CMAT (musician) explained
CMAT |
Landscape: | yes |
Birth Name: | Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson |
Birth Date: | 23 February 1996 |
Origin: | Meath, Ireland |
Years Active: | –present |
Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson (born 23 February 1996), known professionally as CMAT, is an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician.[1] Her debut studio album, If My Wife New I'd Be Dead, was released in February 2022 and entered the Irish Albums Chart at number one.[2] The Guardian wrote of her music, "Her songs are mournful yet accessible, emotionally literate and cleverly crafted, but, crucially, with a huge sense of humour..."[3] Her second studio album, Crazymad, for Me was released in October 2023.
Early life
CMAT was born on 23 February 1996 in Dublin, and moved with her family to Clonee and Dunboyne in County Meath as a child.[4] She returned to Dublin to study at Trinity College Dublin,[5] but left the college and moved to Denmark.[6]
Career
CMAT, who had aspirations to become a professional musician from a young age, relocated to Manchester, England, to pursue a career in music with her then boyfriend, performing together as Bad Sea.[7] [8] [1] [9] She has since described their relationship as toxic and isolating, and she stopped pursuing a music career, living a partying lifestyle.[9] She attended an in-person listening session at a London studio with the English electropop singer Charli XCX, who advised CMAT to reimagine her approach.[10]
Breaking up with her boyfriend and returning to Ireland, she began self-releasing her music online to considerable attention and received radio play from RTÉ Radio 1 and BBC Radio 6 Music.[11] [12] [13] [14] Her debut studio album If My Wife New I'd Be Dead was released in February 2022. Metacritic, which aggregates review scores, gives the album a score of 85 based on 9 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[15] Hot Press magazine wrote that the album was "undoubtedly one of the most thrilling Irish pop debuts of the century".[16] In a four-star review, DIY wrote, "If My Wife New... feels like a more well-rounded, modern proposition than one solely indebted to the oldest style going could suggest."[17] The album entered the Irish Albums Chart at number one.[18] In June 2022, she released a single called "Peter Bogdanovich", which came with a music video which featured CMAT dressing as the late director.[19] [20] On 19 August 2022, "Peter Bogdanovich"[21] charted at number 20 on the Irish Homegrown Top 20.[22] In March 2023, If My Wife New I'd Be Dead won the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year.[23]
In June 2023, CMAT announced her next studio album, Crazymad, for Me,[24] which was released in October 2023. Like her previous album, this album debuted at number one on the Irish Albums Chart.[25] Her album was later nominated for the Best Album Ivor Novello Award on Thursday 23 May 2024.[26]
CMAT has been noted for her large fanbase among Irish LGBTQ+ people,[27] [28] once telling an NME interviewer "I'm making music for the girls and the gays, and that's it."[29]
In May 2024, the BBC were forced to disable comments on a video on its Instagram page of CMAT's performance at the Radio 1 Big Weekend festival, following a spate of comments labelled "fat-shaming."[30] Later that month, CMAT pulled out of a performance at that summer's Latitude Festival due to the festival's sponsorship by Barclays, and the company's financial involvement in the Israel-Hamas war.[31]
Personal life
CMAT is bisexual and has been described as a "bisexual icon".[32] [33]
Discography
Studio albums
Singles
- "Another Day (KFC)" (2020)
- "Rodney" (2020)
- "I Wanna Be a Cowboy, Baby!" (2020)
- "Uncomfortable Christmas" (2020)
- "I Don't Really Care for You" (2021)
- "2 Wrecked 2 Care" (2021)
- "No More Virgos" (2021)
- "Lonely" (2022)
- "Every Bottle (Is My Boyfriend)" (2022)
- "Communion (Country Version)" (2022)
- "Mayday (2023)
- "Whatever's Inconvenient" (2023)
- "Have Fun!" (2023)
- "Where Are Your Kids Tonight?" featuring John Grant (2023)
- "Stay for Something" (2023)
- "Aw, Shoot!" (2024)
Awards and nominations
Award | Year | Nominated Work | Award | Result | |
---|
| 2022 | If My Wife New I'd Be Dead | Album of the Year | | [34] |
| 2023 | Crazymad, For Me | Album of the Year | | [35] |
| 2023 | Stay For Something | Song of the Year | | [36] |
| 2023 | | Artist of the Year | | [37] |
| 2023 | | Sound of 2024 | | [38] |
| 2024 | | International Artist of the Year | | [39] |
Ivor Novello Award | 2024 | Crazymad, For Me | Best Album | Nominated | [40] | |
Notes and References
- Web site: CMAT Biography on AllMusic. Mark. Deming. AllMusic. allmusic.com. 2020. 12 March 2022. 13 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220313013619/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/cmat-mn0004150353/biography/. live.
