Feature | My Alma Latina
Michellar’s latest release has a timeless feel to it. Titled “My Alma Latina”, which translates to “My Latin Soul”, the five track EP layers powerful lyrical storytelling over flowing latin dance beats.
California Fields starts the EP off strong with delightful instrumentation dancing beneath Michellar’s lyrical love note to her San Francisco home. Her words paint pictures that are brought to life by vibrant strings and percussion that mimics the swaying of grasses in the fields she is describing. It comes as no surprise that Michellar, also known as Michelle Bond, is not only a recording artist but a visual one as well. The cover art for all of her releases in the past several years are done by her.
Ava Maria provides a fresh melody and lyrics to a familiar title and guides us on a personal spiritual reflection. This is the first of three vocal collaborations in the EP with artist and producer Lloyd Miller. His strong and raw vocals are an excellent compliment to Michellar’s softer tone.
The Deep provides a hauntingly beautiful melody that gives voice to conflicting feelings about where to go, ultimately choosing the path that leads to one’s roots and the freedom found there. This track is one of my favorites from the EP because it once again uses music to mimic a rhythm found in nature, this time the push and pull of waves on the sea. Christina Rtnd is the featured artist in The Deep and her hypnotic sound combined with Michellar’s is a brilliant blend of vocals that is woven so seamlessly it is hard to distinguish melody from harmony at times.
“My Alma Latina” is a lovely tribute to Michellar’s musical roots and her artistic soul. Her soft and captivating voice is perfect for the stories her lyrics tell, and her dreamy album artwork provides a visual for her musical style. Here is an artist who knows who she is and has found a way to utilize all of her creative talents at once. The result is quite simply stunning.