The Womack Sisters - Montello - Sarah Villiger - Amelia Day - Melina Malone - Bandits on the Run

The Womack Sisters - You Went Away Too Long.

The latest single from the brightest new stars in the Daptone universe – R&B trio The Womack Sisters (BG, Zeimani, and Kucha Womack) release “You Went Away Too Long” today. The song opens with a dark herald of horns, orchestral chimes, and percussion groove, before shifting to the tender first verse: a melancholy longing of women who haven’t been able to forget. 

the latest single from the brightest new stars in the Daptone Universe: BG, Zeimani, and Kucha, also known as The Womack Sisters. An ominous organ ostinato leads into a dark herald of horns, orchestral chimes, and percussion. 

The groove shifts and the Womack Sisters enter the first verse of “You Went Away Too Long”. But real love and longing is not so simple. The mood turns when they launch into a haunting unison chorus dripping with the confidence of three women who refuse to wait too long for their due.

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Photo - Tom Oxley

Montello - Suit & Tie.

Rising Wigan (UK) based indie-rock quartet Montello return with the breezy new single ‘Suit & Tie’. Formed in late 2023, the band have quickly built momentum with appearances at The Great Escape, Isle of Wight Festival, Tramlines, and Sound City in summer 2025, all achieved in just over a year and a half of the band being together. 

Working with producer Luke Owens, the new single ‘Suit & Te’ both captures the fluorescent, youthful flare of the band's live sound while displaying mature, memorable songwriting. Built around jangling guitar tones, tight drums and grounding bass, the track captures a bubbling indie accessibility comparable to The Vaccines, whilst bringing an undertone of The Stone Roses.

Speaking about the track, the band explain: "Suit & Tie is a song dedicated to the struggle of creative minds around the world. Since starting this band we've seen the peaks and troughs of the music industry, and we all share a burning desire to keep Montello moving forward - none of us want to quit our passion despite the amount of artists and venues struggling in the current climate, none of us want to sit behind a desk instead of doing what we really love, none of us want to die in a suit and a tie."

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Sarah Villiger - Next Corner (EP).

Following several successful single releases with over 400 airplays on Swiss and international indie radio stations, singer-songwriter Sarah Villiger just released her debut EP Next Corner on February 27, 2026. At the same time, the final EP single With You will be released – a stripped-back, spacious neo-soul/electronic pop track about closeness and the reflection on a simple yet profound question: what if someone is no longer there?

With Next Corner, Sarah Villiger presents her first cohesive body of work, further refining her musical identity. Lyrically, the songs move between deep pain, creative struggle, and an underlying sense of optimism – the will to keep going, to encourage oneself and others, and to reach out for hope.

Sonically, the EP is defined by a clear and distinctive signature: deep beats, analog and digital synthesizers, spaciousness, and deliberate contrasts. Sarah Villiger’s warm, soulful, floating voice takes center stage, meeting both minimalist arrangements and more densely layered instrumental sections. Songs such as Reflection and With You are intentionally minimal, while Next Corner and Word serve as more energetic counterparts with fuller instrumentation. Retro elements – drum machines, vinyl crackles, synthesizers, or Motown bells – merge with modern electronic textures to create a warm, organic sound.

The songs began as sketches in Sarah’s home studio, with melodies and harmonies mostly developed on the piano. In collaboration with producer Manuel Halter, they were further shaped in the studio. Analog synth takes were deliberately left unquantized to preserve a sense of human imperfection. The EP is complemented by instrumental contributions from Andreas Allenbach (guitar, trumpet) and Matthias Meusel (drums), whose personal interpretations and spontaneous recordings add their own distinctive character to the sound.

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Photo -  Cameron Berrens

Amelia Day - Love Me / Love Me Not.

Nashville-based up-and-comer Amelia Day shares her new single "Love Me / Love Me Not," an emotional whiplash of a song fueled by toxic love cycles and electric guitar. Her first release of 2026, the track follows Day's 2025 singles "False Prophet" feat. Sydnee Conley, "Margie" and "Lady Los Angeles." 

Amelia Day on the new single: "This song is inspired by the emotional whiplash of a past relationship, stuck in the limbo of loves me, loves me not. It explores the toxicity of love-bombing and withdrawal, ultimately leading to self-realization and rebirth - a kind of spiritual awakening. It is for anyone who's lived through push-pull heartbreak, coming out stronger on the other side." 

Amelia Day is a musical jack-of-all-trades. Standing at the intersection of folk, rock, and pop, she blends heartfelt storytelling, raw delivery, and unforgettable melodies into music that feels both fresh and familiar — like rediscovering an old favorite. 

Born and raised in the small town of Sumner, Washington, Day has been making music since she could walk and writing original songs since middle school. In college, she overcame paralyzing stage fright and began performing publicly. Starting with farmers markets and local restaurants, she developed the confidence and following that would lead to sold-out shows in Seattle, Boston and D.C., as well as festival appearances.

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Melina Malone - LOLA.

