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: Fred Spider presents.. Chakalaka Jazz - A Selection of South African Gems (Heavenly Sweetness)

Heavenly Sweetness have got Fred Spider to put together a compilaton called 'Chakalaka Jazz', a selection of South African gems' and gems they are.

DJ Spider, aka Fred “Voom Voom” Spider moved from France to Spain and kept heading south until settling in Cape Town in 2010 where he set up Voom Voom Records to re-issue rare soul, funk, disco, boogie, and jazz.

'Chakalaka Jazz' firmly concentrates on jazz (Ed. no surprise there then) and perhaps, unlike some other compilations of South African Jazzkind, as Fred lives there, he's been able to digg for those musical nuggets that featuring locals, exiles and expats with "a reverent nod to the golden years of the '70s" and spiritual awakenings; although the actual tracks span 1969 to 2003!

So don't expect Hugh Masekela (the "father" of South African jazz), Dollar Brand/Abdullaah Ibrahim or Soweto boot bashing as these tracks are more at the The Indigenous Afro-Jazz Sounds Of Phillip Tabane And His Malombo Jazzman end of obscurity (and pricey).

Clarence Wilson, Gibson Kente, The Soweto Boys, The Drive, The Cliffs featuring Mankunku Nogozi, The Four Sounds, The Jazz Ministers, The Tailfeathers (thier track, 'The Tailfeathers' is pretty 70s soul-jazz funk and as obscure as you're likely to get) are all new names to me and it's all exceptional.

Cassidy Clarke Band's 'Doctor AL' is prime 70s Rockford Files era TV theme (like The Clarke / Duke Project but better!) and picking up on the current love of spiritual harp (Ashby - Coltrane - Alina Bzhezhinska - Amanda Whiting), you've got Zim Ngqawana's fabulous 'Kubi'; very Coltrane, John & Alice!

Not so keen on the chanting parts of closing track, the 13 minute long 'Magwaza' (Johnny Dyani) but the solos are as good as any Riverside/Blue Note/Impulse!/Prestige etc classics so, this is clearly YATM's 'Album Of The Week'.

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Fred Spider presents.. Chakalaka Jazz - A Selection of South African Gems

Release Date : 1st November, 2024

Catalog Number : -

Label : Heavenly Sweetness

Format:  2 x LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp