아뇨, 어색하지 않아요! Until now만 써도 충분히 성립합니다.
예: Up until now, I didn't believe he was telling the truth.
= Until now, I didn't believe he was telling the truth. (그가 사실을 말하고 있었다는 것을 지금까지 믿지 못하고 있었다.)