Kali Uchis

“I'm constantly trying to look at things from a different view and to put myself into some new perspectives to evolve myself, grow myself, and reinvent myself.”

“When I start something, I have to finish it, and I'm a super perfectionist, too.”

“I'm Colombian. My family all have different complexions; some are people of color. I've been called every name by white people, been mocked for speaking in Spanish by white people.”

“When I got my MacBook, I started playing around with Garageband a lot. It was just a creative outlet. I put everything into it. I would skip all my classes just to be making my songs. Stuff like that made me feel good.”

“Back in the day, I used to get really upset when people used to say that I didn't really make all my own things - like my art or my videos or whatever. I work really hard on everything, so it used to upset me when people would try to discredit me or say that I wouldn't have what I had without this person or that person.”

“I don't operate on fear, and I don't let fear control me.”

“I love a good old-school reggaeton song.”

“I never had a backup plan. I felt like if I had a backup plan, it was like saying to the universe that I didn't believe in myself.”

“You're taught that it's not very likely for you to become successful... that odds are you're going to be a struggling artist for the rest of your life.”

“I've always considered myself a person of color.”

“It was really important for me to understand that I needed to provide for myself, and I needed to become a provider for my own family, too.”

“If you really want to get over someone or something in your life, I suggest you throw on some Ivy Queen. She will have you feeling extra bossy.”

“Some of my writing is very subconscious, and that's definitely what happened with 'Body Language' - I looped some basic bossa nova sounds and just started singing.”

“It's really not easy to be an artist. It's not easy to put yourself out there and be honest. I'm making things that are really happening to me, and it's not easy to share that with the world.”

“My first relationship was from when I was about 15 to 19. My second relationship was kind of like a rebound, but also a really important part of my journey - he was very emotionally manipulative and just wanted me to be an accessory.”

“I was one of those people at one point who was scared to put my foot down and show where the boundaries were. For me, it's really important to stand your ground and know exactly what you are, where you wanna be, and what you're doing, or else people are gonna try you.”

“I never really wanted to be a singer. I always preferred to be behind the camera.”

“I'm a big Gorillaz fan.”

“I just know what I want for myself.”

“I think everybody needs to be more empathetic.”