Thea Gilmore

I’m Thea Gilmore, an independent singer-songwriter from the UK and I’ve somehow spent the last couple of decades building a career entirely outside the traditional machinery of the music industry. Since releasing my debut album in 1998, I’ve made more than twenty albums, toured relentlessly, had songs featured in films including Army of the Dead, Blithe Spirit, Joyride and the BAFTA-nominated Bait, appeared on Later… with Jools Holland and The One Show, and quietly built a fiercely loyal audience one room at a time. I’ve always believed music is about connection first and everything else second. My latest project, The Echo Line, grew out of that idea. It invites strangers to leave anonymous messages via a dedicated phone line, which then become the starting point for new songs. It’s built around the belief that listening is a radical act in a world increasingly addicted to noise. I still release music independently. I still pack my own merch. I still drive through the night to tiny gigs. And I’m still trying to make beautifully flawed human music that says something true.