Review: Sio x Tesfa Williams - SIGMA (STY TRU BTS)

Sió and Tesfa Williams (formerly T. Williams) trace a journey from pain to power on new album 'SIGMA', issued on STY TRU BTS, the sister label to legendary South African imprint, Stray True Sounds.

Following her 2022 debut LP, 'Torn Tapestries', South African singer-songwriter Sió returns with SIGMA, a new album releasing 27th June. Created in collaboration with London-based producer Tesfa Williams (formerly T. Williams), the project offers a clear exploration of personal growth, emotional resilience, and self-determination.

Written and recorded over four days at Strong Room Studios in Shoreditch, London, SIGMA presents a focused and intentional work. Williams' production balances engaged beats with flowing restraint, supporting Sió's direct and reflective lyricism. The album contains eleven tracks centred on independence, boundary-setting, and healing themes. Singles "Fortnite," "Continents," and "Outside" preview the emotional range of the project, addressing autonomy, confrontation, and renewal. Together, Sió and Williams have crafted a grounded and emotionally deep record.

Sió puts it like this: "Tesfa's beats spoke to every feeling I needed to get out. His quick mind and open heart gave me the space to write something that healed me. I'm done asking for permission. I refuse to settle or compromise. I own my flaws and victories - that's the real rebellion; self-love.” SIGMA is a clear statement of intent from an artist evolving with purpose and marks the next step in Sió's collaboration with STY TRU BTS.

Artist: Sió and Tesfa Williams

Title: SIGMA

Release date: 27th June, 2023

Label : STY TRU BTS

Catalog Number : TBC

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: EMAMKAY – Love Is Energy (STY TRU BTS)

Hot on the heels of the compilation by Kid Fonque released last week, 'Stay True Sounds Vol.5' (review HERE) we get the long awaited album by EMAMKAY on the sub-label, STY TRU BTS.

We've already had two great singles with 'When The Sun Rises' (review HERE) and 'Sense' (review HERE) but all the ten tracks are fantastic.

EMAMKAY (MC/piano/keyboards) is part of the Sounds Like U Quintet with Jeffery Mahachi (d), Michael Nkuna (trumpet) with Bokang Ramatlapeng on vocals

We know the band touch our inner D'Angelo/Dilla/Flying Lotus or even a little Sa-Ra Creative Partners or even Carlos Niño & Friends/Georgia Anne Muldrow. 

In fact, this album seems like a small scale Build An Ark as he says his project tells "a story about how this energy fuels us to go the extra mile. The great lengths we go to because of love..."  What with the array of contact's Kid Fonque has, perhaps Southern Africa will be a revival of Sounds Of L.A./Dublab from the early 00s.

Well, we love the tracks 'Love Is Movement', 'Love Is', 'Love Is Energy' and 'Kuumba A Creator's Spirit' (as supported by DJs Bob Hill, Andy Garvey and more) as the 'live' jazz gig makes this collection special.

With the recent tragic loss of one of the founders of conscious hip-hop, De La Soul's David Jolicoeur (aka Plug 2/Trugoy The Dove) it's more than timely that there's a new guard ready to keep jazz-rap mellow and full of love.

Artist: EMAMKAY

Title: Love Is Energy

Release date: 31st March, 2023

Label : STY TRU BTS (Stay True Sounds)

Catalog Number : STB022 Digital / Bandcamp

Review: EMAMKAY - Sense (STY TRU BTS)

We know from the release of 'When The Sun Rises' last month that Kid Fonque has got his finger on the new talent that is coming out of South Africa, specifically, Pretoria's EMAMKAY.

Like 'When The Sun Rises' (review HERE) still into his inner D'Angelo/Dilla/Flying Lotus with that added bonus of the backing 'jazz' band, the Sounds Like U Quintet: Jeffery Mahachi (d), Michael Nkuna (trumpet) with Bokang Ramatlapeng on vocals and EMAMKAY (MC/piano/keyboards).

It's very Futuristica Music with echoes of Dwele and Roy Hargrove (RIP) on the 'Golden Era' Maida Vale sessions with DJ Gilles Peterson.  

Yes! It's that good and it make sense (in this crazy world).

The forthcoming album 'Love Is Energy' is due at the end of March and if the other tracks are as cool as what we've heard so far....

Artist: EMAMKAY

Title: Sense

Release date: 3rd March, 2023

Label : STY TRU BTS

Catalog Number : STB21 

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: EMAMKAY - When The Sun Rises (STY TRU BTS)

Kid Fonque has always moved to a different beat whether it's house, hip-hop, bossa, bass, bruk and loads more.  A stalwart of  South African electronic music and club culture over the last 20 years he's also boss of STY TRU BTS Records as he knows quite a lot of spotting new talent.  And that is exactly what he's found emcee/producer EMAMKAY from Pretoria. 

'When The Sun Rises' channels his inner D' Angelo with some Dilla/Flying Lotus; could it be a coincidence that Biggabush was playing tracks from 'ArtDontSleep Presents... From L.A. With Love' only last week?  

The killer here is that this is a 'jazz' band, the Sounds Like U Quintet: Jeffery Mahachi (d), Michael Nkuna (trumpet) with Bokang Ramatlapeng on vocals and EMAMKAY (MC/piano/keyboards), very futuristica.  

The forthcoming album 'Love Is Energy' is due at the end of March and if the other tracks are as cool as this....

Artist: EMAMKAY

Title: When The Sun Rises

Release date: 3rd February, 2023

Label : STY TRU BTS

Catalog Number : STB20 / Digital / Bandcamp