It’s been a little over a year since Karol G invited us into the glitzy, ambitious world of Tropicoqueta where she took on the role of a showgirl to thread together the varied sounds of Latin pop and enticed the world to dance along. But what happens when the showgirl goes home, wipes off her makeup, and is left to sit with her dark blue feelings? Welcome to No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto, which translates to I Don’t Regret Feeling So Much.
On her sixth studio album, the Colombian superstar steps away from the globe-trotting adventure of Tropicoqueta and peels back the curtain to reveal a more intimate space: the moody one inside her bedroom. Here, the singer gets more vulnerable than ever as she details the past year, and all of its challenges, chief among them a highly break-up from fellow Colombian musician Feid, plus career criticism, family issues, and more.
Written partly during a solo trip to Hawaii, No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto is a sharply focused album that’s as transparent as its title suggests, never shying away from the tumultuous emotions that follow the end of a relationship. We’ve seen Karol here before on Mañana Será Bonito, the historic, life-altering LP that brought her stadium-level success. But where that album centered on coming out of a break-up unscathed, No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto is about choosing to wallow in the sadness — and uncovering a whole new power in that choice.
True to the messy nature of a break-up, the 14-song track list mirrors all of the tug and pull phases of heartbreak. There’s that first burst of rage on the ferocious hyperpop album opener “Te Llevas To,” where Karol declares, “Eres un cabrón … te importa zero.” A few tracks later, she’s written love off forever on the alt-perreo “Bebiendo Lágrimas.” By the time Drake hops on the sultry late-summer stunner “Ahí,” the Colombian singer just wants to forget about the past and have a good time. With Champagne Papi doing his best Spanish-language vocals, she does just that. It doesn’t last long.
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On the contemplative album highlight “Final Feliz,” Karol is back in her feelings, unable to shake the pain of her loss. “Si no vas a estar / No hay final feliz,” she sings, her delicate falsetto almost cracking over Oklou’s syncopated beats. That overwhelming sadness reigns across No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto as Karol grapples with the grief of losing not just her relationship, but the illusion of forever and the future she saw for herself.
Even in the middle of her solitude, Karol made sure to invite collaborators into the studio to piece together the varied sounds that ripple and sway throughout No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto. Of course, her trusty producers Edgar Barrera, Ovy On The Drums, and Sky Rompiendo make an appearance but the LP also features a ton of exciting first-time collaborators from Bruno Mars, Drake, Oklou, Judeline, and the Spanish artist/producer Rusowsky. Karol even tapped Tainy once more, after finally working with him on last fall’s “Única,” his expert percussion forceful enough to get anyone to dance through their heartbreak.
While Tropicoqueta saw Karol experimenting with a swath of Latin genres, the Colombian superstar has opened herself up to indie rock and experimental pop on No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto. She doesn’t stop there, either. Her Mars collaboration “Still” marks her first-ever fully English-language song. “I’d still love you even with a broken heart,” Karol croons over the synthy ballad bound to become a hit.
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Beyond these new flavors, Karol G still reminds listeners of her strong Colombian roots and Latin music expertise. “Alguien Que te Amaba” is yet another cumbia ode to the singer’s idol Selena Quintanilla, and was even written with the late icon’s composer, Pete Astudillo. Meanwhile, “Con Quién Andará?” starts off with a modernized snippet of 1974 Spanish rock gem “Porque te Vas” by Jeanette before diving into the reggaeton that made Karol famous.
In fact, success isn’t something that the Colombian superstar is chasing on No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto, even as she expands her reach. This is the type of album that happens after the stadiums have been filled across the world, the crown has been won, and all that is left is unrelenting honesty. Now, Karol G is free to let it all out.
