Biography
Singer/Songwriter/Producer Martin Thomas from Copenhagen, Denmark. Born on March 16th 1976.
Throughout my career as a singer-songwriter, I've remained independent and devoted to making music that truly resonates with my listeners. The pursuit of fame or trying to cultivate a star image has never been my goal. My focus has always been on the craft of music and songwriting in it’s own right.
Below, you'll find some essential details about my work, my albums, and the talented musicians who have contributed along the way.
The Things We Left Unsaid (1998 - 2008)
In 1998, I began collaborating with late musician Knud Sandberg, whose influence greatly shaped my musical direction for years to come. Between 1998 and 2000, we recorded several songs together at my home studio, although we never completed all the material before Knud's passing in 2000. Many of these recordings were later compiled on a limited homemade album entitled ‘The things we left unsaid - Acoustic Guitar Sessions’ made in 2005, with some tracks eventually released more formally on ‘Sketches - Demos and Outtakes’ in 2009 - A compilation of rare demos and outtakes recorded in the period from 1998 to 2008.
Songs (2008)
In 2004, I began collaborating with jazz-style lead guitarist Jesper Holst. In the following years, from 2004 and 2006, we played several sessions and a few gigs in my hometown. Holst collaborated in writing the song "Brick by Brick," which was featured on the final track list of the album "Songs," released in 2008.
In 2005, I reconnected musically with my late longtime friend and soul brother, Troels Molte Liljedahl, who was an exceptionally talented musician and spiritual friend. We worked together musically on many projects until Troels death in 2018. Troels Liljedahl contributed as a co-writer to tracks like ‘Trippin' Lane’ and ‘Who's Your Daddy Now’ on the 2008 album ‘Songs’ and also co-wrote ‘85’ on the 2010 release, ‘Safe Keepings’.
‘Songs’ was my first independent album, produced and engineered at home with very limited resources and experience. It was released on November 3rd, 2008, as a limited CD and digital download. In 2011 the album was permanently removed from most online retailers.
Safe Keepings (2010 - 2014)
In 2014, a modified and remastered edition of the album was released. The Revised Edition of’Safe Keepings" became available on August 4th, 2014. This release features newly updated versions of the tracks "Safe Keepings," "85'," and "Walking Out That Door." The album was reproduced and remixed using the original 2010 recordings.
The 2010 version of ‘85’ used a placeholder programmed drums track due to time constraints, which I later regretted. The updated 2014 release features Joel Stumbaugh on drums, giving the song the vibrant, lively feel I always envisioned.
Another track on the album, ‘Walking Out That Door,’ was also produced hurriedly, which led to poor mixing and ended with an overloaded gain. In hindsight, I’ve made some questionable decisions during the final production hours. However, the 2014 version of ‘Walking Out That Door’ has been remixed and reproduced using the original 2010 recordings, and now it finally sounds as it was always meant to.
The 2014 edition of the album also features new bass tracks on the title track ‘Safe Keepings,’ allowing the album to reflect its original intent. Listen and notice the difference.
Dreaming While You Sleep (2013 - 2016)
Songwriting and initial studio sessions for the album ‘Dreaming While You Sleep’ began in early 2011. I aimed for a more piano-driven, live sound on this project and collaborated again with musicians from Studio Pros in Los Angeles, alongside my own team of players, Troels Molte Liljedahl, Jesper Holst and Alex Puddu on drums.
The album's first single, ‘Cupid Stupid’, is a piano ballad complemented by a guitar lead inspired by Pink Floyd. Initially released in 2011 alongside a black-and-white music video. ‘Cupid Stupid’ was subsequently reissued in an enhanced edition on July 2, 2012. This release also featured an additional track from the album's studio sessions titled ‘In Love with Your World’.
During breaks between sessions, I shifted my focus to a completely different project: a dance-oriented pop song with saxophone called ‘Don't Really Care About Your Problems.’ Initially, this track wasn’t part of the album and was left off the original ‘Dreaming While You Sleep’ tracklist. However, it was later added to a digital deluxe edition of the album. On May 18th, 2012, ‘Don't Really Care About Your Problems’ was released as a standalone single.
The studio sessions led to several new songs. The 2nd single, ‘Whatever Makes You Happy’, was released on October 1, 2012. ‘Something to Believe In’ came out on February 18, 2013; the pop ballad track ‘Love Is..’ followed on July 8, 2013, and finally ‘New York City,’ featuring Alex Puddu on drums, was released on December 1, 2013.
In 2016, a revised and remastered edition of the album was released on October 20th, featuring updated and modified versions of tracks such as ‘Something to Believe In,’ ‘Whatever Makes You Happy,’ ‘One Day,’ ‘Merciful Me’, ‘Godspeed,’ and ‘Carpe Diem.’
The album also introduced a previously unreleased track, ‘Rescue Me,’ and finally included the track ‘Don't Really Care About Your Problems’ in a completely new 2016 version.
Selvudskridelser (2015)
In late 2014, encouraged by family and friends, I began writing songs in Danish. It all started one night when I made a simple synthesizer demo and sang in Danish for the first time. I didn’t pay much attention to that particular recording, assuming it would never be released or heard by others.
A few weeks later, while working with Troels Molte Liljedahl in my studio, I played him the simple synthesizer demo. I expected a simple acknowledgment, but his strong, emotional reaction surprised me, he urged me to turn it into a real song. That moment sparked the beginning of this Danish EP project.
The track eventually became ‘Ikke Flere Chancer’ (No More Chances) and was released on Vimeo and YouTube in May 2015 as an introduction to my new Danish album project, ‘Selvudskridelser’.
The album title refers to the concept of self-assuring self-extermination, introduced by historian of ideas Lars-Henrik Schmidt, about daring to step out of oneself in order to truly become oneself.
Although writing music in my native language proved challenging after working mainly in English, I successfully completed the project with assistance and help from Danish songwriter Bjarne Jes Hansen, who contributed lyrics to ‘Tegnet Hele Verden’ (Drawing the World).
This album features Tom Sinnett on bass and Maria Griegoryeva on strings. It was released on november 9, 2015.
Now, I'ts Time to Leave (2018 - 2022)
Thanks for listening and for your continued support.