San Francisco’s best-kept secret isn’t a secret anymore. Michellar—the brainchild and soul-vehicle of artist Michelle Bond—has just dropped a debut album that attacks. “REVERIE ….FROM THEN TILL NOW” is a gritty, soul-baring, 12-track journey forged in late-night passion and the kind of relentless dedication that would make any rock ‘n’ roll lifer nod in respect.
Michellar is Michelle Bond. She’s the songwriter, the lyricist, the soprano voice with a clarity that’s both vulnerable and powerful. But no rock opera is a solo act, and the secret weapon here is Tobias (Toby) Wilson over in Staffordshire, UK. This dude isn’t only the producer; he’s the architect of the scape. Bond met Wilson in October 2024, and since then, they’ve released 25 tracks together. Wilson is the six-string-slinging, studio-wizard Yoda to Bond’s Luke Skywalker, patiently helping her with the “soundscapes I have been dreaming of since I was a teenager.” Their connection is the album’s engine, with Wilson handling production and mastering across the board, giving these tracks a cohesive, expansive feel whether they were recorded in San Francisco or the UK.
So, what’s the music about? It’s about a life reboot. It’s about a woman who traded a 25-year career in landscape architecture and fine art exhibitions (including the freaking DeYoung Museum!) to chase the melody that’s been screaming inside her since she was a kid strumming a guitar at nine years old. The title track, “Reverie,” is the mission statement: it’s about finding that place of peace, that safe mental zone where self-acceptance lives and, crucially, where the songs erupt from. This comes from someone who was “silenced a lot as a little girl” finally finding her roar, and it’s electrifying.
The tracklist reads like chapters from this rebirth. “Running Wild,” featuring Harrison Black, kicks with a collaborative energy that feels both urgent and polished. “Intersection” and its sequel “Promise” are where the rock drama peaks—these are heart-on-sleeve anthems about love stories begging to be expanded, written in the wee hours because the muse doesn’t care about your 9-to-5 job. “The Letter” was born from a songwriting circle, proving this creative surge is now an unstoppable, addictive force. And let’s not forget the featured artillery: voices like Helen Waftord and Gracia Lou add layers and textures that elevate the whole experience, making this feel like a collective triumph rather than a solo project.
“REVERIE ….FROM THEN TILL NOW” shows tenacity. Michellar isn’t some industry plant; she’s a goddamn phoenix. She practiced guitar until her fingers hurt, sacrificed sleep to master GarageBand, and wrote until she passed out at her desk. This album stands out because it’s real. It’s scarred, it’s hopeful, it’s complex, and it rocks in the truest sense of the word—it moves your spirit. It’s a middle finger to anyone who ever told her to be quiet and a blazing welcome to an artist who has arrived, fully formed and ready to conquer. The world is in her hands now. It was just a matter of time.