Ant Thomaz channels family, resilience and belief on deeply personal album Gaia.
Based in the vibrant heart of Glasgow, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ant Thomaz has carved out a distinctive sound that bridges the soulful spirit of Louisiana with the melodic grit of Scotland.
Blending indie folk, soul and Celtic rock, his music carries a raw emotional honesty rooted in storytelling and personal experience. Known for reflective lyricism and a warm, communal energy, Thomaz writes songs shaped by family, mentorship and the search for meaning.
His new album Gaia, stands as his most personal work to date. Named after his daughter, the record was inspired by Thomaz’s experience of parenting a child with a disability in a world that often underestimates potential. When doctors warned that Gaia might face learning and physical limitations, Thomaz and his wife instead built a home centred around creativity, language and imagination. Gaia grew up learning Makaton, British Sign Language, English and Gaelic, while music, storytelling and mindfulness became part of everyday life.
“The title Gaia represents the foundation of everything,” Thomaz explains. “It’s about seeing the full humanity in people that society often overlooks. We didn’t just want Gaia to survive. We wanted her to soar.”
That idea runs through the album. At its heart lies a lesson Thomaz was given as a teenager by a mentor who shared the story of the eagle and the crow. Rather than fighting negativity, the eagle simply flies higher until the crow can no longer keep up. The message, often repeated to him as “soar higher, son,” became a guiding philosophy that now sits at the centre of Gaia.
Musically, the album moves between soulful storytelling and cinematic arrangements, pairing thoughtful lyrics with moments of warmth and playfulness. On “Believe,” Thomaz reflects on a moment of creative doubt that shifted while watching his daughter play, realising that the self-belief she carried was something he had lost. The song became a collaboration between father and daughter, with Gaia helping shape melodies and ideas as it took form.
Elsewhere, “Drawn To You” explores the vulnerability and inner dialogue of falling in love, while “Dancing Out of Place” celebrates the freedom of letting go and embracing your true self. “Is Your Mind For Sale?” offers a touch of Thomaz’s dry humour, questioning the ways modern life can distract us from authenticity, nature and simple human connection.
The focus track, “The Night Is Young,” draws from a defining moment in Thomaz’s life, written after a conversation with a close family mentor facing difficult news. Grounded in themes of acceptance and perspective, the song reflects on time as something to be lived rather than controlled, offering a simple but powerful reminder to stay present.
Across Gaia, Thomaz blends personal reflection with universal themes of resilience, imagination and perspective. The album invites listeners to slow down, look inward and recognise the strength that comes from believing in oneself and others.
Thomaz’s musical journey began busking on the streets of Glasgow before growing into performances across festival stages and venues throughout the UK. Along the way he has shared stages with artists including Starsailor, Eddi Reader, Georgia Cecile, Kool & The Gang, Briana Corrigan of The Beautiful South, Big Country, Mànran, Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Sandi Thom, building a loyal audience drawn to the sincerity of his songs. He has received spins on BBC 6 Music, and he has appeared at festivals including Celtic Connections, Belladrum, and Edinburgh Fringe.
Gaia marks an important new chapter for Ant Thomaz. Rooted in family, mentorship and imagination, the album stands as both a personal statement and a reminder to rise above the noise and keep soaring.