Melina Malone is a Dublin-born Irish-Greek artist redefining the landscape of Irish Soul and R&B. Known for her powerhouse vocals, emotional depth and commanding live presence, she has emerged as one of Ireland’s most compelling contemporary voices. Blending neo-soul, jazz and classic R&B influences, Melina’s artistry is rooted in honesty, musicality and a fearless commitment to authenticity.

Her debut album Aphrodite (October 2023) introduced her as a distinctive force. The record, inspired by artists such as Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, and female R&B girl groups like SWV and Brownstone fused sultry melodies with raw lyricism and earned widespread critical acclaim, including a 9/10 review from Hot Press. The project positioned her at the forefront of a new wave of Irish R&B, while drawing international attention for its rich musicianship and unapologetic vulnerability.

Since then, Melina has solidified her reputation as one of Ireland’s strongest live performers. She has opened for Grammy-winning jazz legend Gregory Porter, performed alongside Macy Gray and Morcheeba, and in 2024 delivered a landmark performance with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, showcasing her versatility and vocal command.

Now, 2026 begins with the release of her new single “Lola,” the second single from her forthcoming sophomore album 'Don't Trust a Gemini.' Bold, rhythm-driven and vocally expansive, “Lola” marks another step in Melina’s artistic evolution. Leaning further into live instrumentation and improvisational phrasing, the track reflects her deepening love for jazz traditions and vocal freedom, while maintaining the soulful storytelling that defines her. It serves as both a continuation of her sonic refinement and a preview of the more improvised, jazz-led direction shaping her next body of work.

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Photo - Mara Rothman

Bandits on the Run - Woods Alone at Night.

After a year spent traversing the country - both as an opening act and as headliners - NYC's Bandits on the Run show no sign of slowing down in 2026. In addition to an upcoming run supporting Alan Doyle, the indie-pop-folk group have recently announced upcoming performances at Kerrville Folk Festival and Sisters Folk Fest, and have dropped the new single, “Woods Alone at Night,” last Friday. This new single continues to demonstrate the continuing musical evolution of Adrian Blake Enscoe, Sydney Shepherd and Regina Strayhorn 
 
“Woods Alone at Night,” Enscoe explains, “was written for the dark night of the soul, for the moment in every journey you feel the loneliest: all options blocked, all escape routes exhausted, all solutions tried and failed. Sometimes you're lost, the only company the echoes of your own hapless yelps. We all know those moments — lots of us are feeling it now in this current moment of creeping authoritarianism and oligarchic totality.”

Born from a chance encounter busking on the subway, Bandits on the Run defy convention with an impressive trade-off of lead vocals and instruments, marrying acoustic, electric, and bass guitar sounds with cello, accordion, suitcases-turned-kickdrums, and (if you're lucky) sometimes even a megaphone. 

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Sir Petrol - The Womack Sisters - Sophie Hiller - Blooming Fire - Jolie Anastasia

Sir Petrol - Evil Design (Album).

Sir Petrol is the alter-ego of Rebecca Magri, musician and composer from Parma (Italy), already known as a member of bands such as Upupayāma (Fuzz Club), Kaptain Preemo and Ayahuasca, and for her collaboration as sitar player with Boris Williams (The Cure). 
 
Rebecca started Sir Petrol in 2024 as her solo project, developing a polished yet accessible sound built on trip rock, psychedelia and alt-pop, also incorporating jazz contaminations and rough guitar sounds, all tied up by Rebecca's expressive and mature vocals, which range from velvety and harmonious to acid and fiery.
 
Sir Petrol can be imagined like a cosmonaut who from above, beyond the atmosphere, observes the world and notes its evolutions (and involutions). He studies them, faces them and judges them. Each song on the album sounds like a sentence, describing the mood and the feelings unconsciously triggered by watching the world passing by from a distance. The introspective lyrics explore those complex feelings and the twisted human dynamics that often put individuals at survival risk.

Sir Petrol herself explains: For me, this album was a form of exorcism and denunciation. A necessary psychotherapy to reach a state of individual evolution and a study of today's society. Songs like Enclosed, Cuts and Guts and Made Out of Stone delve into the paranoia and lies we tell ourselves, however I Wanna Look Good Naked, Swallow and Destroy and Evil Design deal with the external influences imposed by society, standards, and events.

Sir Petrol · Evil Design

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The Womack Sisters - If You Want Me / I Just Don't Want You.

The A-side (& B-side) to The Womack Sisters Daptone debut is available digitally now. "If You Want Me" displays uncompromising rawness with pop-sensible control in equal measure. Propelled by the percussive attack of the piano and the hard-hitting call and response vocals the track has a satisfyingly feel-good swing, allowing the groove to accentuate the hook.

The Womack Sisters, BG, Zeimani, and Kucha Womack are a new generation of soul royalty, renowned for their blend of R&B, soul, and gospel influences drawn from their rich family legacy. As granddaughters of the legendary Sam Cooke, daughters of renowned soul and R&B artists Womack & Womack, and nieces of Bobby Womack, they carry on the Womack family’s musical traditions, infusing their work with the soul and passion that has defined the family’s impact on music for generations. Growing up in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Thailand, The Bahamas, and Kenya, the sisters were immersed in music from a young age.

