Glasgow-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ant Thomaz returns with his new album, Gaia.
Known for blending indie folk, soul and Celtic influences, Thomaz has always leaned into storytelling, but this album provides a different kind of weight. It’s shaped by his experiences as a parent and by the everyday moments that tend to change your perspective without warning.
Named after his daughter, Gaia is built around a deeply personal story.
After being told she might face limitations, Thomaz and his partner chose to raise her in an environment filled with creativity, communication and curiosity. That approach feeds directly into the album’s core, with the songwriter reframing what strength and growth can look like. The idea of rising above negativity threads through the record too, inspired by a lesson Thomaz carried with him from his younger years about choosing not to engage with what tries to hold you back.
Musically, the album moves between stripped-back moments to more expansive arrangements.
Tracks like “Believe” lean into that personal angle, sparked by watching his daughter move through the world with a kind of confidence he realised he’d lost along the way.
Elsewhere, there’s a mix of introspection and lightness, from the openness of falling for someone on “Drawn To You” to the sense of freedom that runs through “Dancing Out of Place.”
The focus track, “The Night Is Young,” brings things into sharp focus. Written after a difficult conversation with a close mentor, it reflects on time, acceptance and the importance of staying present.
Across Gaia, Thomaz keeps things honest, direct, and personal, offering something listeners can find their own meaning in while encouraging them to keep going and aim a little higher.
