Amanda Thomas

Amanda Thomas is a captivating singer/songwriter from Sydney with a natural voice, full of soul and lyrics that are both honest and universal in appeal. ‘Midnight Sun’, her debut album, was recorded and produced independently. She has been performing live around Sydney and is taking a grass roots approach to putting it out there.

Having explored many genres of music including pop, rock, blues, gospel, folk, RnB and country – Amanda’s eclectic taste has lead to her creating an original sound of her own. Some of her greatest influences include Sheryl Crow, Aimee Mann, Bonnie Raitt, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Powderfinger, James Taylor, Carol King and Stevie Wonder. Audiences have commented that her voice reminds them of artists like Sarah McLachlan, Colbie Caillat, Michelle Branch and Brooke Fraser.

In the last year or so Amanda has performed at many established venues including Lizottes in Dee Why, The Bridge Hotel in Rozelle, The Monkey Bar in Balmain, The Royal Cricketers Arms as a guest of Tamara Stewart, The Golden Sheaf in Double Bay as a guest of James Valentine, The Clovelly Hotel, Tokio Hotel in Darling Harbour, The Opera Bar at Sydney’s Opera House and most recently with her band on the main stage at The Granny Smith Festival in Eastwood.

Amanda produced her album alongside good friend and multi-instrumentalist David Longo, who is a highly regarded guitar session musician and producer. Her other band members have included some of Sydney’s finest musicians; James Haselwood, Greg Royal and Victor Rounds (bass), Nic Cecire, Hamish Stuart and Aiden Haworth (drums) and Gary Daley (keyboard).

Having spent the last couple of years honing her songs on the stage in Sydney she is ready to venture further afield to play in festivals and connect with a wider audience. That’s how she enjoys music and hopes she can do the same for others.

Album Info:

Produced by David Longo, basic tracks recorded at Paradise Studios and Engineered by Richard Belkner

Additional recording by David Longo at The Dock Studio

Mixed by Anton Hagop at Oragami Studios except tracks 4 & 11 mixed by David Longo

Mastered by Leon Zervos at Sterling Sound, New York

Executive Producer, Amanda Thomas

Musicians; David Longo - electric and acoustic guitars, bass on tracks 4, 9 & 11, keyboard arrangements and programming. Nic Cecire - drums. Gary Daley - Wurlitzer, Rhodes, organ and piano. Greg Royal - bass. Backing vocals - Eduardo Santoni, Maureen Longo and Amanda Thomas



For those wanting to know a bit more......

I started singing and dancing on stage when I was 9 with the Johnny Young Talent School in shopping centres and theatres - I loved it! My first solo song performed live was "My Guy" - I studied singing, jazz dance and acting

I spent my first 2 years of high school at Davidson High and studied dance, music and drama, I performed in musicals and eisteddfods

I spent my last 4 years of high school at Giraween High, which had no dance or music so when I left I decided to study something else "creative" - Interior Design - and did that part-time at night for 3 years at Enmore Tafe, while working full-time in the day as a receptionist at an Interior Design & Architectural Company

I decided to get some singing lessons 'for fun' with Amanda Peterson and I performed in a Willoughby Musical Society show. I did my first grade singing exam at the Conservatorium of Music and decided not to go back to Interior Design - music was my passion

I auditioned and got into the Bondi Youth Wave program which was a 3 month course in contemporary music (TAFE). It was a great start and it was pretty cool to have Peter Koppes from The Church as our home tutor - I started to learn guitar too

From that I entered one of my original songs into the FBI Radio competition "Outta The Bedroom", I won some studio time to record more songs, I had a bit of record company interest at this time, I had no idea what to do about it, but it was exciting and spurred me on

I started organising my own gigs at places like the North Point Tavern, The 3 Weeds, and The Bat & Ball Hotel and got a residency at The Menzies Hotel in Sydney for a year where I played a mix of originals and cover songs

I joined Jubilation, a jazz and gospel ensemble directed by Joy Yates and David Macrae. I performed with this group for about 7 years alongside some great singers including; Joy Yates, Jade MacRae, Carrie Lakin, Asli Ozdogan, Mark Palmer, Anthea White and so many more.... I had a LOT of fun and performed at some great jazz festivals including Bellengin and Manly. We also performed at many wonderful venues around town including Carols in the Domain and The Basement. I recorded 2 albums with them and was a soloist. I met some of my great musical friends via this ensemble, musicians and singers alike

I attended the College of Country Music in Tamworth (TAFE) to further explore songwriting and had a gre