REVERIE ....FROM THEN TILL NOW marks the debut full-length album from San Francisco-based artist Michellar—an 11-track collection that feels less like a first statement and more like a long-awaited exhale. After decades away from songwriting, marked by influences ranging from folk and choir harmonies to Latin records, rock bands, musical theater soundtracks, and fine art, Michellar returns with music born from patience, reflection, and a quiet reclamation of voice.
Produced by her long time collaborator Tobias Wilson, the album arrives as a deeply personal document: part memoir, part gentle reckoning, and wholly unhurried. The record opens with “It’s Another Year,” a soft, renewing breath carried by relaxed strumming guitars, glistening percussion, and Michellar’s high, elegant vocals that set a tone of renewal rather than reinvention. From there, the album unfolds as a series of intimate snapshots—moments of memory, silence, yearning, and hard-won clarity.
Tracks like “We Both Can Fall” and the title track “Reverie” lean into soothing, atmospheric calm, while others introduce subtle rhythmic shifts or upbeat passages that add diversity without ever disrupting the emotional throughline. Michellar’s songwriting shines in its lived-in confidence. There’s no pretence here—no attempt to sound young, urgent, or “discovered.” Instead, the lyrics feel worn-in and wise, drawing from a lifetime of listening and living.
Standouts include “The Letter” and “Reverie,” which critics have highlighted as the album’s emotional core, anchoring the record with poignant storytelling. “Never Say Sorry” hints at sharper edges and potential bite, only to pull back just enough to preserve the overall tenderness—a choice that mirrors the album’s broader restraint. Sonically, the project weaves eclectic threads—echoes of 70s childhood records, folk intimacy, subtle Latin flavours, and warm Americana—into something cohesive yet expansive. It’s impressively varied: gentle and reflective one moment, quietly rhythmic the next. Collaborations add unique textures, but nothing feels forced or jumbled.
The production prioritizes sincerity and craft over flash, creating an immersive warmth that invites listeners to linger rather than demanding attention. That said, the album’s politeness can occasionally hold it back. Some tracks might benefit from bolder production risks—letting things get messier or pushing the instrumentation to match the lyrical depth more aggressively. Yet this very restraint is part of its charm: it’s music made on Michellar’s own terms, free from deadlines or desperation. By the time closer “The Star” fades out, REVERIE ....FROM THEN TILL NOW leaves you with the sense of walking beside someone who has finally decided their story—and their voice—is worth sharing.
It’s a quietly defiant, deeply human record: comforting, optimistic even in melancholy, and profoundly moving in its authenticity. For anyone who values introspection over spectacle, this is a rewarding listen and a powerful reminder that some of the most resonant art arrives exactly when it’s ready.
A confident, cohesive debut that transforms lost time into found beauty.
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