Following the release of her stellar fifth studio album, ‘Sincerely’, Kali Uchis is back. 

This time, she joins forces with fellow R&B star Ravyn Lenae. ‘Sincerely’ showed a deeper side to Uchis, displaying her heart on her sleeve with the album’s subject matter. Her songwriting developed tenfold. Vulnerable lyrics are set to a jazzy, sentimental backdrop. 

Enter Ravyn Lenae. She has had an amazing year, marked by the success of her single, ‘Love Me Not.’ This duo complements each other angelically. Their track feels somewhat vintage, yet entirely new and exciting—a perfect single for Uchis's deluxe album release.

The track thrusts us straight into the world Uchis is trying to create, with heavy drum beats followed quickly by soft vocals. The doo-wop styled production immediately takes you back in time. Somewhere between the late 50s and early 60s, the single has a nostalgic feel. This mirrors the subject matter of the song, which seems to reflect on a past love—something that can also evoke nostalgia. Uchis sings, “too bad, so sad, you should cry about it.” She seems tired of the relationship and gives no sympathy to this past love. Once Lenae arrives in verse two, the feminine energy multiplies. Her sweet, airy vocals blend with Uchis's, smooth like butter. Together, they channel the jazzy vocal stylings of the doo-wop era, reminiscent of artists like The Shirelles, The Supremes, and Mary Wells.

Uchis took to Instagram to explain, “I wrote this song to celebrate the fact that I’m gonna keep getting better/hotter/more abundant, etc & nobody can stop me.” The song certainly feels like a celebration. The swing feels laced all over the track, adds a sense of freedom and acceptance, and definitely takes a positive and empowering approach to a broken relationship. Suggesting the loss is felt by the other person, rather than Uchis herself. You can never have too many bolstering songs, perfect for accepting heartbreak and moving on, especially one that is filled with so much feminine power.

This genre of music has recently been experiencing its welcome resurgence, with more female artists tackling the doo-wop swing sound in the mainstream. Notably, Sabrina Carpenter's two recent albums have also been trying their hand at it. One that springs to mind is her widely successful single, ‘Please Please Please.’ A song that earned her first Billboard Hot 100 number one. The vocal tone and melodic choices are reminiscent of the ’50s and ’60s, similar to this latest Kali Uchis single. If these female artists are anything to go by, it is clear that this resurgence of the genre is in good hands.