"Reverie..From Then Till Now” by Michellar: A lifetime of stories finally spoken!

“From Then Till Now” is no comeback but a reclaimed voice, a reclaimed time, a reclaimed truth.

Forty years of silence later, Michellar has released this album that has a very lived-in sound to it. Michellar is a Bay Area singer, songwriter, and her music genre is the culmination of her lifetime of listening, experience, and discovery. When she was chosen to showcase her work in the Open Call Exhibition at the De Young Museum in 2023, it was the catalyst that resulted in the change, as it gave her the confidence to create unbridled art, which was evidenced by the unleashing of 22 singles in the first nine months. “From Then Till Now” is the album in which Michellar makes her entry with a uniquely rich and powerful voice. This boosted her confidence in her artistic skills and creativity, producing 22 singles in the first nine months alone. Michellar debuts in the music scene with an album titled “From Then Till Now,” boasting a uniquely full-bodied, powerful voice. With the album “From Then Till Now," Michellar emerges with a distinctively rich and powerful voice.

"Time moves gently, but surely through From Then Till Now, each song is imbued with the weight and wisdom of experience."

This album is more than a series of tracks: it is "the voice of an artist rediscovered after all these years of being removed from songwriting." What is refreshing about the album is that Michellar sings with a sense of quiet confidence that allows her to allow her experience to guide the album rather than letting it dictate it.

The album starts off with the track "It’s Another Year," which in itself provides a quiet introduction and sets the mood for the complete album. The introductory tracks are nowhere proclaiming their arrival in a rush, since the track has accepted the arrivals of time and also has an idea of the proceedings of renewing and progressing.

A combination of the subdued and reflective elements with rhythmic parts is done such that the emotional blanket is preserved. The strength of the album also lies in its coherence, and this is partly due to Michellar’s collaboration with producer Tobias Wilson. The producer’s subtle and very patient approach enables the songs to “breathe” and thus reinforces their emotional effect without jeopardising the lyrical content. The environments produced are very deliberate and complementary, allowing room for vulnerability without losing focus.

It’s a voice that speaks through Michellar’s lyrics, but one that speaks through a vocal style that is calm and assured, like a person who has found herself and doesn’t feel like she has to prove who she is anymore. This album listens as much as it speaks, has moments of quiet reflection that are devoid of regret.

For fans of Michella 's singles, it is very satisfying to experience this album, as it encapsulates an entire series of rediscovery and redirection of that talent over a series of years. This album embodies a sense of return, not to talent or to her voice so much, but to a sense of art that patiently waited to be expressed.

Acoustic bases are paired with subtle textures, giving the songs room to breathe while a strong emotional thread remains consistent throughout. Lyrically, “From Then Till Now” explores themes of identity, acceptance, and development with a soothing and confident tone. Tracks such as "Reverie," "The Letter," and "Promise" look back upon a journey towards reconciliation with the past and a renewed faith in the here and now, but with “Running Wild,” a progressively more expansive sound is brought forward that somehow integrates effortlessly with the album’s quietly reflective centre. And finally comes “The Star,” a quietly analytical and positive closer that is more akin to a gentle insight than a conclusion and serves to cement the notion that creative purpose and faith in oneself are things that can manifest at any point in your life.