Blab Music
Gia Margaret Returns to Voice with New Album Singing, After Eight-Year Hiatus
After an eight‑year silence, Gia Margaret reclaims her voice with a fresh studio album, Singing, which drops on April 24 2026 through Jagjaguwar. The Chicago‑based singer‑songwriter has finally recorded a full vocal record since her 2018 debut, There’s Always Glimmer, a milestone that feels both surprising and deliberate.
The album arrives after a painful vocal‑cord injury that halted touring and forced Margaret to pivot to instrumental work. In 2020 she released Mia Gargret and in 2023 Romantic Piano, both celebrated for their spacious soundscapes. During that period, her ambient track “Hinoki Wood” went viral on TikTok, often used without credit and illustrating the reach of her atmospheric compositions.
In a recent interview with CLASH, Margaret described the return to singing as “new” and “conscious.” She said, “It still feels really new. It doesn’t feel second nature to me anymore, which is a strange thing, because singing is just something I always did, and now I’m very conscious that I’m doing it again.” The album’s title reflects this renewed focus on the human voice.
Singing broadens Margaret’s sonic palette by weaving in samples and production elements that were absent from her earlier solo work. She cites a recording from a How to Speak Italian CD, Gregorian chant by ILĀ, and turntable scratching as key components that “expanded my sonic world.” The record also features woodwind parts and a layered production style that Margaret says she had not previously explored.
Collaborations give the album a richer texture. Amy Millan, Sean Carey, Kurt Vile, and David Bazan all contribute to different tracks. In “Cellular Reverse,” Margaret describes Bazan’s contribution: “Having (David) hit an octave below me was like my voice at the deepest part of my soul, just like the deepest resonance of myself through him.” The closing track, “E‑Motion,” features Deb Talan on piano and guitar; Talan’s involvement was highlighted in the album’s press release.
Margaret’s return to live performance is equally significant. After a hiatus since 2019, she is scheduled to play shows on September 7, 8, and 10. She says the new set will include the same samples and production layers that appear on Singing, a departure from her earlier solo‑guitar sets. The artist notes that “there’s something really beautiful about that kind of simplicity, but I just feel like my music has always felt layered, and it’s nice to be able to hear that in a live setting.”
The album’s release comes at a time when Margaret’s earlier instrumental work has gained a new audience through social media. The viral TikTok use of “Hinoki Wood” demonstrates how ambient tracks can find life beyond traditional channels, while Singing offers a return to the lyrical storytelling that first defined her career.
Listeners can stream Singing on major platforms and purchase the album through Jagjaguwar’s distribution channels. The record’s release is accompanied by a promotional tour that will see Margaret perform in Chicago and select cities across the United States.
In sum, Singing represents a significant milestone for Gia Margaret: a vocal comeback after a career‑threatening injury, a broadened musical approach that blends samples and live instrumentation, and a renewed presence on the touring circuit. The album’s release and upcoming shows signal her continued evolution as a singer‑songwriter and producer.
The album arrives after a painful vocal‑cord injury that halted touring and forced Margaret to pivot to instrumental work. In 2020 she released Mia Gargret and in 2023 Romantic Piano, both celebrated for their spacious soundscapes. During that period, her ambient track “Hinoki Wood” went viral on TikTok, often used without credit and illustrating the reach of her atmospheric compositions.
In a recent interview with CLASH, Margaret described the return to singing as “new” and “conscious.” She said, “It still feels really new. It doesn’t feel second nature to me anymore, which is a strange thing, because singing is just something I always did, and now I’m very conscious that I’m doing it again.” The album’s title reflects this renewed focus on the human voice.
Singing broadens Margaret’s sonic palette by weaving in samples and production elements that were absent from her earlier solo work. She cites a recording from a How to Speak Italian CD, Gregorian chant by ILĀ, and turntable scratching as key components that “expanded my sonic world.” The record also features woodwind parts and a layered production style that Margaret says she had not previously explored.
Collaborations give the album a richer texture. Amy Millan, Sean Carey, Kurt Vile, and David Bazan all contribute to different tracks. In “Cellular Reverse,” Margaret describes Bazan’s contribution: “Having (David) hit an octave below me was like my voice at the deepest part of my soul, just like the deepest resonance of myself through him.” The closing track, “E‑Motion,” features Deb Talan on piano and guitar; Talan’s involvement was highlighted in the album’s press release.
Margaret’s return to live performance is equally significant. After a hiatus since 2019, she is scheduled to play shows on September 7, 8, and 10. She says the new set will include the same samples and production layers that appear on Singing, a departure from her earlier solo‑guitar sets. The artist notes that “there’s something really beautiful about that kind of simplicity, but I just feel like my music has always felt layered, and it’s nice to be able to hear that in a live setting.”
The album’s release comes at a time when Margaret’s earlier instrumental work has gained a new audience through social media. The viral TikTok use of “Hinoki Wood” demonstrates how ambient tracks can find life beyond traditional channels, while Singing offers a return to the lyrical storytelling that first defined her career.
Listeners can stream Singing on major platforms and purchase the album through Jagjaguwar’s distribution channels. The record’s release is accompanied by a promotional tour that will see Margaret perform in Chicago and select cities across the United States.
In sum, Singing represents a significant milestone for Gia Margaret: a vocal comeback after a career‑threatening injury, a broadened musical approach that blends samples and live instrumentation, and a renewed presence on the touring circuit. The album’s release and upcoming shows signal her continued evolution as a singer‑songwriter and producer.
