Kali Uchis has always been known for her star-studded albums, featuring artists like Tyler the Creator, Summer Walker, Ozuna, SZA, and more. With her Latin background, Uchis has made a name for herself mixing Spanish and English on her albums, with hits such as Telepatia and Moonlight. ORQUIDEAS, her second Latin album, was a new frontier of success for Uchis, breaking numerous records such as the number one Billboard chart’s Spanish and English album, and most sold Latin album on vinyl in the modern era. As well as gaining a wide demographic of listeners. Whether they listen for the features or Kali herself, “Iguala Que Un Angel” featuring Peso Pluma shot past all her most listened-to songs with roughly 92 million streams, and “Labios Mordidos” featuring KAROL G came in at number 4 on the Billboard Top 100.
Fan favorites at the Village School include “Igual Que Un Angel” with Peso Pluma, “No Hay Ley Parte 2” with Rauw Alejandro, and “Dame Beso.” This album is more than just an album for The Village School. With all the combined features and the large portion of students who not only are Hispanic or Latino but like Reggaeton, it’s a cultural reset. One of the main selling points for the album was most likely Peso Pluma’s feature since he is a well-known and widely acclaimed artist with a large fan base at Village. “I think the album is so popular because it blends all the different Latino music Genres,” said sophomore Lorenzo Blenda. “It mixes reggaeton, pop, and other genres with different artists, so I think that’s what makes it stand out.” And it’s true, the mix of tempos, sounds, and voices from Uchis and the other artists is what makes it so satisfying to the ear, and what makes listeners want more.
Being Uchis’ second Latin album, she kicked it off without a hitch. My favorite track on the album would have to be “Igual Que Un Angel” With pop undertones and a catchy beat. Peso Pluma’s features add a lot to the sound. Uchis and Peso Pluma have different voices, yet they blend well, making the song what it is. 4/14 songs are explicit in Spanish and English, making it a relatively appropriate and relaxed album. The album covers the themes of love and new romance being formed, and the delights of up rising romance.
Indulging myself in the album’s unique style and the individuality it had from other popular Latin artists, I would give it a 9/10. Uchis blends all the sounds of different styles – like having songs that feature samba, reggaeton, and merengue – and blending them with Uchis’ softer voice. The general sound and diversity of the album is what sets ORQUIDEAS as one of the best Latin albums of 2024.
