Kali Uchis: Photos From the Billboard Cover Shoot

It’s a few hours before Kali Uchis is set to take the stage for the second of two sold-out nights at New York’s Madison Square Garden in September, and the venue is buzzing. Fans, many dressed in the artist’s merchandise or girly pink outfits, hum with anticipation. For the Colombian American powerhouse, this moment represents the culmination of a decadelong rise — from an indie darling crafting mixtapes in her Virginia bedroom to a superstar reshaping the boundaries of motherhood, biculturalism and fame.

Today, she’s moving audiences of thousands — all while raising her 1-year-old son and balancing life on the road with her partner, rapper Don Toliver. And backstage, the artist born Karly Marina Loaiza exudes the kind of tranquility of someone who’s exactly where she belongs.

Dressed in a plain baby blue spaghetti-strap top, the 31-year-old is having her glam squad ready her, meticulously curling her waist-length extensions and sharpening her cat-eye eyeliner. As they apply last-¬minute touch-ups, Uchis emphasizes the importance of grounding themselves prior to the concert. “We all do a prayer together before the show to uplift everyone and remind us that we’re all on the same team,” she says. “That we’re here to make something beautiful, inspire people and have a good time.”

Read the full Kali Uchis Billboard cover story here.

Kali Uchis will sit for a one-on-one interview on Oct. 21 as part of Billboard Latin Music Week. For tickets, go to billboardlatinmusicweek.com. The 36th edition of the Billboard Latin Music Week conference will take place Oct. 20-24 at the Fillmore Miami Beach.