‘A Borrowed Gift’ is now available on pre-order at www.cormacthompson.com ahead of officially going on sale on Friday (November 24th).
Cormac, aged just 14, scooped the fiercely competitive Josie Award in Nashville, Tennessee, for Best Vocalist (aged 13 to 17) at the end of October.
It’s one of the largest independent music awards in the world, hosted at the famous Grand Ole Opry, where huge stars including Elvis have performed.
The new album boasts Cormac’s sensational renditions of fan favourites Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, Bright Eyes, True Colours and Rule the World with two bonus tracks in his developing, more mature, lower voice.
Cormac said:
I was really lucky to enjoy a huge success as a boy treble, being the youngest singer ever to be signed to global record label, Decca.
It was all very unexpected, coming from recording renditions of my Nannie’s favourite songs and sharing them online for her to be able to watch during lockdown back in 2020.
One day I was at home singing to my Mum and Dad, the next I was live on TV and doing radio interviews about my first album, ‘Hear My Voice’ – it was a complete whirlwind.
Of course, my voice is changing now and earlier this year, I couldn’t sing at all.
But, now, the voice that I will have for the rest of my life has appeared and I’m really excited about how it sounds and about this new, second album too.
Cormac was scouted to attend Prodigy Camp in the USA last summer and it’s there where he started to write his own songs, something he is passionate about. He’s also a talented pianist and plays the guitar.
Ahead of the album release, Cormac’s new single – his very last in his younger voice – ‘Free to a New World’ has also just been released.
It’s been re-written especially for him by pianist and producer Dominic Ferris, whose parents, Glo Macari and Roger Ferris, co-wrote and released the song back in 1971 and this is Cormac’s first ‘original’ and one of 14 tracks from the album.
Cormac adds:
The title ‘A Borrowed Gift’ is special as it reflects how I always knew my voice would change – it truly was a borrowed gift.
It’s daunting when you’ve found something you love to do but you know that one day it could end.
It was fantastic though to get back in the recording studio this summer and be able to record new songs and when I listened back, it was a huge relief to hear how my voice is developing and I can’t wait to share how it sounds on this new album.
Cormac made it to the finals of the BBC’s Chorister of the Year competition and got a yes from all four of the Britain’s Got Talent judges, including Simon Cowell, in the competition last year.
He’s also performed at the London Palladium and the Royal Albert Hall.
Online, he’s enjoying huge success too with a combined 31 million views and streams across his digital channels, including YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music.
Cormac said:
When I heard I’d been shortlisted for a Josie Award I just couldn’t believe it. Almost 60,000 singers enter every single year and I was one of the youngest in my category.
To fly to Nashville and be on the same stage as where the likes of Elvis has performed and actually win was just incredible – what an experience!
I have an amazing fan base who have been so supportive while I’ve adapted to my voice changing.
I’ve been sharing new videos and they keep asking when there’ll be a second album, asking for there to be a disc version too.
A Borrowed Gift is for everyone who has been there along the way – especially my Mum and Dad who have been incredibly supportive alongside some very generous fans, I couldn’t have done it without them.
It’s my dream to keep singing, perform on more stages and to record more songs.
I’m really looking forward to what the future will bring and I’m determined to work hard and make the most of every single opportunity.
