To Feel Alive is the second extended play by American singer Kali Uchis, released on April 24, 2020, through Virgin EMI Records and Interscope Records. It is her first extended play since Por Vida (2015) and first release overall since Isolation (2018).[1] Unable to issue her second studio album, the singer recorded the EP's songs in her home while self-isolating due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2][3]
Background and composition
Before the release of To Feel Alive, Uchis uploaded a video to her YouTube channel featuring snippets of demos for "Honey Baby" and "Angel", with the latter previously titled "Pablo Escobar";[4] ultimately, none of the songs were used for Por Vida. The two were reworked, with "Angel" changing only one line.[5] Uchis first performed "I Want War (But I Need Peace)" during her 2019 co-headlining tour with Jorja Smith.[4]
Ellen Johnson, writing for Paste classified To Feel Alive as a "stellar rendering of escapist pop",[6] while Antwane Folk from Rated R&B described it as "dreamy R&B".[7] Charlie Zhang of Hypebeast wrote that the EP features "dreamy, electric synth-infused sounds that complement Uchis' uniquely wistful singing".[8] In an interview for Insider, Uchis revealed that it took "probably 15 minutes" to write and record the EP's title track.[5]
Artwork and promotion
The EP's artwork is a painting Uchis commissioned to Polish artist Oh de Val.[9] It consists of a brunette Uchis performing oral sex on a blonde version of herself,[10] representing the combining of styles found on Isolation and Por Vida, respectively, to form a new, more pleasurable one.[11] The image's explicit content was censored on Spotify and Apple Music.[4]
A lyric video for "I Want War (But I Need Peace)" premiered on April 26, 2020.[12] The video's scenery was filmed in Uchis' backyard through a green screen.[5]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| NME |   [4] |
| The Young Folks | 7/10[13] |
To Feel Alive received generally positive reviews from music critics. NME's Thomas Smith gave To Feel Alive a 4 out of 5 stars rating, praising Uchis' vocal performance and her decision to rerecord the demo tracks.[4] Ramlogun Khushi of The Young Folks stated that with the EP "Uchis manages to tell a captivating love story in just a few tracks, chock full of groovy beats and colorful imagery".[13]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Honey Baby (Spoiled!)" |
|
| 2:04 |
| 2. | "Angel" |
|
| 2:23 |
| 3. | "I Want War (But I Need Peace)" |
| 2:39 | |
| 4. | "To Feel Alive" | Loaiza | Uchis | 2:57 |
| Total length: | 10:03 | |||
Notes
- The first three track titles are stylized in all lowercase.
- "To Feel Alive" and any text within brackets are stylized in all caps.
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.[14]
- Rogét Chahayed – production, songwriting (3)
- Bunx Dadda – production (2)
- Jason Kirt Simeon Fleming – songwriting (2)
- Aja Grant – production, songwriting (1)
- Austen Jux-Chandler – additional production (1), mixing (1, 2, 4), engineering (3), mastering (4)
- Henry Lunetta – engineering (3)
- Prash "Engine-Earz" Mistry – mastering (1–4), mixing (3)
- Sounwave – production, songwriting (3)
- Joe Thornalley – songwriting (1)
- Kali Uchis – lead vocals (all tracks), songwriting (all tracks), production (2, 4), engineering (2, 4)
- Vegyn – production (1)
Charts
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Current Album Sales (Billboard)[15] | 94 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | April 24, 2020 | |||
| October 24, 2020 | LP |
References
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (April 20, 2020). "Kali Uchis Announces New To Feel Alive EP, Out This Week". Pitchfork. United States. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- ^ Uchis, Kali [@KALIUCHIS] (April 20, 2020). "can't give you my album yet, but i recorded some demos in my room for u. TO FEEL ALIVE EP this friday" (Tweet). Retrieved April 21, 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ Uchis, Kali [@KALIUCHIS] (April 21, 2020). "it will be a 4 song ep i made in a couple days, during quarantine. recorded all of it alone, in my room, bcoz i won't roll out my real album right now, but wanna give my babies Something ٩(˘◡˘)۶ nobody needs to listen to it, & i don't want ANYONE to buy it. thank u" (Tweet). Retrieved April 21, 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c d e Smith, Thomas (April 29, 2020). "Kali Uchis – 'To Feel Alive' EP review: a modern icon transcends her breakthrough period | NME". NME. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
- ^ a b c Ahlgrim, Callie (May 5, 2020). "Kali Uchis breaks down the quarantine EP she made on her bedroom floor, and how solitude can be a powerful tool". Insider. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
- ^ Johnson, Ellen (April 24, 2020). "Kali Uchis Releases Self-Produced EP 'To Feel Alive'". Paste. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
- ^ Folk, Antwane (April 24, 2020). "Kali Uchis Releases Self-Produced EP 'To Feel Alive'". Rated R&B. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
- ^ Zhang, Charlie (April 24, 2020). "Kali Uchis' Dreamy New EP 'To Feel Alive' is Both Buoyant and Wistful". Hypebeast. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
- ^ Betancourt, Bianca (May 1, 2020). "Kali Uchis's Latest EP Was Never Meant to Exist". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
- ^ Droke, Carolyn (April 20, 2020). "Kali Uchis Announces Her 'To Feel Alive' EP With Raunchy Cover Art". UPROXX. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- ^ Ross, Alex Robert (April 20, 2020). "Kali Uchis's new EP To Feel Alive is out this Friday". The Fader. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- ^ Uchis, Kali (April 26, 2020). i want war (BUT I NEED PEACE) lyric video (Video). YouTube.
- ^ a b Khushi, Ramlogun (May 10, 2020). "Album Review: Kali Uchis – "To Feel Alive" EP". The Young Folks. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
- ^ a b "TO FEEL ALIVE EP / Kali Uchis". Tidal. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
- ^ "Kali Uchis Chart History (Current Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
- ^ "Kali Uchis - TO FEEL ALIVE". Universal Music Group. Archived from the original on May 7, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- ^ "Kali Uchis - To Feel Alive EP - LP". Rough Trade. Retrieved 2020-10-01.[permanent dead link]
