The reason I made my stage name Kali Uchis is because it's still me in the sense that, my dad called me 'Kali Uchis' my whole life. It's still something I've been called since I was a baby. It's still me.Collection: Life
Music is your way to change the frequencies of everything around you and move your own body, move your whole environment.Collection: Music
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.Collection: Relationship
Do you. Wear what you want to wear. Be an individual. Be unique and live your best life.Collection: Life
I'm into crystals and good energy and harnessing more. It's just like prayer. It helps you be grateful, think about good things, and keep that positive energy around you.Collection: Positive
I don't operate on fear, and I don't let fear control me.Collection: Fear
The people, the culture... there's so much magic in Colombia, so I feel like being a kid, being able to have that, being able to also call Colombia my home, it was such an important part of my introduction as an artist, too, because it's such a big part of my life as a human being.Collection: Home
My dad's job was to manage apartment complexes, so when people would move out or when people would die or whatever, people left things in their apartments, he would always bring me home people's collection of music that they left behind. I was excited because I didn't really have money to go to the CD store all the time.Collection: Dad
I feel like fashion is about being innovative and being able to turn something into something else, making it cool, and making it your own.Collection: Cool
I can only be inspired if I'm working with people that I really respect.Collection: Respect
N.E.R.D. was also from - not too far from where I was from growing up. For a lot of people who make music, that was a huge influence in teen years.Collection: Teen
I grew up being very different and being ready to fight people. I wanted to stand up for myself, and I wanted to not let anyone think they know me based on appearances, so I was always just fighting back with people.
I've always been someone who, without wanting to or without trying to, I draw attention to myself sometimes in negative ways. It made me sharp, and it made me quick.
It's difficult as an artist sometimes. There's a lot of pressure when it's your first album. You want to make something that's meaningful and timeless, not something that's trendy.
When I was little, I went through a lot of phases, like any girl.
I really try to balance my feminine and masculine energy when I write.
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 made music just for myself.
You're always taught that the world is so competitive. You're taught that it's not very likely for you to become successful and that odds are you're going to be a struggling artist for the rest of your life.
A lot of people were getting million-dollar deals from music I felt was trash, because their videos were going viral. I wanted to put out music that had soul, because that's what was missing.
California feels like Colombia but with less threats. I don't have to be constantly looking over my shoulder.
Colombian culture has had a huge influence on me and taught me a different way of looking at things - I was always different from the people I went to school with, and I learned to embrace that.
I've always experimented with my look. Growing up, I thought it was so weird that people dressed alike and all bought the same things.
When I was 18 or 19, I realized that everything I was doing was connected to music - writing, doing videos, making my clothes. It all centered around being an artist. So I released a mixtape that I made in my bedroom, and it ended up getting a lot more attention than I expected.
I was a very creative child. I played the saxophone and piano, and I was always writing poetry and stories, or drawing in my notebook. I just tried to express myself through as many creative outlets as possible. And in high school, I started to get really into photography and videography and would spend hours working on it.
I used to love to look at cover art for vinyls.
I am very much an artist. I like painting and collaging.
I was always into music and stuff, so I would always make songs since I was little.
A lot of people don't give Virginia credit. Pharrell, Missy Elliott - a lot of people come from here.
I was really grateful for the photography classes, the art classes, and the video classes. They would let me skip all my other classes and stay and work on my projects.
I didn't want to go to school, because I wanted to be an artist, and they were never going to teach me art. None of my family had ever done that kind of stuff either.
The first time I did a show, I definitely didn't get any money. My friend just let me do this show. I was so nervous: my mic didn't work, and I was like, 'Urgh.' It was terrible. It was a dingy club off of the highway, but all these people came. It was packed out.
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.
As a musician, you are all the music that you absorb into your mind; that just subconsciously connects.
You can consciously make a difference with music. Bob Marley is one of those few artists that everyone can say that they love. He makes you feel good. It's very real.
I like lowriders and music from the '50s and '60s. A lot of people assumed I was Mexican.
I've never been pressed to be friends with everyone or be popular, even in school - I've always done my own thing.
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.
There's no particular method or course of action that I take in order to decide who I'm going to work with besides feeling complete and total respect and admiration for that artist.
I started making music by myself and figuring all of that on my own.
I don't really use any face products anymore because they make me break out. I like natural remedies. I usually put honey on my face. Sometimes, I put sugar in it so it's an exfoliant, too. I add raw coconut oil, which is good as a face wash and a moisturizer.
Sometimes I leave mayonnaise on the ends of my hair for a few hours while I'm writing; it's a really good moisturizer.
I really love secondhand clothes. It's fun to turn them into something new.
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.
Selena is a classic and timeless singer, and she really doesn't need an introduction. Her music is always good for the soul.
La India's voice is so powerful. It will give you life.
It's easy to just write about love, because everyone can relate, but I like variety.
While performing, I can't wear anything that I'm not going to be able to dance in or heels that don't have ankle support.
I've always considered myself a person of color.