascent: Career Beginnings and Breakthrough
Kali Uchis’s entry into the music world was unconventional, born from necessity and raw talent. Shortly after graduating high school in 2012, while still navigating the instability of being kicked out of her home, she channeled her experiences and creativity into her debut mixtape, Drunken Babble. Recorded largely in her car over just 48 hours using basic equipment , the self-released project showcased an early glimpse of her potential. Described as “genre-defying,” it blended influences from doo-wop, reggae, and early 2000s R&B, hinting at the sonic explorations to come. Though Uchis later expressed reservations about considering Drunken Babble her formal introduction due to its lo-fi nature and rapid creation , its raw energy and unique sound captured attention online. Uploading a video for “What They Say” proved pivotal, catching the eye of Snoop Dogg, leading to their 2014 collaboration “On Edge” for his mixtape That’s My Work 3.
This initial buzz marked a shift from a purely DIY approach to more strategic collaborations. In February 2015, Uchis released her debut EP, Por Vida, initially offered as a free download before hitting iTunes. This project represented a significant step up, featuring production from notable figures like Diplo, Tyler, the Creator, Kaytranada, and BadBadNotGood. Por Vida solidified her signature sound – a blend of vintage allure and modern neo-soul – and included key tracks like “Know What I Want,” “Lottery,” “Loner,” and “Ridin’ Round”. The EP’s release was followed by her first tour, supporting Leon Bridges across North America in late 2015. These early projects, Drunken Babble and Por Vida, were crucial in establishing Uchis’s artistic identity. They showcased her innate ability to blend diverse genres seamlessly, setting her apart from her peers and laying the foundation for her subsequent evolution and major label debut.
Major Milestones: Albums and Accolades
Following the groundwork laid by her early releases and collaborations, Kali Uchis transitioned into her major label career, marked by critically acclaimed albums, chart success, and prestigious awards.
Isolation (2018): The Acclaimed Debut
Signing with Virgin EMI and Interscope , Uchis released her debut studio album, Isolation, in April 2018. The album was met with widespread critical acclaim and peaked at number 32 on the Billboard 200. Isolation showcased the full breadth of her genre-blending capabilities, incorporating funk, soul, R&B, and Latin influences. Key singles included the Jorja Smith-assisted “Tyrant” , the Reykon collaboration “Nuestro Planeta” , the fan-favorite “After the Storm” featuring Tyler, the Creator and funk legend Bootsy Collins , and “Just a Stranger” with Steve Lacy. “After the Storm” achieved significant success, earning multi-platinum certification in the US and Gold in the UK.
Leading up to and surrounding the album’s release, Uchis continued to build her profile through high-profile collaborations. She featured on Gorillaz’s 2017 album Humanz (“She’s My Collar,” “Ticker Tape”) and collaborated with Colombian star Juanes on “El Ratico,” which earned her a Latin Grammy nomination for Record of the Year. Her feature on Daniel Caesar’s “Get You” garnered a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance. In support of Isolation, Uchis embarked on her first headlining North American tour and also opened for Lana Del Rey.
Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞ (2020): Embracing Latin Roots and Global Success
In November 2020, Uchis released her second studio album, Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞, her first project sung predominantly in Spanish. This followed the To Feel Alive EP released earlier that year. Despite facing initial resistance from industry figures who doubted the commercial viability of a Spanish-language album , Sin Miedo became a monumental success, largely driven by the single “Telepatía.” The track went viral on TikTok, becoming her first solo entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 25. It achieved multi-platinum status in the US and made history by dethroning Bad Bunny’s “Dákiti” to top the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, making Uchis the first solo female artist to achieve this in nearly a decade. “Telepatía” also set a record for the longest-running Spanish-language song by a solo act on the Hot 100 in the 2020s, with a 23-week streak.
