To Feel Alive Explained

To Feel Alive
Type:	EP
Artist:	Kali Uchis
Cover:	Kali Uchis - To Feel Alive.png
Recorded:	2020
Length:	10:03
Label:	Virgin EMI Interscope
Producer:	Rogét Chahayed Bunx Dadda Aja Grant Austen Jux-Chandler Sounwave Kali Uchis Vegyn
Prev Title:	Isolation
Prev Year:	2018
Next Title:	Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios)
Next Year:	2020

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"; ultimately, none of the songs were used for Por Vida. The two were then reworked, with "Angel" having only one line changing.^[4] Uchis first performed "I Want War (But I Need Peace)" during her 2019 co-headlining tour with Jorja Smith.

Charlie Zhang of Hypebeast wrote that the EP features "dreamy, electric synth-infused sounds that complement Uchis' uniquely wistful singing".^[5] In an interview for Insider, Uchis revealed that it took "probably 15 minutes" to write and record the EP's title track.

Artwork and promotion

The EP's artwork consists of a drawing of a brunette Uchis performing oral sex on a blonde version of herself,^[6] representing the combining of styles found on Isolation and Por Vida, respectively, to form a new, more pleasurable one.^[7] The image's explicit content was censored on Spotify and Apple Music.

A lyric video for "I Want War (But I Need Peace)" premiered on April 26, 2020.^[8] The video's scenery was filmed in Uchis' backyard through a green screen.

Critical response

NME Thomas Smith gave To Feel Alive a 4 out of 5 stars rating, praising Uchis' vocal performance and her decision of rerecording the demo tracks.^[9]

Track listing

Notes

• The first three track titles are stylized in all lowercase.
• "To Feel Alive" and any text within brackets are stylized in all caps.

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal and organized in alphabetical order by surname.

• Rogét Chahayed – production, songwriting
• Bunx Dadda – production
• Jason Kirt Simeon Fleming – songwriting
• Aja Grant – production, songwriting
• Austen Jux-Chandler – additional production, mixing, engineering, mastering
• Henry Lunetta – engineering
• Prash "Engine-Earz" Mistry – mastering, mixing
• Sounwave – production, songwriting
• Joe Thornalley – songwriting
• Kali Uchis – lead vocals, songwriting, production, engineering
• Vegyn – production

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
Various	April 24, 2020
	October 24, 2020	LP

Notes and References

1. News: Strauss . Matthew . Kali Uchis Announces New To Feel Alive EP, Out This Week . April 21, 2020 . . April 20, 2020 . United States . en.
2. can’t give you my album yet, but i recorded some demos in my room for u. TO FEEL ALIVE EP this friday . 1252265523154321408 . KALIUCHIS . Kali. Uchis. Kali Uchis . April 20, 2020 . April 21, 2020.
3. 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 . 1252476804582891521 . KALIUCHIS . Kali . Uchis . April 21, 2020 . April 21, 2020.
4. Web site: Kali Uchis breaks down the quarantine EP she made on her bedroom floor, and how solitude can be a powerful tool. Ahlgrim. Callie. May 5, 2020. Insider. May 10, 2020.
5. Web site: Kali Uchis' Dreamy New EP 'To Feel Alive' is Both Buoyant and Wistful. Zhang. Charlie. April 24, 2020. Hypebeast. April 27, 2020.
6. Web site: Kali Uchis Announces Her 'To Feel Alive' EP With Raunchy Cover Art. Droke. Carolyn. April 20, 2020. UPROXX. April 21, 2020.
7. Web site: Kali Uchis's new EP To Feel Alive is out this Friday. Ross. Alex Robert. April 20, 2020. The Fader. en. April 21, 2020.
8. i want war (BUT I NEED PEACE) lyric video. April 26, 2020. Uchis. Kali. Video. en. YouTube.
9. Web site: Smith . Thomas . Kali Uchis – 'To Feel Alive' EP review: a modern icon transcends her breakthrough period NME . . May 10, 2020 . April 29, 2020.
10. Kali Uchis Chart History (Current Album Sales). Billboard. May 18, 2021.