As the end of cuffing season nears, there are likely a lot of situationships that are nearing the end of their shelf life as well. While it’d be easy for things to dissolve into a pool of bitterness, singer Kali Uchis takes a more mature approach on her new single “I Wish You Roses.”
Produced by Josh Crocker and Sir Dylan, the song finds Uchis hoping for the best while preparing for the worst. “This song is about being able to release people with love,” she explains. “It could be a friend, a lover or someone else, but the point is to celebrate releasing people from your life without being resentful or bitter.”
She conveys as much, singing, “While I’m here, I’m someone to honor / When I’m gone, I’m someone to mourn / But if you and my heart should someday drift apart / I’ll make sure to give you these blessings because they’re all I’ve got.”
Kali takes it a step further in the song’s hook, reiterating that she’s walking away without any hard feelings. “I wish you love, I wish you well / I wish you roses while you can still smell ‘em,” she repeats.
The floral theme carries over to the song’s colorful music video. Directed by Cho Gi-Seok, the trippy visuals are heavy on the flowers, featuring Uchis either covered in flowers or becoming the flower itself.
In one scene, dew rests on her lips, just as it does on a flower in the early morning. Next, her eyelashes spread out like the petals on a flower. In another, she lies sprawling on a petal-covered floor as even more petals rain down on her, mimicking the infamous scene from the 1999 film American Beauty. Right before the video fades to black, she settles inside a flower itself, lying down in the center of it.
“I Wish You Roses” is Kali Uchis’ first single of what looks to be a busy year. She is set to hit the stage at this year’s Coachella; Lollapalooza in Chile, Argentina and Brazil; and Columbia’s Estéreo Picnic. Before she makes her next move, check out Kali Uchis’ “I Wish You Roses” below and see if it leaves you feeling as generous as she is about a relationship that’s about to run its course.
