New York City-based jazz vocalist and songwriter Lizzie Thomas reveals her eighth and most personal release to date: Awakening, a genre-defying album of nine original songs, seamlessly blending neo-soul, jazz, and vocal pop.
Awakening signals a bold new era in Thomas’ creative journey. She embraces original songwriting and production guided by unmatched emotional clarity and artistic vision.
Recorded at the legendary Powerstation in NYC and featuring the Grammy-winning Harlem String Quartet, Awakening is a bold new chapter in Thomas’ lauded career — one that pushes beyond the Great American Songbook and into a sound that is uniquely her own. Thomas trades the traditional upright bass for electric bass and brings the B3 Hammond organ into the core band, reshaping her sound with warmth, soul and modern edge.
Thomas says: “I finally gave myself permission to proclaim my voice. This album is about unlearning what you were taught and waking up to the realization of who you really are— that life is not only offering you a second chance, but daring you to go after your dreams.”
Her songs are not only written—they are received. A self-described clairaudient, Thomas channels lyrics and melodies in dreams, meditative states, and moments of stillness. This intuitive, spiritual process is at the heart of Awakening, giving the album a sense of both mystery and intimacy.
While Lizzie has long been celebrated for her interpretations of classic jazz standards, Awakening reveals a new layer of vulnerability and originality. The album sits comfortably alongside artists like Snoh Aalegra, Melody Gardot, Laufey, Nicole Zuraitis, and Sy Smith, with a sonic palette that is at once intimate, expansive, and emotionally resonant.
Raised in the South and educated in Nashville, Thomas has collaborated with jazz greats including Ron Carter, Russell Malone, John Di Martino, Wayne Escoffery, Helio Alves, and Neal Smith. Her prior releases, New Sounds from the Jazz Age and Duo Encounters, garnered wide critical acclaim, positioning her as one of NYC’s premier vocal talents.
With Awakening, Lizzie Thomas steps fully into her artistry as a singer, composer, and producer- channeling emotional healing and emotional healing. Released August 8th, on GODDESS Legacy Records, the album marks not just a release, but a rebirth.
