- Music
- 27 Jul 18
The stunning debut album from Northern Irish country singer Catherine McGrath has already topped the iTunes Country Charts mere hours after it's release. We've had it on repeat all morning.
Raised in Rostrevor, a small rural village in Northern Ireland, Catherine McGrath is the perfect example of how country can transcend its reach from far outside of its epicentre in Nashville. The 21-year old singer was raised in a music loving family, and has regularly performed at her parents’ spirited Fiddler’s Greenfestivaland. She was given a real introduction to country music via the early albums of Taylor Swift, before falling in love with the likes of Brad Paisley, Kacey Musgraves, and dozens of other contemporary artists who've made a deep impact on popular music and charts internationally.
Having departed from Northern Ireland two and a half years ago to live in London, Catherine rapidly made a name of herself and developed her songwriting style. More recently, she's been playing huge gigs such as British Summer Time Festival and BBC's Biggest Weekender, and has signed a record deal with Warner Bros., as well as gaining the attention of prominent radio DJs and music figures (Elton John became a committed fan earlier this year). Now, Catherine's debut album marks a milestone in the career of one of Ireland's most talented singer-songwriters.
Recorded at various locations in Nashville and London, with help from songwriters such as Liz Rose (Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw), Talk Of The Town is an earnest, 13-track statement about love, missed chances, and self-acceptance. It's already produced several much-loved singles, including Catherine's brilliant duet with American singer Hunter Hayes, on 'Don't Let Me Forget', and her latest release'Lost In The Middle', which pays homage to the genre that inspired her artistry.
We're struggling to choose a favourite from the album, so wrap your ears around the full thing below.
Advertisement
You can also read a full, in-depth interview with the singer herself in the new issue of Hot Press, which will be out on August 2.