Pretty in Pink: Singer Kali Uchis is Ready to Share Her Vision with the World
To see more of Kaliās visual art, check out @kaliuchis on Instagram. For more music stories, head to @music.
Kali Uchis (@kaliuchis) never wanted to be the center of attention. The downsides of fame are long and plentiful ā too much drama, too much criticism, too much exposure. Thatās why, as a self-described music dork, she was more focused on being a producer or creative director than an actual pop star.
āThereās a lot of baggage with being a performer,ā says the 22-year-old singer. āYou donāt really get to have a regular life, you donāt get to have regular relationships with people. Being an artist is almost like running for president. You want everyone to vote for you, you want everyone to believe in you. I never wanted to have to do that.ā
Now, Kali is on the verge of releasing a full-length album, and working with the likes of Tyler, the Creator and Diplo. So, what changed? The response to her debut mixtape, Drunken Babble, which she recorded on a whim when she was 19. So Kali ran with it, devoting herself to singing and songwriting, eventually releasing an EP, Por Vida. She then took control of her image by directing her own music videos, designing her own merchandise and curating her own aesthetic ā a dreamy, cloudy wonderland of pinks and pastels.
āI feel so strongly about my visuals. I have to edit them by myself,ā she says. āPeople get tired of my bullsā. Like, why arenāt you happy with this? Itās like, itās not right yet. Youāre the only person, as a creative individual, who is going to take your art so seriously and want it to be perfect more than anyone else.ā
Kaliās need to direct the way she looks, feels and sounds as an artist isnāt just admirable, itās necessary ā particularly as she looks to grow her career and become more than just a performer, as she has plans to direct music videos and do creative direction for other artists. For now, though, sheās more concerned with her own work, especially after coming to terms with that whole limelight thing.
āI used to work at a grocery store, I used to sleep in my car with my cousin and I didnāt really know what was going to happen to me,ā she says. āNow I have my own apartment and I am able to live in Los Angeles and work with so many talented people. Itās really been a humbling experience to see it change my life. I am excited to see how it will help other people.ā
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