After a Decade of Remote Living, Derek Thomas Returns With a Live EP That Was Never Meant To Be

Just as his career was gaining momentum—with critical acclaim, multiple “Best of”  Los Angeles Americana Music honors and recognition from his peers singer-songwriter Derek Thomas did something few artists willingly do: he walked away.

Rooted in Americana/ Indie Folk and a passion for the craft, Derek Thomas’ songwriting blends atmospheric storytelling alongside soulful, raw vocals, unique finger-style melodies and songs that both pull at the heart-strings while creating deep pocket grooves. The end results are songs that feel lived in and nurtured, subtly inviting the listener into that special place only certain songs take us. 

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Almost a decade ago Thomas disappeared into a journey that stretched from remote islands throughout Indonesia to the Maldives and eventually the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua where he founded a Holistic Retreat Center. He happily traded industry momentum for solitude, travel, surf and an opportunity to dive deep into the eastern arts. Now, that journey has culminated, leading him back to the stage with a new sense of purpose along with new material and an upcoming release, “Live at Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center”, surfacing August 14, 2026.

Listen and watch a short montage preview from the entire evening’s performance here: www. derekthomasmusic.com 

The first single, “Running Fast Ain’t Free” is a song about how things that take off fast often burn out just as quickly. It opens with the full band playing a defining Americana style riff as it drifts into a blend of desert alt/country with Thomas’  raw cutting vocal at the forefront.  His second live single, ”Be Careful of the Stories That You Keep” is the only solo tune from the evening’s performance showcasing the melodic finger picking, story telling and vulnerability that initially garnered him recognition amongst the Americana scene.. It will be available on July 7th. 

What makes the EP remarkable is that it was never supposed to exist. “This release was never meant to be; it was completely random,” Thomas says. 

At a time when live albums are often carefully planned and polished, Thomas’ latest release emerged organically during an intimate sold-out performance. The evening originally had him headlining solo but he made a  last minute decision to have the band join. “We’d only played together a few times at that point and I knew something unique would come out of putting us on stage that early.  “To me that’s what makes any creative process so precious and special, that unknown element where the universe can bleed into the art,” he says. A  last minute opportunity to film the set  came on the day of the event itself however the audio from the camera crew was unusable and there was no intention of sharing the footage. Fast forward a week or so after the show when Thomas found out everything was captured by the venue’s house board. Sid Greenbough, the band’s bassist and sound engineer mixed the salvaged board recordings and the live EP was born.

Both the audio and video from “Live at Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center reveal the sound of an artist reconnecting with the stage, vulnerable but comfortable while trading showmanship for emotional connection to their material. The band having only played together a few times, rather than relying on repetition or perfection they harnessed presence and intuition, sitting back, supporting, allowing each song to evolve naturally in real time. The result is a collection of audio/video recordings that feel alive, sincere and sonically captivating.

Listen to the first single “Running Fast Ain’t Free” on Spotify. 

Derek Thomas is a lifelong singer-songwriter, surfer and holistic practitioner whose work lives at

the intersection of sound, movement, and presence. He has a penchant for riding vintage surfboards, meditation and a good cup of coffee.. As of 2026 Thomas finds himself full circle, dividing his time between Nicaragua and Laguna Beach. He is the founder of Casa Soul Water, a luxury holistic retreat sanctuary in Nicaragua that combines holistic modalities alongside the ocean, surfing and creating unique experiences. 

SPIN Magazine newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.

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Just as his career was gaining momentum—with critical acclaim, multiple “Best of”  Los Angeles Americana Music honors and recognition from his peers singer-songwriter Derek Thomas did something few artists willingly do: he walked away. Rooted in Americana/ Indie Folk and a passion for the craft, Derek Thomas’ songwriting blends atmospheric storytelling alongside soulful, raw vocals, […]SPIN Contributor{authorlink}https://www.spinmagazine.com/feed/SPINMusic News, Album Reviews, Concert Photos, Videos and Morehttps://static.spinmagazine.com/files/2023/08/cropped-logo-spin-s-340×340.png