2. Kali Uchis
Hailing from Virginia by way of Colombia, 20-year-old Kali Uchis blends doo-wop, G-Funk, Latin freestyle and other styles from bygone eras into a sound that’s as current as it is retro. (A similar observation could be made about her personal style, described by Dazed Magazine as “part street princess, part Anime character.”) And there’s a whiff of reggae vibes in some of her recordings as well. Producer Bunx, one of Kali’s primary collaborators, hails from New York via Nevis, and his tracks with her often come with Caribbean flair. The vibes are most prominent on “Know What I Want, ” the subject of her latest video—and probably her best song. Introspective yet upbeat, the track recalls the best elements of Lovers Rock but with a digital twist. Her upcoming album, tentatively titled Por Vida, is eagerly anticipated. Until then, her <em>Drunken Babble mixtape is highly recommended. —Jesse Serwer