- Web site: CMAT flies to Number 1 in Ireland with debut album If My Wife New I'd Be Dead. officialcharts.com. Helen. Ainsley. 12 March 2022. 12 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220312221640/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/cmat-flies-to-number-1-in-ireland-with-debut-album-if-my-wife-new-i-d-be-dead__35457/. live.
- Web site: One to watch: CMAT. Kate. Hutchinson. 15 January 2022. The Guardian. 12 March 2022. 12 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220312221640/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jan/15/one-to-watch-cmat-if-my-wife-knew-id-be-dead-ciara-mary-alice-thompson. live.
- Web site: 2023-01-26 . Meath country star Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson to headline Slane Otherside Festival . 2023-07-17 . Meath Chronicle . en-US . 10 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230210080630/https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2023/01/26/meath-country-star-ciara-mary-alice-thompson-to-headline-slane-otherside-festival/ . live .
- Web site: Album review: CMAT – If My Wife New I’d Be Dead The Point Of Everything . 2023-07-17 . en-US . 16 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220616085930/http://www.thepointofeverything.com/2022/03/09/album-review-cmat-if-my-wife-new-id-be-dead/ . live .
- Web site: 2022-02-14 . CMAT on the advice she got from Charli XCX, and why 'authenticity' is over-rated . 2023-10-21 . Irish Examiner . en.
- Web site: CMAT If My Wife New I'd Be Dead Album Interview. i. Lauren. O'Neill. 4 March 2022. 12 March 2022. 12 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220312222024/https://inews.co.uk/culture/cmat-if-my-wife-new-id-be-dead-album-interview-2022-1496117. live.
- Web site: CMAT interview: 'I'm not where I thought I'd be when I was 18. I thought I'd be Ariana Grande or someone like that . . . but I'm much happier where I am now'. Tony. Clayton Lea. Business Post. 4 March 2022. 12 March 2022. 4 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220304215357/https://www.businesspost.ie/music/cmat-interview-im-not-where-i-thought-id-be-when-i-was-18-i-thought-id-be-ariana-grande-or-someone-like-that-but-im-much-happier-where-i-am-now-91922ae7. live.
- News: Kheraj . Alim . 2023-07-13 . ‘All the saddest people I’ve met are the funniest’: CMAT on making bone-achingly funny pop out of misery . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-07-17 . 0261-3077 . 13 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230713234502/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jul/13/cmat-ciara-mary-alice-thompson-irish-singer-crazymad-for-me . live .
- Web site: CMAT Dublin cowgirl turning shitposting into Americana bangers. NME. 10 October 2020. Becky. Rogers. 12 March 2022. 12 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220312221640/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-radar/cmat-dublin-cowgirl-turning-shitposting-into-americana-bangers-2782408. live.
- Web site: CMAT brimming with confidence and verve. Eric. Fitzgerald. 10 March 2022. Limerick Post. 12 March 2022. 12 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220312224842/https://www.limerickpost.ie/2022/03/10/cmat-brimming-with-confidence-and-verve/. live.
- Web site: Meet Cmat, the snack and roll star of Another Day (KFC). The Times. thetimes.co.uk. Lauren. Murphy. 7 June 2020. 12 March 2022. 12 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220312223526/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/meet-cmat-the-snack-and-roll-star-of-another-day-kfc-wrw2768kh. live.
- Web site: CMAT. 15 July 2020. RTÉ. rte.ie. 12 March 2022. 12 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220312223531/https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/21803807/. live.
- Web site: Friday Free For All. BBC. 5 March 2021. 12 March 2022. 12 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220312222032/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ss2l. live.,
- Web site: If My Wife new I'd Be Dead. metacritic.com. Metacritic. 12 March 2022. 12 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220312221640/https://www.metacritic.com/music/if-my-wife-new-id-be-dead/cmat. live.
- Web site: Album Review CMAT If My Wife New I'd Be Dead. Lucy. O'Toole. Hot Press. 4 March 2022. 12 March 2022. 12 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220312222031/https://www.hotpress.com/music/album-review-cmat-if-my-wife-new-id-be-dead-22894814. live.
