The “What I Really Meant To Say” songstress reclaims the spotlight with new music and unshakable spirit
More than two decades after her rapid rise to stardom with breakout radio hit “What I Really Meant To Say” and subsequent debut album My World, Cyndi Thomson drops EP Acres of Diamonds, available now on all digital streaming platforms. The six-track project includes previously released tunes like the title track, and most recent release “Five More Minutes,” which wrestles with the nostalgia-soaked somberness of wishing you could “go back for five more minutes” to relive the moments that matter most. The project also includes focus track “Black Celica,” co-written by and featuring Grammy Award-nominated artist Ashley Monroe. With vivid imagery of open roads, starlit nights, and fleeting moments, the longing-laced song captures the magic of a love that felt infinite, even as time pulled it away.
“Acres of Diamonds is the harvest of a quiet season—a reminder that even in stillness, something precious is growing,” Thomson states of the release. “After time away, returning to music feels like unearthing light beneath familiar soil. Each track is a jewel, shaped by the hands of incredible writers and producers. I’m deeply proud of this journey, and endlessly grateful for the brilliance that brought it to life.”
“‘Black Celica’ is a love letter to the past—a reflection on young love, and the way certain memories stay in motion long after we’ve stopped chasing them. It’s about the ache of letting go while still holding on to what once was. The lyric ‘My world was you, driving round in that car. I hope you’re happy wherever you are’ captures that feeling of nostalgia and quiet longing. Writing this song was like opening a time capsule—and finding it still had a heartbeat.”
In 2001, Thomson quickly rose to fame with RIAA certified gold album My World and chart-toppers like “What I Really Meant To Say,” “I’m Gone,” “I Always Liked That Best,” and “If You Were Mine,” Yet, despite her rapid success, she opted to walk away from it all shortly after.
“At a time when my career was flourishing, I found myself overwhelmed by the pressures of success—anxiety, sleepless nights, and the constant demands of the spotlight,” Thomson shares. “Despite achieving everything I had dreamed of, I knew I had to step away for the sake of my well-being. It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made, but it also gave me the space to heal and rediscover myself. Now, with a renewed sense of clarity and purpose, I’m excited to return and share the music that’s been quietly waiting for its moment.”
Despite stepping away from the spotlight, she remained an influential figure in music, instrumental in shaping the sound of early 2000’s female country, and penning hits like Gary Allan’s “Life Ain’t Always Beautiful.” Now, with the release of Acres of Diamonds, Thomson marks her return to the world she never stopped loving.
“I realized one day – I can’t expect my kids to chase their dreams if they don’t see me chasing mine,” says Thomson. “Leaving music wasn’t about the death of a dream. It was about self-preservation, and making sure what was most important in life came first. However, that fire, that passion inside of me for music never left. I’m just better equipped to satisfy it now than I was in 2001.”
1. Acres of Diamonds (Cyndi Thomson, Dan Wilson, Jessica Roadcap)
2. Black Celica (feat. Ashley Monroe) (Cyndi Thomson, Ashley Monroe, Mikey Reaves)
3. Five More Minutes (Cyndi Thomson, Steven Solomon, Lindsay Boreing, Will Boreing)
4. Falling (Harry Styles, Thomas Hull)
5. Devil’s Hands (Cyndi Thomson, Luke Sheets)
6. So Glad You’re Mine (Cyndi Thomson, Ben Reno)
