PREMIERE: Dublin-based alt-pop artist Cat shares second single 'baby, blue'

Emerging Irish musician Cat has released her sophomore single in the form of Viscose-produced 'baby, blue'.

The single has a medley of vocal styles, ranging from ethereal runs to a melodic rap/spoken word verse - backed by an instrumental fusing trap elements with dreamy synths.

Intricately layered and delicately textured, 'baby, blue' is the ideal display of Cat's artistry.

Cat wrote the lyrics and topline of the track on an "out of tune" acoustic guitar in their student house box room in Dublin during one of 2020's Covid-19 lockdowns. Once the foundation for the track was complete, the talent sent the material over to her producer and best mate Viscose - who helped create an instrumental to match the 'baby, blue' vibe. The entire song was done over Facetime calls and emails between the pair.

"The lockdowns were very rough at times but they definitely had their silver linings," Cat tells Hot Press of their creative process during Covid.

"The first lockdown was incredibly hard for me because of a really messy break-up between myself and a former producer/manager whom I had dedicated a year of my life to. After that, things got much better and I spent the following months writing loads of new material with my newfound producer, Viscose."

"Lockdown was interesting because I had never had so much time to sit with my thoughts and to really slow down to decide exactly what kind of music I wanted to make," the young artist adds. "That was a huge benefit to me and my career. Without those lockdowns, I wouldn’t have the songs that I have now."

'baby, blue' is undoubtedly a break-up track with a sarcastic tone to reflect the way in which the alt-pop act copes with her circumstances. The song follows on from her stylistically-charged debut 'Slipping'.

"Writing this track was a way for me to express that while breaking up with someone is never a good time, you can still make light of those feelings to make it easier on yourself," Cat continues. "I wrote 'baby, blue' after I had broken up with the first girl I ever dated so I was feeling mega salty. I had to get it out in some form, so I put it in a song."

The Cork-raised musician found her hometown to be slightly claustrophobic, restricting her creativity.

"In Cork, people fall over their feet staring at my baldy head (it’s better in Dublin, but not by much). I had to leave. I saw BIMM Dublin as an option for college so I went to the open day and fell in love. I knew I had to go there. And so, I did!"

Influenced by the likes of Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Leonard Cohen and Florence and The Machine, Cat also took inspiration from the vocal training of Lea Salonga and Colm Wilkinson. A self-confessed "die-hard" fan of Viscose, Cat's love for Sinéad O’Connor can be seen in her refusal to be anyone but herself.

2022 is set to be a big year for the rising pop star, who is always on the lookout for collaborations - Soulé, Dermot Kennedy and Kojaque were names thrown in the hat to Hot Press.

"My goal is just to keep releasing my music and try to reach as many people as possible with my tunes. I have a lot say and stand for and I want to spread my good vibes across to anyone who’ll listen. Being a queer female pop artist in Ireland isn’t easy, but I want to be an example that it is possible."

Check out 'baby, blue' from Cat below: