With impressive discographies and loyal fanbases behind them, it’s no surprise that many fans eagerly anticipated new music from musicians Kali Uchis and PinkPantheress, real name Victoria Beverley Walker, who both happened to release albums on May 9th. Through lyrical creativity and gorgeous vocals Uchis’ “Sincerely,” and Walker’s “Fancy That” explores heartbreak, love and peace.
“Sincerely,” by Kali Uchis
Uchis is known for her romantic ballads filled with dreamy vocals. As a Colombian American, she sings in both English and Spanish, bringing a unique cultural aspect to her discography. “Sincerely,” reflects on her journey as a new mother and the loss of her own mother. The album is a dream-pop love letter to motherhood and the desire to be emotionally honest with the world.
While popular music is saturated with themes of romantic love, Uchis sings about a different form of love in this album: familial love. She starts off strong with “Heaven is a Home…” where she shines a spotlight on domestic comfort and finding peace in life.
I would consider track three, “Lose My Cool,” to be the highlight of the album. A six-minute ballad sharing Uchis’ vulnerability and desire for meaningful love, it pulls at the heartstrings and criticizes the superficiality of modern love with lines like “when I met you, I stopped trying to keep my cool.”
Though Uchis sings in primarily English on this album, she continues to use Spanish in track seven, “Territorial,” a song about her loyalty and the lengths she will go to ensure her boundaries aren’t crossed. She says “te faltó es respeto” — “you lacked respect” — denouncing the one threatening her romantic relationship. As the midpoint of the album, I’m glad that this song breaks the pattern of love songs and adds a refreshing new emotion to the story.
As one of the last songs on the album, the single “Sunshine & Rain…” was released over a month before the rest of the album. Though I believe she did this because this song had the highest mainstream value, it also summarizes the album’s overall message of finding sanctuary after a life of chaos, especially in the line “we all need somebody that makes the Earth feel heavenly.” This song was the most pop-adjacent on her album and it was definitely stuck in my head for weeks.
My only criticism of this album would be that many of the songs blend into each other. Though some might not consider this a flaw, it makes each individual song lack its own uniqueness within the album. However, the cohesivity of the album does assist in painting her story, which is equally as important.
She ends off with “ILYSMIH” — which stands for “I love you so much it hurts” — which ends with the laugh of her baby and the word “mama.” Though it marks the conclusion of the album, it symbolizes the beginning of her baby’s life and Uchis’ journey in her new family. Though “Sincerely,” is less commercial than her previous records, it offers a glimpse into Uchis’ personal life and shows her maturity in her vocals and lyrics over more than a decade of creating music for dedicated listeners across the world.
As a long-time fan, I had seen Uchis experience life as a mother through social media, but hearing her perspective on it was incredibly beautiful. Uchis has continuously impressed me, and this album has only elevated my opinion of her as a lyricist.
Rating: 4.8/5
“Fancy That,” by PinkPantheress
Blending drum and bass, U.K. garage and bedroom pop, PinkPantheress is recognized for her distinctive, infectious beats and introspective lyrics. After putting an early end to her 2024 tour to focus on her mental health, she is now back with “Fancy That,” her first major release in two years following her 2023 debut album, “Heaven Knows.”
Blazing through eight tracks, including an intermission, in under 20 minutes, “Fancy That” is a fast-moving mixtape, characteristic of her minimalist, TikTok-friendly music style. Opening with the two-and-a-half minute-long “Illegal,” PinkPantheress sets the stage with a degree of emotional complexity as well as an irresistible flair. Lyrically, “Illegal” explores themes of confusion, guilt and fear of discovery in the context of a secret relationship. The chorus is catchy and upbeat, with the repetition of lines like, “One after one, now you’re sittin’ on my bed” conveying the lingering effect of past memories.
“Fancy That” keeps up the refreshing rhythm throughout the next few tracks, including “Girl Like Me,” “Tonight” and “Stars,” which are all defined by fast tempos and skittering beats. From my first listen, “Girl Like Me” caught my attention with the way it captures the feelings of confusion and resignation common in modern relationships. I was drawn to vulnerable lyrics like “I never liked it when you’d do me like that,” which accurately reflect the emotional anguish that can be associated with heartbreak. I thought it was especially interesting that PinkPantheress samples Basement Jaxx’s iconic “Romeo” in “Girl Like Me,” adding a nice element of U.K. pop culture to the track.
The tempo slows down in the last few songs of “Fancy That,” with songs like “Nice to Know You” and “Stateside” softly ending the mixtape in a perfect closing. In contrast with the frantic energy that defined earlier songs, “Nice to Know You” offers a quiet, leisurely melody that creates almost a numbing effect on the listener. This shift in tempo seems to capture the logical progression of a heartbreak, starting with bitterness and anger, which then transitions into quiet grief on the road to acceptance.
Marking the finale of the mixtape, “Stateside” is the cherry on top, featuring stellar production and captivating vocals. I enjoyed the soft, breathy voice throughout “Stateside,” which creates a hazy, dream-like atmosphere reminiscent of Britney Spears’ early albums. The ending lines and verse seem to sample “Freak Like Me” by Sugababes, which was a pleasant addition.
Overall, “Fancy That” is an improvement from Pinkpantheress’ previous albums, as she now embraces more refreshing, energetic tunes compared to the relatively mellow, ordinary tone of “Heaven Knows.” I really enjoyed how PinkPantheress weaved many song samples throughout the mixtape, ranging from “Tonight” by Panic! to William Orbit to “Spiral” by the Sugababes. This approach allowed her to connect artists from different musical genres and eras, creating distinctive tunes that appeal to a diverse range of listeners.
“Fancy That” embodies PinkPantheress’ signature aesthetic that her audience loves: fleeting yet emotionally-charged music that is packed with ideas and sentiments. The soundtracks’ fusing of indie pop, instrumentals and U.K. dance music creates distinctive melodies that continue to capture the hearts of her listeners.
Rating: 4/5