The album explored various facets of Latin music, incorporating bolero (“que te pedí//”), reggaetón, and trap influences, while maintaining Uchis’s signature dreamy aesthetic. Other notable tracks included “Aquí Yo Mando” featuring Rico Nasty , “La Luz (Fín)” with Jhayco (formerly Jhay Cortez) , and the SZA collaboration “Fue Mejor” added to the deluxe version. Sin Miedo earned Uchis her first Grammy nomination for Best Música Urbana Album and won Latin Pop Album of the Year at the Billboard Latin Music Awards.
Red Moon in Venus (2023) & Orquídeas (2024): Continued Evolution and Exploration
Demonstrating her commitment to exploring both her English and Spanish musical identities, Uchis revealed she had prepared two albums concurrently. The first, Red Moon in Venus, arrived in March 2023. Primarily an English-language R&B-focused project, it became her first top-10 album on the Billboard 200, debuting at number 4. The album featured the singles “I Wish You Roses” and the viral hit “Moonlight” , along with collaborations with Omar Apollo, Summer Walker, and her partner Don Toliver (“Fantasy”). Thematically, it delved into love, self-worth, and acceptance , receiving positive reviews for its cohesive, vibey atmosphere.
Her fourth studio album, Orquídeas, followed in January 2024. Returning primarily to Spanish, Orquídeas celebrated her Latin roots and continued her artistic exploration. It achieved significant success, hitting number one on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart and winning Latin Pop Album of the Year at the Billboard Latin Music Awards. Singles included “Muñekita” (with El Alfa & JT) , the bolero-infused “Te Mata” , the Karol G collaboration “Labios Mordidos” , and “Igual Que Un Ángel” featuring Peso Pluma. The album was praised for its lush production and thematic depth, including its celebration of Latinx culture and queer representation , earning a high score and “Best New Music” designation from Pitchfork. A deluxe version, Orquídeas Parte 2, was also released.
The Kali Uchis Sound: Artistry, Themes, and Influences
Musical Palette: A Fusion of Styles
Often described as “genre-defying” or “genre-blending” , Uchis masterfully fuses elements from a wide array of musical traditions. Her sonic palette includes R&B, neo-soul, funk, jazz, doo-wop, reggae, and pop, seamlessly integrated with Latin styles like cumbia, bolero, and reggaetón. Her vocal delivery complements this fusion, often characterized as dreamy, ethereal, or soulful, sometimes adopting a vintage, cabaret-like quality. Central to her artistry is her bilingualism; she moves fluidly between English and Spanish, often within the same album or song, reflecting her lived experience.
Lyrical Landscapes: Love, Identity, and Empowerment
Uchis’s lyrics explore a spectrum of human emotion, frequently centering on themes of love in its various forms – romance, heartbreak, self-love, and desire. She delves into the complexities of relationships, self-worth, identity, empowerment, healing, and acceptance, often drawing from personal experiences like betrayal and family dynamics. A signature element is the juxtaposition of these often heavy themes with lush, sparkling production, creating a compelling depth. Tracks like “Deserve Me” (asserting self-worth) and “I Wish You Roses” (emphasizing acceptance after love) exemplify this thematic range. Ultimately, her music serves as a reminder of the power of individuality and cultural pride.
Visual Storytelling and Aesthetic
Kali Uchis is not just a musician; she is a visual artist. Her background and early interest in photography and film are evident in her strong visual identity. From the outset, she took creative control, directing many of her own music videos and crafting her cover art. Her aesthetic often incorporates vintage elements, retro vibes, surreal or hyperreal imagery, and nods to her Colombian heritage. For Uchis, the visual component is not merely an accessory or promotional tool; it is an integral extension of her music and overall artistic expression, reflecting her deep-seated passion for visual mediums.
Influences
Her eclectic sound is informed by a wide range of influences. She has cited jazz legends Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald , alongside contemporary comparisons to Amy Winehouse and Erykah Badu. Her music draws from ’60s soul, ’70s funk, and early 2000s R&B. Crucially, Latin artists like Celia Cruz, Selena, Shakira, Ivy Queen, and the Cuban band Los Zafiros have also shaped her musical identity.
