Michellar, one of the brightest and most promising voices we’ve had the privilege to encounter, is back with a timeless and deeply personal project. The San Francisco-based artist, whose roots span Spanish and Filipino heritage, has poured her heart into her debut EP “My Alma Latina,” released July 25, 2025. In this offering, Michellar carries her ancestry, traditions, and her evolving story into a space where prayer, love, and cultural pride merge into a radiant celebration of identity. Watching her artistry grow has been nothing short of inspiring, and with this release, she firmly cements herself among the most captivating artists shaping today’s world music landscape. Now, let’s delve into Michellar’s ‘My Alma Latina’ journey track-by-track.
Opening the EP, “California Fields” is a tender homage to personal memory and geographical roots. Michellar’s voice enters warm and luminous, her phrasing deliberate yet feather-light, as if she’s letting each lyric rest gently on our hearts. The instrumentation here is sun-kissed; a blend of acoustic guitar warmth, soft percussive accents, and ambient textures that create a golden-hued soundscape. This track feels like driving down an open highway at dusk, the horizon painted with nostalgia and quiet joy.
In Michellar’s hands, “Ave Maria” becomes more than a prayer. It’s an intimate act of devotion. Her delivery is reverent yet filled with her unique emotional color, giving the sacred piece a personal resonance. Lloyd Miller’s contribution enriches the harmonic depth, creating an ethereal, almost cathedral-like atmosphere. Strings and gentle piano lines are bathed in reverb, allowing the vocals to rise like incense in a sacred space. It’s a moment of stillness and spiritual reflection within the EP.
In “If It’s Only for One Night,” Michellar shifts into romantic storytelling with her voice carrying vulnerability and quiet strength. The performance is sultry but never overstated. The lyrics breathe and allows you to savor every nuance. The instrumentation merges Latin rhythms with smooth undertones, the percussion light and flirtatious while the bass line adds intimacy. Lloyd Miller’s interplay on this track subtly elevates the emotional stakes, making it feel like a private conversation set to music.
Moving on, “The Deep” is pure rhythmic allure, a celebration of Latin musicality anchored in syncopated beats and vibrant acoustic guitar work. The vocals glide between playful and impassioned, perfectly complemented by Christina Rntd’s dynamic energy. The layered percussion evokes the heartbeat of a summer night, and the harmonies give the track a rich, layered texture. This is the EP’s dance floor moment, yet it retains the thematic weight of connection and belonging.
Closing the EP, “Samba With Me Tonight” is a jubilant invitation to joy and togetherness. The delivery sparkles with warmth and spontaneity, and the samba rhythms are irresistible—lively brass accents, driving percussion, and melodic guitar flourishes all converge into a joyous celebration. Lloyd Miller’s musical presence here feels like a co-pilot in this dance of cultures, making it the perfect note to end on.
The vocals on the EP is its most potent instrument; rich, controlled, and expressive, yet always allowing the song’s spirit to take center stage. They don’t just sing about heritage, love, and unity; they inhabits these themes, letting them shape their tone and phrasing. The deliveries varies from intimate whispers to soaring declarations, always in service of the song’s emotional truth.
Also, the production on “My Alma Latina” is a masterclass in balance. Lloyd Miller’s touch ensures that no instrument overpowers the storytelling, while still allowing each musical detail to shine. The instrumentation is lush yet spacious—acoustic guitars, hand percussion, piano, strings, and brass are used with intention. The global recording process gives the EP a subtle sonic diversity, each track carrying a hint of its place of birth, yet all bound by a cohesive vision.
In conclusion, “My Alma Latina” is a stunning EP that feels like the work of an artist fully in bloom. Michellar has given us an EP that is not only sonically rich but emotionally resonant, inviting us to connect with our roots and the shared human desire for connection. Her artistry continues to grow more refined, more fearless, and more luminous with each release, and we are proud to witness and celebrate this chapter of her journey. Michellar is not just one of the best artists we’ve encountered; she’s a voice of cultural beauty and spiritual resonance in today’s music landscape. With this EP, she has delivered a gift that will stay with us for decades.
Listen to “My Alma Latina” on Spotify or SoundCloud
Follow Michellar here for more information
