Cyndi Thomson is a woman on the move. When Wide Open Country spoke to her one morning in early May, she was out and about in her car running errands. She has a brand new EP, Acres of Diamonds, dropping today. It's a dramatic and welcome sign of her much-anticipated comeback following a hiatus from her singing career that lasted some 20 years.
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Listen To Her Single, 'Acres Of Diamonds'
In 2001, Thomson, a Georgia native who was 25 at the time, scored a colossal hit with the song, "What I Really Meant to Say," the debut single she co-wrote. It was on her album, My World. That track became a number one phenomenal smash. Despite all her success and popularity, however, Thomson opted to take a big step back the very next year. That break from singing is finally over, Cyndi fans! She is poised to roar back with that new EP she co-wrote and is super excited about.
Her time away from the stage and the mic was busy, fulfilling, and productive. Thomson, now 48, is a devoted wife to her husband, Daniel Goodman, and mom of two - daughter Bella, who is 20, and son, Hayden, 16. She founded a successful jewelry company, Haybelle Co. Her designs bearing a distinctive vintage aesthetic have been worn by many renowned, stylish women. They include Lainey Wilson, Olivia Culpo, Lauren Alaina, and Kimberly Williams Paisley, just to name a few trendsetters in her clientele.
Why Cyndi Thomson Stepped Away From Her Career In Music
Thomson was extremely forthcoming about the reasons for her decision to leave the music industry at the height of her success. "My first single came out in 2001, which was 'What I Really Meant to Say.' It was probably 2002 that I really stepped away to just get clarity. I was struggling in a lot of areas and I really didn't know how to express that to anyone."
To clarify further, Thomson said, "I was a people-pleaser. I had a manager tell me that's not a good trait. Mine was becoming a detriment. I think as an artist before, I was always worried about what people thought and if I was doing a good job. Just never feeling adequate."
She added, "At that time, there was nothing about mental health. There was nothing like what we have now for artists; that conversation was non-existent. I just knew that I needed to leave and take a breather. Without knowing it, it was a bit of self-preservation for now."
She's Come A Long Way Since Then
Thomson sounds confident, determined, and ready to re-emerge professionally. "I've just changed in so many ways, I'm very settled in my life...I'm doing it [coming back on the scene] because I want to sing. I'm not doing it because I want to achieve something. For now, I just feel like i've become stronger, a little bit more at peace, and just free from some of the chains that bound me before as an artist."
Thomson Is Justifiably Proud Of 'Acres Of Diamonds'
So much thought and effort went into Cyndi Thomson's new EP. She's clearly proud of the end product and glad to discuss it. "This EP has been a long time coming. I've been writing a lot of songs for this new season of my life and this comeback. We wanted the title track to be 'Acres of Diamonds' because that track is about the life I was building outside of the industry. My identity was totally wrapped up in being an artist. I planted these acres of diamonds. It's just a very simple life for me and it's beautiful for me. I'm so grateful for that."
She continued, "All the songs are very different but there is a common thread in being written by me and sung by me and my stories and what I want to say."
What She Would Like The Public's Takeaway To Be After Listening To It
So what does Thomson ideally want people to retain after they hear Acres of Diamonds? 'That it was worth their listen and that they want to keep listening." She also hopes they find it engaging and can relate to it and that it allows them to "escape their life for a little bit."
To summarize, Thomson said, "I'm just grateful to be back. Whatever that turns into, I will be happy with."
