What do you get when you combine otherworldly sensuality with luscious lo-fi beats? Columbian-American neo-soul artist Kali Uchis’ Red Moon In Venus is here to answer that question.
Uchis is putting an alternative twist on R & B with her brand new album, which was released on March 3rd. She also announced that she’d be touring the US to promote the new release, with 20 dates taking place across the country. On January 23rd, Uchis posted a stunning set of instagram photos, draped in the same mesh blood-red fabric that was sprawled out underneath her, with the caption: “RED MOON IN VENUS 3.3.23 Tour dates on the last slide”
Kali Uchis has come a long way since the last time we wrote about her. In 2019, Uchis was touring Europe with Jorja Smith, fresh off the release of her debut studio album Isolation. Since then, she’s released several EPs and the Grammy-nominated studio album, Sin Miedo which included features from other alternative sirens like Rico Nasty and SZA.
This year, she’s upping the ante with her third studio album, Red Moon in Venus. Alongside themes of divinity, sensuality, and tranquility, the album is deeply raw and emotional. Songs like the single “Moonlight” incite feelings of blissfulness and self-induced passion. Uchis croons the words “I just wanna get high with my lover..” But with lyrics like “Veo una muñeca cuando miro en el espejo,” (which translates to “I see a doll when I look into the mirror,”) it’s hard to believe that Uchis isn’t singing about lovin’ on herself. It’s not far-fetched; when discussing the inspiration for Venus with Consequence Magazine, she stated that “This body of work represents all levels of love — releasing people with love, drawing love into your life and self-love.”
The visuals we’ve received from the Venus era so far reflect the powerful love-based motifs that influenced Uchis during the creation of the album. The music video for “I Wish You Roses” features clips of the glamorous singer dressed as unearthly flowers while she poses alongside CGI renderings of hyperphysical plants.
The elaborate and ethereal looks range from shocking to sweet. In one shot, Uchis is painted in pink and red ombre makeup, adorned with soft and petal-like fabric, meant to imitate a dewy red rose.
In other scenes, she’s sensually running a rose over her ivory dress, or she’s laying nude in a pool of blush-pink rose petals, American Beauty-style.
The not-so-subtle sexual messages behind the petal imagery incite feelings of passion and femininity, which is exactly what the artist says she was going for when she discussed the album more in depth, again with the publication Consequence, “Red Moon in Venus is a timeless, burning expression of desire, heartbreak, faith, and honesty, reflecting the divine femininity of the moon and Venus… It’s believed by many astrologers that the blood moon can send your emotions into a spin, and that’s what I felt represented this body of work best.”
Bottom Line? Red Moon in Venus is an ethereal ode to sensuality and emotion. It’ll be the soundtrack to every sultry siren’s self-care ritual.
You can listen to the album here, and find dates for the Red Moon In Venus Tour here.
Top Image: Screengrab from “I Wish You Roses” – Kali Uchis by UMG
