Catherine
McGrath
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Today is one of those I wish that I could frame
Or keep it on a video, replay it over and over
Just replay it over and over
Cause right now I’m feelin’ like I’m walkin’ on a cloud
But I know what’s up’s gotta come down sooner or later
“I want to share my stories with people, I want people to listen and feel like they know me. I want people to get an idea of who I am through my songs”, says Catherine McGrath.
It’s an ambition that’s building momentum as she Catherine McGrath set to become the UK’s first international contemporary country star. The 21-year-old Northern Irish singer-songwriter has had twelve consecutive tracks featured on Spotify’s New Music Fridays playlist, and she’s already accumulated over 12 million streams. Widespread critical acclaim includes the backing of Sir Elton John, who praised her “extraordinary songwriting ability and an amazing voice.”
Her live profile is also going from strength-to-strength with sold-out London headline shows at The Camden Assembly and Bush Hall, together with huge festivals including Radio 2’s Biggest Weekend and the Isle of Wight.
Catherine’s emergence comes at a time when the domestic country scene is bigger than ever before. Collaborations between Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton (‘Say Something’) and Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line (‘Meant To Be’) have climbed the charts and received heavy radio play, and that huge public interest can be further seen by the success of the Country 2 Country festival which packed arenas in London and Glasgow earlier this year.
Her immersion in country music came when she heard Taylor Swift’s ‘Love Story’ – an artist whose music McGrath’s certainly draws comparison to – and yet that obscures the true breadth of her influences. Swift’s megahit sent her on a voyage of discovery converting her to the likes of Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Kacey Musgraves and Kelsea Ballerini. With these influences mixing with the traditional Irish music her parents raised her on, McGrath now stands as the most exciting breaking act in UK country.