With tracks that are making waves in the UK & Ireland, and stamped with an unmistakable style of her own, Hot Press: Hot For 2023 artist Chubby Cat has established herself as one of the country’s forerunning electro-pop musicians. Her songs have earned radio play both at home and abroad, including BBC 6, Radio 1 and a host of Irish stations.

The Cork-born Belfast-based singer is also an live enigmatic performer.  She's supported the likes of Crawlers, Denise Chaila and Tourist at sold-out Dublin shows, and appeared at the ever-popular Indiependence Festival in her native Cork. Recently, she was announced for a prestigious Other Voices gig at the start of next month.

Nice and snug in a decked-out studio, Chubby Cat opened her set with the unreleased ‘Cowboy’. Showcasing her soaring vocals in full – she tunefully sang about a struggling relationship with an ill-loving and aptly named, as the title suggsts, “cowboy”.

Electronic musicians can sometimes falter when they’re away from their high-tech equipment, but Chubby Cat proved that she had raw talent at her core, with her immaculate vocals blending effortlessly with Ben's companion’s acoustic riffage.

The second song was a catchy and uplifting number detailing uncertainty in love. “ I think I like the idea, but I’m not that sure”, she sang – ebbing between emotions and pondering whether she should let the romantic atmosphere take over. This track included a funky guitar solo - which Chubby Cat matched note for note with pinpoint scat singing.

Her latest single – ‘KISSIN’ IN THE VALLEY-O’, expressed Cubby Cat’s yearning to be free from a relationship, not wanting her future to be dictated by her lover. She exhibited flawless vocal control as she sang “ Really I just want a future, that isn’t decided by you”, in an ode to the youthful need for independence.

“It's so weird not having real life people in front of us”, laughed Chubby Cat in between songs, not that the lack of a tangible audience hindered the intimacy of the performance.

‘Big Dog Barking’, was up next. With its dark, Nu-metal tinged riff,  the song discussed the singer’s struggle to find herself and her a dissolution with big-city life – all while battling the stubbornness of wanting to make it on her own.

‘21^st Century Panic Attack’, with its earworm chorus, followed in a similar vain. A tongue-in-cheek account discussing the younger generation’s tendency for narcissism and the unhealthy consequences of boredom, Chubby Cat showcased in her lyrics that she’s as self-aware as much as she is talented.

After expressing her gratefulness to Hot Press, The Department of Culture and most importantly Ben, the duo finished the night as they started it, with a reprise of the sweet-sounding ‘Cowboy’ – capping off  another memorable Y&E Series showcase.

Relive Chubby Cat's stellar performance below. 

 

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Watch the Hot Press Y&E Series - supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media - live on the Hot Press Instagram at 7pm each night.

Catch the following up-and-comers take over on the Hot Press Instagram over the coming days…

 Wednesday 8th : TeleZura

Hailing From Derry, TeleZura have broken out this year, with their unique capacity to funnel teenage emotion into artfully crafted anthems evident in their acclaimed debut single 'Heartfelt Summer'. The track received rave reviews and radio play across the country- a hugely convincing introduction to the hotly tipped newcomers, with the summer banger showcasing a young band with sharply honed songwriting skills and serious potential for a major mainstream breakthrough.

 Thursday 9th : Emileo

Having been raised in Germany, Spain and Morocco, Emileo won the inaugural Sinead O'Connor BA Commercial Modern Music Scholarship of BIMM Dublin in 2020, the city where she currently resides. Known as a fearless and accomplished musician who delivers a remarkable kaleidoscope of sounds and imagery soaring with individuality and heart. She has supported artists such as Mundy and Tolü Makay and performed in Dublin’s Olympia Theatre and Cork’s Opera House as special guest to Tori Amos. She’s no stranger to the festival stage either,  appearing at All Together Now and Electric Picnic. Most recently she organised the charity event ‘Music for Morocco’ and was able to raise 1500€ of donations for the victims of the earthquake epicentre.

 Friday 10th : Gary O'Neill

Emerging Kilkenny Songwriter Gary O’Neill has garnered great success with his EP To Those I’ve Missed, a body of work which explores the effects of the relationships with the ones that we love and admire. The first single from the project, ‘Petals’, caught the attention of Hot Press and various stations across the nation, including Tomorrow Radio, LMFM, FLIRT FM, Raidio Na Life and RTE 2XM. The singer has released multiple albums, since moving much of his material offline as he gears up to set out on a new musical journey.

 Saturday 11th : Qbanaa

With a name springing from her Cuban heritage, Qbanaa is setting the Irish scene alight with her diverse gifts,  made evident off-the-bat with her debut single 'Truth and Desire', which was nominated for 'Track of the Year' by Hot Press. Based in Dublin, she grew up travelling back and forth from Cuba where music and salsa dancing were integral parts of her childhood. Earning a reputation for incredible live performances, Qbanaa has founded the Soul Juice jazz/Soul open mic in Dashi Smithfield – with an ethos of building a community around the Jazz-fusion scene in Dublin.