The Croatian-born artist already caused a sensation with the celebrated album Bad Penny at the Blues Caravan 2018 . “A first-class debut that will liven up the scene,” it said in the press. Now Sky is returning with a hard rock-like second album to make us her accomplice: “If you asked the people around me, they would describe me as “Woman Named Trouble“, “ she says with a mischievous grin.

After a show in 2014 near her hometown of Buzet, she knew she wanted to play the guitar and soaked up the influence of Rory Gallagher, Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan. But two years earlier, she gathered all her courage, left her hometown and pastry profession behind, and immersed herself in the music scene of the Croatian capital, Zagreb.

Here too she needed all of her rebellious spirit to prevail. The eyes of the music industry are hardly directed towards Eastern Europe and despite all their merits, their homeland is not a starting gun for rock’n’roll, because “in Croatia everything is a challenge”. But talent wins in the end, and label boss Thomas Ruf’s confidence in Sky quickly paid off with the album Bad Penny and her participation in the Blues Caravan, where she challenged tour veterans Mike Zito and Bernard Allison and raised the bar a little.

Woman Named Trouble contains eight original debut songs that Sky wrote with guitarist Robert Wendt and three classic cover songs plus a handful of attitude: “This album has a classic blues rock vibe, but with my own twist.” Explains it. “And it’s a lot harder than Bad Penny .”

The album was recorded in Hamburg’s Schaltona Studio with producer Roger Inniss and their studio band Artjom Feldtser (bass) and Hanser Schüler (drums).

The first song, Rock’N’Rolla Train, begins with a violent riff that is reminiscent of Angus Young. Turn It On , begins with a snappy intro that changes into seductive vocals: (“Can you stand the heat crawling up your spine, when she moves her hips, sucks your fingertips?”)

But Sky and Wendt’s songwriting goes beyond blues rock. Myriads of genres are explored, starting from the great Stones-style country blues from Hard Times , through the folky Whats Going On , to the captivating-hynotizing, bass-driven, funky piece Troublemaker . Then there’s the stormy Voodoo Mama, and you feel the heartache with Call Me If You Need Me. At Rockabilly Lets Go Wild you will surely do exactly that: “The song is about last New Year’s Eve in Stuttgart” grins Sky – and leaves the rest to our imagination.

And even if she dares to tackle the titans of the blues, she still makes these covers her own versions. It gives the song Life Is A Bitch a funky twist that would surely make the great Chicago bluesman Luther Allison smile. And Fleetwood Macs Oh Well convinces with a musical virtuosity that is equal to that of the author Peter Green. And last but not least, there is Shadow Play , a highlight from Rory Gallagher’s 1978 album, Photo-Finish , which she transfers into modernity in an exciting way and at a new speed.

At just 26 years old, Vanja Sky’s career developed rapidly. From pubs and dead ends to headline tours and as support from the mighty UFO, these are all highlights since 2017 that the young Croatian gunslinger can hardly believe himself. Woman Named Trouble leaves no doubt that a lot more trouble will follow: “In addition to all the fun we had, we also did a good job with the music. I am very proud of this album… ”

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