“The songs I was writing back then were very real to me, but they came from a place of pain; they reflected what I was living at the time,” Chiquis tells Apple Music. While the eldest of the new generation of the Rivera dynasty has explored many facets of her career, they’ve all shared a common thread: personal empowerment as a driving force. Fearless, free, and in control of her narrative, though perhaps with wounds not yet fully healed. “I went on many retreats, and I felt a very deep calling to share a different side of me that has always been there,” she says, “but that I ignored for a long time.” Flores En Mi Alma is the name of the LA-born artist’s EP and the beginning of a new era—not just in her career, but in her life. Framed as a conceptual project that weaves prayers, affirmations, and meditations throughout, the EP captures Chiquis’ spiritual rebirth, centred on Janney—the person beneath the name her mother gave her. “I’ve learned to thank the Earth, God, and life itself, because we forget to do that,” she says. “We forget to notice what’s around us, to smell the flowers, to listen to the birds. This is a project meant to celebrate the present.” We spoke with Chiquis about each of the musical and spoken moments that shape the project. “Intro: Amor y Luz” “I wanted to open the album with a prayer, because that’s how I start my mornings every day: with intention and connection. For a project like this, it felt important to begin that way, to take a moment to breathe and step into this journey together, on the right foot.” “GOOD Morning (Buenos Días)” (feat. Aston Barrett Jr.) “This song was born from my love for reggae and for Bob Marley. I’m a huge fan, and collaborating with Aston Barrett Jr. of The Wailers is a true honour. I also thought a lot about children, their innocence, how they wake up happy every day. That’s the feeling I want people to have when they hear this song: joy, a fresh start, the sense that today is going to be a good day. That’s why it comes right after the intro. I listen to a lot of ‘good morning’ songs like this; one of my favourites is ‘Buenos Días Señor Sol’ by Juan Gabriel, which I thought about a lot while making it.” “FÉNIX” “This song represents my rebirth, coming back to myself, to Janney. It was a difficult process. We all go through moments like this in different seasons of our lives, but we learn to embrace the ashes and say, ‘From here, I rise, stronger, more myself.’ Every time I hear this song, it reminds me of what I’ve been through. Even if I’m in a complicated stage right now, I know I’ll get back up and fly. I know I’m not the only one, and I hope this song gives others hope too.” “Madre Tierra (Interlude)” “This is essentially my prayer, a blessing to Mother Earth and a reminder not to forget what sustains and protects us: nature. I always give thanks to the elements—water, fire, air, and spirit. They’re very real and very important to me. We all have that connection, so this piece felt necessary.” “SOMOS” (feat. Jona Camacho) “This track speaks about roots and unity, about remembering our power and where we come from. I see it as a tribute and an offering to my people, so we don’t forget. It also carries a strong message: ‘This land belongs to no one, but to everyone.’ Given what’s been happening in the United States, it was important for me to use my voice in a positive, respectful way.” “PA’ MI GENTE” “This one is very powerful, which is why I chose it as the EP’s lead single. It started as a poem I wrote after visiting farmworkers to help them learn about their rights. From there, it became a tribute to working people—to those who wake up early, who don’t give up, who keep going. It’s deeply personal to me because I come from that community. It’s a joyful, danceable song meant to affirm: ‘I know who I am, and that’s enough.’ For anyone who feels invisible, this is to say: We see you, and we appreciate you.” “FLORES” “This song makes me think about everything that helps my soul bloom: God, my siblings, my husband, my pets. It doesn’t have to be one person, but anything that makes you grow, that pushes you to be better every day and to shine. It’s a song for reflection.” “Soy LUZ (meditación guiada)” “I wanted to close the album with a guided meditation as a way of giving listeners a hug, of letting them hear my voice in a different way. Meditation is a daily practice for me, especially in the mornings, and it’s helped me tremendously with depression and anxiety. Many people ask me, ‘How do you do it? My mind goes everywhere.’ That’s why I wanted to create this, to help others ease into it, the same way I did, through guided meditation. I’ve had this idea for over three years, and I finally felt this was the moment. Hearing that people are connecting with it makes me incredibly happy.”