With the backing of the Womack family’s musical legacy, the sisters continue to captivate audiences with their dynamic voices, emotive lyrics, and heartfelt performances. Under their new home, Daptone Records, The Womack Sisters are creating soul music true to its core.

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Sophie Hiller - Fake Diamond Earring.

Becoming a first-call backing vocalist for some of the world’s most prominent and well-toured international icons is somewhat of a mixed blessing for a multi-talent like London born and raised singer/songwriter, Sophie Hiller. On one hand, she’s been able to see the world and appear on multiple TV shows touring with the likes of Tom Jones, Lady Gaga, Nicole Scherzinger, Carly Simon and UK greats Paul Young and Ronan Keating. On the other, she’s been somewhat in the shadows for several years, singing behind icons and writing songs with and for other artists while keeping the true depths of her artistry a bit under wraps. Though Sophie has developed a following in the UK in recent years with residencies in her hometown and at the Isle of Wight Festival, and had a #1 hit in Germany as a featured artist with electronic band Schiller, she’s only now revealing the immense depth of all she can do, as well as her musical destiny, as a solo recording artist.

If the first tasty piano chords, the funked-out grooves, fiery brass and the sultry vocal sass Sophie brings to her first Woodward Avenue Records single “Fake Diamond Earring,” makes you think “Amy Winehouse meets Tower of Power,” there’s good reason. The late singer was a family friend of the very musical Hillers as well as a source of encouragement and inspiration throughout Sophie’s childhood. Those rising horns and punchy accents and that super-tight rhythm section come from a mix of musicians from Winehouse’s and Tom Jones’ bands. 

Written by Sophie and her dad Lawrence (Lolly) Hiller, a singer-songwriter and veteran TV and film composer, and produced by Lawrence and Kevan Gallagher with a poppin’ horn arrangement by Henry Collins, “Fake Diamond Earring” is a powerful coming out party. It’s steeped in cheekiness and the singer’s desire to explore what she calls the “fun, interesting and sassy sides of her character,” with some humor and the sly theme of a wronged woman taking her power back. The infectious, hard-hitting track is the perfect showcase for Sophie’s towering voice, tremendous range and keen ability to draw people into the emotion of her incisive, fanciful storytelling. Though the song features more of her contemporary side, it includes a delightfully jazzy piano solo by Rob Taggart followed by some crackling electric guitar improvisation.   

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Blooming Fire - Waterfalls.

Indie rock unit Blooming Fire released their third single from their forthcoming debut LP, riPPle eFFect. Chasing behind singles “Angel” and “TK”, the refreshing new track “Waterfalls” is out now on all streaming platforms.

Sonically paying homage to Red Hot Chili Peppers, 311, and Dirty Heads, Blooming Fire's “Waterfalls” is a cathartic listening experience. With themes of leaving your past behind and experiencing freedom without judgement, Blooming Fire fuses together elements of jazz, hip-hop, indie rock, and much more. To put it in the band's own words, the new track exercises a "journey of trying to loosen the grip of heaviness and divisiveness and reclaim a sense of love and freedom to express ourselves in a world trying to shut us down". 

In the video, Blooming Fire is shown escaping from the grips of technology, doom scrolling and overwhelm by seeking solace and connection in nature; while embarking on a hunt to destroy the computer that never dies. "Waterfalls" is an anthem inspiring those to shed their past like an exoskeleton, the new track is a relatable journey to those who encounter it.

Sierra Madre of Blooming Fire speaks in further depth about the new album: “Our album is grounded, spiritual, revolutionary, and intimate all at once. The lyrics convey how nature is a symbol for freedom and healing. There is a lot of discussion about cleansing, transformation and letting go and this is represented by different bodies of water like the rivers, waterfalls and rain. We are nature and nature is us; peace, clarity, destruction and renewal.”

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Photo - Shjaane Glover

Jolie Anastasia - Lucky To Find.

There’s a certain presence that comes with hearing Jolie Anastasia sing—a wisdom far beyond her years, wrapped in a voice equal parts tender and unshakable. With her debut full-length album 'Guiding Light' arriving November 7, 2025, and the title cut out now, the Collingwood based singer-songwriter is quickly establishing herself as one of folk and roots music’s most promising new voices.

Jolie’s music doesn’t rush. It lingers, reflecting on heartbreak, healing, and the fleeting beauty of everyday life. In her songs, listeners encounter a rare gift: the ability to transform personal trials into universal truths that speak across generations.

Born and raised in Collingwood, Ontario, Jolie Anastasia (née Jolie Smith) has been steeped in song since childhood. “I am a deeply emotional and sensitive person. I find solace in the strum of a guitar and the hum of a tune,” she reflects. That instinct to create has led her from living room strums to festival stages, crafting a style that balances raw honesty with refined artistry.

Her forthcoming album 'Guiding Light' is a family affair, shaped by the guidance of her producer and father Craig Smith. “Ever since I was young he always encouraged me to play music, so naturally, as soon as he noticed I was writing anything worth recording we jumped straight into the studio,” Jolie says. What began as solo expression soon blossomed into a full-band endeavor, expanding her sonic palette without losing the intimacy of her earliest songs.

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