Personal Life
Early Life
Kali Uchis entered the world as Karly Marina Loaiza on July 17, 1994, in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. Holding American nationality by birth, her identity is deeply intertwined with her Colombian heritage, inherited from her father, while her mother is American.
Kali Uchis’s formative years were spent navigating two distinct worlds, an experience that profoundly shaped her perspective and artistic output. Born in Virginia, she moved with her family back to her father’s hometown of Pereira, Colombia, around the age of four or five, where she began elementary school and immersed herself in the local culture, listening to Cuban bands like Los Zafiros. This period established her fluency in Spanish, her first language in reading and writing.
Around the third grade, the family returned to Virginia, creating a dynamic of spending summers in Colombia with extended family and the school year in Alexandria with her mother and older siblings (she is the youngest of five). This constant movement between cultures wasn’t merely a geographical shift; it became the bedrock of her identity. Growing up bilingual, effortlessly switching between Spanish and English (often blending them into Spanglish), was a natural part of her upbringing and later became a hallmark of her music. This biculturalism provided a rich tapestry of influences – musical, cultural, and personal – that prevented her from fitting neatly into any single category, fostering the genre-fluidity and unique perspective that defines her work.
Her teenage years in Alexandria were marked by both artistic exploration and rebellion. She attended T.C. Williams High School (now Alexandria City High School), known for its diversity. There, she cultivated her musical talents, learning piano and saxophone and joining the school’s jazz band, eventually becoming first chair. Simultaneously, she developed a passion for visual arts, particularly photography and experimental filmmaking, often skipping other classes to spend time in the photo lab. However, this independent streak clashed with parental rules; frequently breaking curfew led to her being kicked out of her home at 17. During this challenging period, she lived out of her car, writing poetry and composing songs on her keyboard – laying the groundwork for her future career.
Relationship with Don Toliver and Motherhood
Since around 2020 or 2021, Kali Uchis has been in a relationship with fellow musician, rapper Don Toliver. The pair have collaborated musically on tracks like “Drugs N Hella Melodies,” “4 Me,” and “Fantasy”. They maintain a relatively private relationship, as Toliver noted, “We just vibe”.
In January 2024, the couple announced they were expecting their first child via a music video for Uchis’s song “Tu Corazón Es Mio”. They welcomed a son in March 2024, sharing intimate moments via Instagram but keeping his name and exact birth date private. Uchis had previously expressed that motherhood was something she always wanted to experience.
Controversies and Privacy
Kali Uchis faced backlash regarding perceptions of her skin tone in promotional materials, sparking discussions about colorism within the Latinx community. While defending her right to self-identify, she acknowledged her privilege and the need for dialogue. Another instance involved customer service issues with her “Bodied by Uchis” merchandise line, where her direct responses to customer complaints drew criticism for their tone. Furthermore, she has faced online criticism and allegations regarding her choice of partners, specifically accusations of supporting individuals with problematic pasts, though concrete details remain scarce in the provided sources. The release of her collaboration “Labios Mordidos” with Karol G was reportedly delayed due to potential backlash over its queer themes, highlighting cultural sensitivities she navigates.
These experiences seem to contribute to a noticeable tension in her public persona. While committed to being outspoken on social issues she cares about, even against advice , Uchis has also expressed a strong desire for privacy, particularly concerning speculation about her body and relationships. She has acknowledged taking criticism personally and has stepped away from platforms like Twitter, potentially due to negativity.
Net Worth
As of 2025, Kali Uchis’ net worth is estimated to be between $4 million and $5 million, reflecting her success as a multifaceted artist. Her income streams include music sales, streaming royalties, live performances, brand endorsements, and social media monetization.
As she looks towards future projects like the upcoming album Sincerely, Kali Uchis continues to evolve, promising further exploration of her unique sound and perspective, solidifying her status as an influential and boundary-pushing artist for a global generation.
