Michellar is a creative force rising from the ever evolving San Francisco music scene, driven by passion, consistency, and an unshakable love for songwriting. After writing songs from the age of fifteen and stepping away from the craft for forty years, her return was sparked by a confidence boosting acceptance into the deYoung Museum Open Call Exhibition in 2023. From that moment, her songwriting flame reignited with astonishing momentum. Now known both as a visual artist and a recording artist, she has released more than twenty eight singles and one EP within just twelve months, performed regularly at open mic events across San Francisco, and composed over one hundred and forty songs in two years. Critics describe her as a force of nature in pop music, delivering heartfelt ballads and energetic anthems with sincerity and emotional truth. Her approach to music embraces collaboration, and she finds her truest sense of home in the act of writing. With plans to continue pushing into production and recording, she stands among artists who believe music can carry impact not only as entertainment but as an agent of empathy and change.
“Truth Over Lies” is a politically charged and emotionally resonant single released on October 31st, 2025, and from its very first seconds it establishes its intention with atmospheric instrumentation and tasteful restraint. Rather than opening with explosive elements or heavy rhythmic attacks, the song invites listeners inward through a lush ambient bed of soft synthesizer pads and sustained guitar tones that feel suspended in air. This decision creates an immediate spaciousness in the mix, allowing the listener to sense the gravity of the themes before the narrative even begins. The blend of keyboards and guitars is subtle but carefully sculpted, delivering a rounded, smooth sonic texture that nods gently toward the influence of iconic bands such as U2 and Coldplay. It becomes clear from the outset that this track values emotional ambience over predictable commercial impact, building slowly so that every layer carries weight. There is a cinematic scope to the introduction, as if lights are dimming on a stage before a truth is spoken. This purposeful patience signals that the songwriting focus is on message and mood rather than empty spectacle.
When the rhythm section enters, the shift arrives with confident steadiness. The drum groove settles into a steady mid tempo pattern, anchoring the track without slipping into aggression or rushed intensity. The kick lands with controlled warmth while the snare snaps crisp enough to guide momentum without piercing through the rest of the mix. Together with the warm bass guitar, which calmly pulses at the center of the stereo field, the rhythm section creates a grounded foundation against the floating ambient elements above. This dynamic mirrors the lyrical themes by balancing seriousness with measured control. The arrangement is designed to empower the vocals and message rather than overshadow them, so the drums are mixed with clarity but not excessive loudness. Each transient is shaped to feel natural and breathable, highlighting the professional ear behind the engineering. As the song unfolds, the drum pattern becomes a kind of heartbeat, representing persistence, truth, and movement forward despite social turmoil.
At the forefront of “Truth Over Lies” stands the male lead vocal delivered by Frankie El, which serves as the emotional centerpiece of the composition. His tone is earnest, steady, and marked by a sincerity that feels almost confessional, making him the ideal vessel for expressing frustration and moral urgency. The decision to avoid heavy vocal processing allows every breath and tonal nuance to remain intact, enhancing authenticity. The vocal sits forward in the mix but never feels forced, occupying a frequency space that keeps lyrics intelligible and expressive. It is clear that intention guided the vocal production. Frankie El does not exaggerate vibrato or resort to melodrama. Instead, he delivers a grounded performance that respects the seriousness of political frustration and emotional conflict. It sounds less like an actor delivering lines and more like a concerned citizen urging others to awaken.
As layers develop, the introduction of melodic humming voices creates essential emotional depth. These humming textures enter like soft choral cushions drifting beneath the lead, symbolizing unity, collective resistance, and shared emotional weight. Their arrangement is subtle, stacked in soft harmony and blended into the mix with gentle compression so they support rather than compete. Their presence adds a warm dimension that prevents the arrangement from ever feeling thin. Later, carefully timed backup singing vocals enter to reinforce key lyrical moments, lifting phrases that demand attention. Their placement is artful, sitting slightly behind the lead within the stereo field and expanding width without overwhelming the central narrative voice. This interplay between voices mirrors political solidarity: one voice leads, others strengthen, and together they form a collective message.
Instrumentally, the structure of “Truth Over Lies” demonstrates thoughtful restraint. The guitars are primarily clean strokes, occasionally washed in delay for dimension, never distorted into harshness. The keys supply gentle harmonic beds that subtly evolve rather than pulse aggressively. Meanwhile, the bass line remains lightly pulsing, guiding progression with a warmth that ties the arrangement together. Each of these elements is intentionally minimalistic because overproduction would dilute thematic potency. This restraint allows the listener to focus on lyrical meaning, rhythmic drive, and emotional tone instead of being overwhelmed by dense layering. The arrangement proves that simplicity can be just as impactful as complexity when motivated by discipline. As the song develops, these elements combine to create a sense of quiet urgency, like a heartbeat rising beneath calm surface waters.
The production quality is polished yet breathable, a balance rarely achieved in politically influenced music. The mixing engineer Miles has granted each element its own space within the stereo spectrum, preventing muddiness and allowing details to remain intelligible. The guitars drift gently left and right, creating subtle spatial dimension. The bass anchors centrally, grounding the listener. The drums are crisp and clear, but the transients are not sharpened to harshness, preserving emotional softness. Perhaps most importantly, the dynamic range is deliberately preserved. Instead of compressing the entire track into uniform loudness, quieter sections are allowed to whisper while louder sections are allowed to bloom. This dynamic architecture creates tension and release, reinforcing the emotional arc. It is a sonic representation of political dialogue: moments of quiet fear contrasted with moments of vocal uprising.
Lyrically and thematically, “Truth Over Lies” stands as a protest anthem shaped by genuine urgency. Written collaboratively by Michelle Bond and lyricist Michael Levine with melodic direction created by Matthias Schmidt and Michelle during a songwriting retreat in Idylwild California, the track embodies shared frustration, disillusionment, and longing for accountability. Instead of leaning into rage, it embraces reflective confrontation. It asks listeners to speak, to rise, to refuse silence. This maturity elevates it beyond basic protest; it becomes a call for communal awareness rather than divisive ranting. By choosing emotional restraint over sonic aggression, it becomes accessible to a wider audience. The global dimension of the recording process, with vocals completed in South Africa and instrumental demos originating in California, further reinforces the idea that truth resonates beyond borders.
Truth Over Lies is a Powerful Atmospheric Protest Song That Blends Sincerity, Collective Voice, And Emotional Restraint, Urging Listeners To Rise, Speak Truth, And Stand Against Political Injustice With Unwavering Unity And Courage
Ultimately, “Truth Over Lies” succeeds because every architectural decision supports its intention. The lead vocal delivery from Frankie El feels authentic and commanding without arrogance. The ambient and rhythmic elements provide forward momentum without sacrificing emotional space. The humming and backup vocals create the impression of community, signaling that truth is upheld not by individuals but by collective courage. The melodic influences from U2 and Coldplay are evident not as imitation but as inspiration toward atmospheric rock with moral backbone. The familiar structure gives listeners comfort, while the emotional weight ensures memorability. This is not a song built on glossy novelty. It is constructed from sincerity, careful arrangement, purposeful production, and collaborative vision. In a time when music often escapes responsibility, Michellar has crafted a track that confronts, comforts, and ultimately encourages listeners to question the systems around them. “Truth Over Lies” remains powerful long after its final chord, and its message stands as a reminder that truth, when spoken by many, is impossible to bury.
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