Karly-Marina Loaiza, professionally known as Kali Uchis, is a Colombian-Ame… Read Full Bio ↴Karly-Marina Loaiza, professionally known as Kali Uchis, is a Colombian-American singer-songwriter, record producer, music video director and fashion designer. She writes and produces most of her own music.

The stylistic range of left-field pop artist Kali Uchis is reflected in the variety of her collaborators – an extensive genre-crossing list that includes Tyler, the Creator, Gorillaz, Daniel Caesar, Juanes, and BadBadNotGood. A singer, songwriter, and producer, as well as a video director, Uchis truly arrived on her own with the self-released Por Vida (2015), an EP that led to a deal with Virgin EMI. By the time Uchis released her lively debut full-length, the Top Five Billboard R&B/hip-hop hit Isolation (2018), she had already been nominated for Grammy awards through her featured appearances on Daniel Caesar's "Get You" and Juanes' "El Ratico."

Kali Uchis experienced the majority of her upbringing in Virginia and also spent time in her parents' native Colombia. As a teenager growing up in Alexandria, just south of Washington, D.C., she learned to play piano and saxophone and also developed a deep interest in visual arts. Her recorded debut was made in 2012 with the self-released mixtape Drunken Babble. Within three years, she had several singles to her credit, including "Know What I Want" and "Lottery," typically promoted with videos she directed, as well as collaborations with Snoop Dogg, GoldLink, Tyler, the Creator, and Major Lazer. Following the 2015 independent release of Por Vida, a free digital-download EP with tracks produced by Diplo, Kaytranada, and Tyler, Uchis started releasing her material through major-label Virgin EMI. A DJ Dahi-tweaked version of Por Vida's "Ridin Round," issued that November after a move to Los Angeles, was the artist's first single for the major label. "Only Girl," a relaxed Kaytranada production featuring Vince Staples and the Internet's Steve Lacy, followed in April 2016. She was also featured that year on Daniel Caesar's "Get You."

Throughout 2017, Uchis added to her discography of featured appearances via tracks by Juanes, Gorillaz, Tyler, Bootsy Collins, and Miguel, and she previewed her debut album with the singles "Tyrant" (featuring Jorja Smith) and "Nuestro Planeta" (featuring Reykon). By the end of the year, "Get You" had been nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best R&B Performance, and Juanes' "El Ratico" made Uchis a Latin Grammy nominee when it was up for Record of the Year. January 2018 saw the release of the BadBadNotGood-produced single "After the Storm" (featuring Tyler and Bootsy). Uchis released her debut album, Isolation, three months later. It debuted at number 32 on the Billboard 200 and entered the R&B/hip-hop chart at number four.

http://kaliuchis.com

01 Sycamore Tree
Kali Uchis Lyrics

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What ya want me for?
What ya want me for?
What ya want me for?
What ya waitin for then?
What ya want me for?
What ya want me for?
What ya want me for?
What ya waitin for then?

Yeah I don't know how you do
What you do, but damn
Yeah I don't know how you do
What you do, but damn
sweeter than a sycamore tree
he was buzzing, buzzing
just like a bee
he said he never met a girl
who make it euphoric, he
said he never met a girl like me
and i don't think you're lying I see it in ya eyes
you wanna compromise
What ya want me for?
What ya want me for?
(tell me what you want)
What ya want me for?
What you waiting for then?
(tell me what you want)
What ya want me for?
What ya want me for?
(tell me what you want)

What ya want me for?
What you waiting for then?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Kali Uchis's song "Sycamore Tree" are about the singer questioning the motives of the person pursuing her. The refrain "What ya want me for?" is repeated multiple times and she asks "What you waiting for then?" in response, implying that she is aware of the other person's interest in her but is unsure of their true intentions. The lyric "he said he never met a girl who make it euphoric" suggests that the person is attracted to Kali's energy, and that she has a unique ability to make him feel good. She acknowledges this attraction but also seems to be cautious about moving forward, with the line "you wanna compromise."

Overall, the song seems to be about the complexities of relationships and the difficulty of trusting another person's motivations. Kali is aware of the other person's interest in her, but is unsure if it is genuine or if they are just looking for something temporary. The repeated refrain of "What ya want me for?" is a plea for clarity and honesty in the pursuit of a relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

What ya want me for?
Asking the other person what they want from her.

What ya want me for?
Repeating the question to emphasize her confusion.

What ya want me for?
Continuing to press for an answer to the question.

What ya waitin for then?
Challenging the other person to take action if they want something from her.

What ya want me for?
Repeating the initial question again to make sure she understands the other person's intentions.

What ya want me for?
Repeating the question again in disbelief that the other person hasn't given a straightforward answer.

What ya want me for?
Asking the question one more time, hoping for a clear response.

What ya waitin for then?
Impatiently challenging the other person to reveal their intentions.

Yeah I don't know how you do What you do, but damn
Expressing admiration for the other person's attractive qualities.

Yeah I don't know how you do What you do, but damn
Admitting that she is drawn to the other person despite not fully understanding why.

sweeter than a sycamore tree he was buzzing, buzzing just like a bee
Complimenting the other person and comparing their energy to that of a bee buzzing around a tree.

he said he never met a girl who make it euphoric, he said he never met a girl like me
Quoting the other person's praise of her, emphasizing how unique and special she is.

and i don't think you're lying I see it in ya eyes you wanna compromise
Believing the other person and recognizing that they want to come to a mutually beneficial agreement.

What ya want me for? (tell me what you want) What ya want me for?
Repeating the question and urging the other person to be honest about their intentions.

What you waiting for then? (tell me what you want) What ya want me for?
Asking again what the other person wants from her and urging them to take action.

What ya want me for? (tell me what you want) What ya want me for?
Repeating the question once more, demanding a clear answer from the other person.

What you waiting for then?
Impatiently challenging the other person to reveal their intentions and take action.

Contributed by Jasmine K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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