All this week, the Song of the Day highlights ACL Fest 2015 artists.
“I spent a lot of time with my grandmother who put me onto a lot of classic stuff like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday,” Kali Uchis recently told Noisey. “Then there was my uncle who let me listen to old school low-rider music.” This fascinating duality is at the heart of the 21-year-old’s music. Born in Colombia, raised in Virginia, and based in L.A., Uchis makes music that’s a lot of things at once: sweet and tough; bright and darkened around the edges. Everyone from Snoop Dogg to Tyler, The Creator have taken notice, and this fall she’s touring with Leon Bridges.
Back in February, Uchis dropped her debut EP Por Vida for free, and you can download the whole thing below. “Lottery” is the sparkling centerpiece. The song matches her cooing voice to heavy, G-funk style beats, ultimately sounding like doo-wop for a hip-hop crowd.
–Art Levy
Catch Kali Uchis at ACL Fest 2015:
*Friday, October 9, 10:00 p.m., Vulcan Gas Company (official ACL Late Night Show–tickets here: smarturl.it/KaliACLshow)
*Sunday, October 11, 2:45 p.m., Zilker stage
