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.
============================================================================
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.
============================================================================
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.
============================================================================
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.”
============================================================================
 |
| Photo - Shjaane Glover |
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.
============================================================================
.jpeg)
