Young rich & in love is how Kali Uchis is feeling with the release of her 5th studio album, Orquideas.  29 year old Karly-Marina Loaiza better known as Kali Uchis, is a Colombian- American singer, songwriter, and fashion designer. Her musical journey began in Alexandria, VA where she was raised and attended Alexandria city highschool. She began by uploading self-produced music on the internet with her blend of soul, R&B, and reggae which quickly caught attention. This led to her breakthrough in 2012 with the mixtape ”Drunken Babble”, her unique vocals and bilingual lyrics were able to spark everyones’ interest in her music. Kali Uchis gained wider recognition when “See you again”, a track she was featured on with Tyler, The Creator, was Grammy nominated.  Her studio album, “Isolation” which was released in 2018 was her biggest building block, which solidified her as an influential artist. She incorporates elements of retro glamour with vintage Latin American aesthetic in both her music and style. On January 12th 2024, Kali Uchis released her 5th studio album Orquideas, which translates from spanish to orchids. The songs found on this new album are derived from Latin pop/r&b mainly written in spanish. Orquideas features many well known artists such as Peso Pluma, JT, El Alfa, Rauw Alejandro and Karol g. The initial part of Orquídeas envelops listeners in Kali’s signature dreamy sounds and vocals. Tracks like “Young, Rich & in Love” and “Perdiste” immerse the audience in luxuriant musical experiences. Among these, “Igual Que Un Ángel” featuring Peso emerges as a synth-pop gem with a new sound in both their careers with hints of English and Spanish pop giving it TikTok virality. Kali demonstrates notable vocal growth throughout the album, especially when delving into Latin American styles. The bolero style “Te Mata” showcases her ability to reinterpret the genre as an expression of feminine power. The music video for, “Te mata” specializes in giving that nostalgic feeling of the Hispanic soap operas. The music video screamed Selena Quintanilla vibes and drama. The album takes a dynamic turn with a perreo-infused track, “Muñekita,” featuring El Alfa and City Girls’ JT. Further, “Labios Mordidos,” featuring Karol G carries an old school reggaeton energy bringing back OG reggaeton beats. She gave us a different side, with the music video by embracing her sexuality and her interest in women. Venturing into new genres, “No Hay Ley Parte 2” refreshes the 2022 single with a verse from Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro, elevating the track to blissful heights. Closing the album with “Dame Beso // Muévete,” Kali indulges in ’90s merengue, infusing it with an unexpected party beat with great energy to finish off the album. Orquídeas not only explores themes of seduction and anguish, but also defies industry expectations. Kali showcases her storytelling and genre-blending abilities, solidifying her impact on contemporary Latin music. I believe that this album may be the best of this year, and it’s only the first month of the year, giving me hope for this year’s music. Although many agree on this album being a hit, not all reviews have represented this. Senior, Yvianette Fuentes, expresses her thoughts on this album by saying, “Although this album seems like a work of art, it is not her best work. Since I’ve listened to her past music, I personally think her best work still is the albums: “Sin Miedo (Del Amor y Otros Demonios)”, “Por Vida” and “Isolation”’. She released a heartwarming video for “Tu corazon es mio/Diosa” with its release came the news of her pregnancy. She announced the pregnancy alongside rapper and boyfriend, Don Toliver. While it’s amazing news for her, fans are left feeling disappointed as she won’t be going on tour as long as her previous album releases. Students who saw her live on the 2023 tour of Red Moon in Venus say it was a life changing experience; Junior, Mahlia Turner says, “The anticipation was so strong in that venue line you could smell it. The amount of human connection was beautiful to witness. Kali looked absolutely mesmerizing, a real-life doll. It was the most surreal experience and I would do anything to go back and experience that night once again. Her vocals and music still vividly ring in my ears when I recall that night.” Kali is an inspiration to all her fans and portrays vibrant energy all throughout her music, making this new album her first #1 in the music industry.