Deborah Fitz’s latest single, “The Puppet,” pulls no punches and pulls all the right strings. Released on April 25th, 2025, the track is an emotionally charged dive into what it is like to be caught in the grip of life’s manipulations, yet still rising with grit and grace. Hailing from Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, Deborah brings her soulful, rich mezzo voice front and center, backed by bluesy guitar riffs and layered bass that give the song a smoky, atmospheric depth. With the ache and power she holds, it’s no surprise she cites Amy Winehouse, Tracy Chapman, and Adele as influences.
Recorded at Zero Hour Studios in Coleraine, “The Puppet” showcases an intimate collaboration between Deborah and producer Michael, who adds electric guitar textures that dance under her vocals like flickering shadows. The song opens with melancholic guitar chords and rustling drums, setting the mood before Deborah’s voice pours in like warm whiskey with its gravelly, emotive, and unflinchingly honest texture. The slow-burning intensity in the way she trails her notes allows each lyric to land with purpose. It’s introspective yet cinematic, as if she’s narrating from the eye of her own storm.
While this track stands strong on its own, it’s also part of a larger journey for Deborah—a musical path inspired by the memory of her late father Damien Fitzsimons, a bassist for international acts like Purple Haze and folk group Red Biddy. Having grown up gigging with him since she was 14, her musical roots run deep, and it shows in her delivery. With weekly performances lighting up local stages across Northern Ireland, Deborah is steadily getting her music out for our ears.
“Every lyric was poured from my heart,” she says, and she translates that feeling, as we listen to “The Puppet”: raw, real, and completely unforgettable.
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Review by: Naomi Joan