Photo from Amaury Nessaibia
It was almost like heaven, that’s what I thought that night, at least. Kali Uchis was in San Diego, and I was finally getting to see her highly anticipated concert. Think of every adjective to describe euphoria, that’s what my August 24th was. Okay, but on a more non-idolizing note, I can barely put into words my experience at The Sincerely, Tour.
I was in complete awe the entire show. I don’t think my jaw had closed once. To be fair, Kali is my top artist on Spotify, so I will admit there is at least a little bias. Regardless, I love a show that does it all: vibes, vocals, visuals. The Sincerely, Tour was a wonderful production, and nothing short of thoughtful and detailed.
Kali Uchis’s fifth studio album, Sincerely, is a memo dedicated to the different loves in your life: friends, family, partners. It’s soothing, slow, and sensual—a vast contrast to her last album, the energetic, dancey ORQUÍDEAS. Each song is a different letter to different individuals: friends, loved ones, herself, and her son. It is beautifully produced and conceptualized from pure sound to design. I have to give credit where it’s due.
Sincerely, is Kali’s most cohesive album, and it features this dreamy, feathery, soft feel. I really enjoy this avenue for this particular project, as it feels the most emotional and impassioned of her work thus far. ORQUÍDEAS gave us a reason to dance, and Sincerely, gives us a chance to look inwards and feel.
It’s tough to choose a single or even a couple of songs to really hone in on in this review. I will say, my personal favorite is “Angels All Around Me…”. It’s very grounding, yet makes you feel like you’re floating in the clouds. The song itself is a manifestation of protection, and it’s also a great affirmation that everything will be okay. It’s so catchy, and it’s so long! Mid-song is this glittery and sparkling transition, and it’s just very sonically attractive. Its length did not sacrifice substance, and every second of the track proved to be needed.
Kali did not tour for ORQUÍDEAS, but she did not miss dedicating a nice chunk of the show to the album. She performed many tracks dating back to her debut, featuring songs from Por Vida, Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞, Isolation, as well as a couple from Red Moon In Venus, and other hit features.
Thee Sacred Souls, originally from San Diego, opened the night and really set that lovey-dovey tone. They were the perfect opener and had engaged the crowd from the minute they stepped on stage. Prior to the evening, multiple clips of Josh Lane, the band’s lead vocalist, circulated on my TikTok. He was running around the venue, sitting with fans as he performed, and immersing himself in the crowd. This night was no different! I, and those around me, were thoroughly entertained by how he sprinted past us and around the 16,000-seat venue. The calming, smooth, fresh energy of Thee Sacred Souls was a great way to open the show.
I had high hopes leading up to this night. There were back-to-back special guests in Los Angeles: Peso Pluma on night one, and SZA, Omar Apollo, and Steve Lacy on night two. Kali had a gorgeous veil during her “Heaven is a Home...” entrance and angel wings during “Igual Que Un Ángel.” And what I thought was the sweetest of them all: a kiss cam! Unfortunately, none of these made it to San Diego. The lack of special guests wasn’t the disappointing factor, nor were the added outfit details, but the absence of the kiss cam was. It was such a fun and interactive element to the concert, so it was a bummer that it didn’t make it to this show.
If one track stood out the entire night, it was definitely “Dame Beso // Muévete.” Yes, music is always different when performed live, but this song was just different. Everyone in the venue was dancing, yelling, and absorbed into the bachata-merengue track. I will have to give another shoutout to “All I Can Say” because it was funny to hear everyone try to hit her high notes (me included, and no, I will never be posting that video).
One track that I wish had been performed is “ILYSMIH.” The track, about her son, is such an intense and moving song; it makes me tear up every listen. The song features her son’s giggle towards the end. Similarly, “Sunshine & Rain…” features a snippet of her late mother’s voice. These were the lead singles of Sincerely, and hands down, the most touching tracks of the album.
Kali recently released Sincerely: P.S., the deluxe album. The project added tracks, “Whispers of the Wind…,” “Pretty Promises, (feat. Mariah the Scientist),” “Cherry On Top,” “All of the Good,” and “Cry about it! (feat. Ravyn Lenae),” which was one of the show’s encore songs. When the entire arena screamed for an encore, I instantly regretted forgetting my earplugs. Kali performed “Hasta Cuando” alongside “Cry about it! (feat. Ravyn Lenae),” and the night ended sweetly with crowd interactions.
What I love about Kali’s music is that it speaks so much to friendship, to love, and to femininity. Although her music’s aesthetic is undeniably attractive: the pink, the flowers, the coquette-ness, the baddie-ness, it is the substance of her music that truly transcends. Kali’s effort for her art to embrace protection, love, and vulnerability feels very intentional, and it's blatant in her work. Her music is an encapsulation of the complexity and beauty of what it means to navigate life as a girl—as a woman. It’s refreshing to have that perspective, and it’s amazing to have that representation come from a Latina woman. Her music has meaning.
That night was a sea of pink—the stage, the fans, the album. It represented so much: tenderness, femininity, and most special of all, love and community.