With "My Alma Latina," Michellar reemerges and delivers an EP of five songs that encapsulate years of songwriting into less than 21 minutes of vibrant, melodic punches. Centering around a reimagined "Ave Maria," the album is a gentle, approachable ode to prayer that invites in believers and non-believers alike. We're already further down the rabbit hole of roads than it sounded like from the ethereal depths of San Francisco, Austin, and London.
Michaellar's "Ave Maria" undresses from the cathedral expectation of formality and replaces it with pleading, prayer as a bridge (rather than a wall) for humans. Her purpose is showing, I believe, that faith, whatever terms you choose to call it, can be a uniter rather than a divider; it can be something that makes us vulnerable to each other.
Today, we hear yet another side of Schrader as he shares a vibrant and danceably fresh duet, “Samba with Me,” that strikes a stark contrast to the slower, more contemplative highs heard on “The Deep.” Producer Lloyd Miller, who produced the entire record at Spirit Song Studios in Ticaboo, UT, favors distance between sounds, which makes his touch even more remarkable once these various parts come together to a greater whole, making room for Michellar's vocals and songwriting throughout. The range of different places where it's recorded adds to this sense of exploration and gives what could have easily come across as a messy affair real depth.
Michellar honors the practice of prayer without locking it up and provides songs that are soothing, engaging, and bring people together. “MI ALMA LATINA” is a short but sweet declaration of what else Michellar still needs to offer and invites fans to share in her musical journey with open arms.