Kali Uchis

Karly-Marina Loaiza, known professionally as Kali Uchis, is an American singer and songwriter born on July 17, 1994, in Alexandria, Virginia. Her Colombian heritage plays a significant role in her life and music. Uchis' journey in the music industry began with her debut mixtape "Drunken Babble" in 2012, characterized as "genre-defying" with influences from doo-wop, reggae, and early 2000s R&B. Her debut EP "Por Vida" was released in 2015, featuring collaborations with notable artists like Diplo, Tyler, the Creator, Kaytranada, and BadBadNotGood.

Uchis' first studio album, "Isolation," released in 2018, received widespread acclaim, marking a significant breakthrough in her career. Her second studio album, "Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios)" in 2021, was her first Spanish-language project and included the hit single "Telepatía," which charted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. In 2023, she released her third studio album, "Red Moon in Venus," which debuted in the top 5 on the Billboard 200.

Uchis has been recognized for her unique blend of R&B, neo-soul, and hip-hop. She has received numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording for her feature on Kaytranada's single "10%," an American Music Award, two Billboard Music Awards, and a nomination for a Latin Grammy Award.

Uchis' early life was marked by her passion for music and the arts. She learned to play the piano and saxophone and was part of a jazz band in high school. Her interest in photography led her to create mixtape cover art. After facing challenges during her teenage years, including being kicked out of her home, Uchis lived in her car and wrote songs that would later appear on her debut mixtape.

Uchis' music is heavily influenced by the 1960s' mix of early soul, R&B, and doo-wop. She also draws inspiration from jazz, citing Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday as influences. Other notable influences include Curtis Mayfield, Loose Ends, Ralfi Pagan, and Irma Thomas. Her Colombian roots are reflected in her admiration for Latin artists like Celia Cruz, Salma Hayek, La Lupe, Selena, Shakira, and Ivy Queen.

Kali Uchis has been in a relationship with American rapper Don Toliver since 2020. She is openly bisexual and often reflects this aspect of her identity in her music and public image.