- Web site: Cmat If My Wife New I'd Be Dead Review. Lisa. Wright. 4 March 2022. DIY. 12 March 2022. 7 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220307175547/https://diymag.com/2022/03/04/cmat-if-my-wife-new-id-be-dead-album-review. live.
- Web site: Yeehaw! CMAT flies to Irish No. 1 with her debut album. 11 March 2022. RTÉ. rte.ie. 12 March 2022. 12 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220312221640/https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2022/0311/1285869-yeehaw-cmat-flies-to-irish-no-1-with-her-debut-album/. live.
- Web site: WATCH: CMAT – 'Peter Bogdanovich' . 15 June 2022 . 19 August 2022 . 27 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220627152404/https://getinherears.com/2022/06/15/watch-cmat-peter-bogdanovich/ . live .
- Web site: CMAT dresses as 'Peter Bogdanovich' in new music video . 15 June 2022 . 19 August 2022 . 19 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220819184722/https://nialler9.com/cmat-dresses-as-peter-bogdanovich-in-new-music-video/ . live .
- Web site: CMAT has shared a new video for 'Peter Bogdanovich' | Dork . 15 June 2022 . 19 August 2022 . 19 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220819184722/https://readdork.com/news/cmat-video-peter-bogdanovich/ . live .
- Web site: Irish Homegrown Top 20 | Official Charts Company . . 19 August 2022 . 19 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220819184720/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/irish-homegrown-chart/ . live .
- Web site: Choice Music Prize: CMAT's If My Wife New I'd Be Dead wins album of the year. Mark. Hillard. The Irish Times. 9 March 2023. 12 March 2023. 12 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230312083959/https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/2023/03/09/choice-music-prize-cmats-if-my-wife-new-id-be-dead-wins-album-of-the-year/. live.
- Web site: Reilly . Nick . 2023-06-01 . CMAT announces new album 'Crazymad, for me', shares lead single . 2023-10-21 . Rolling Stone UK . en-GB.
- Web site: Newsdesk . The Hot Press . CMAT's Crazymad, for Me debuts at no.1 on Irish Charts, The Mary Wallopers Irish Rock n Roll reaches no.2 . 2023-10-21 . Hotpress.
- Web site: Taylor . Mark . 2024-04-23 . Nominations announced for The Ivors with Amazon Music 2024 . 2024-05-28 . The Ivors Academy . en-GB.
- News: Kiberd . Roisin . 2023-10-12 . CMAT Makes Country Music Sad, Smart and Strange . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-10-21 . 0362-4331.
- Web site: 2021-03-29 . From Lil Nas X to CMAT - Four queer hits you need to listen to . 2023-10-21 . GCN . en.
- Web site: Rogers . Becky . 2020-10-13 . CMAT: Dublin cowgirl turning shitposting into Americana bangers . 2023-10-21 . NME . en-GB.
- Web site: Savage . Mark . CMAT attacks 'fat shaming' comments on BBC video . . 31 May 2024 . 30 May 2024.
- Web site: Savage . Mark . CMAT pulls out of Latitude over its Barclays links . BBC News . 31 May 2024 . 30 May 2024.
- News: Kiberd . Roisin . CMAT Makes Country Music Sad, Smart and Strange . 13 October 2023 . . 12 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231013053818/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/12/arts/music/cmat-crazymad-for-me.html . 13 October 2023.
- News: Duncan . Charlie . 30 May 2024 . Bisexual icon CMAT blasts cruel body-shamers: ‘Didn’t realise it was illegal to have a huge ass’ . PinkNews . 10 June 2024.
- News: Choice Music prize 2022. The Irish Times. 2022. 12 March 2023. 12 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230312083959/https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/2023/03/09/choice-music-prize-cmats-if-my-wife-new-id-be-dead-wins-album-of-the-year/. live.
- News: Choice Music Prize: album shortlist announced and Song of the Year public vote opens this Friday . limerickpost.ie . 2024-01-11 . 2024-01-28.
- News: Shortlist announced for RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Song of the Year 2023 . limerickleader.ie . 2024-01-28.
- News: 2023 Irish Artist of the Year . choicemusicprize.ie . 2024-01-28.
- News: BBC Sound of 2024: Tyla, Last Dinner Party and Kenya Grace tipped for success. Savage. Mark. 4 December 2023. 15 January 2024. en-GB.
- News: BRITs nominations 2024. Official Charts Company. 2024. 25 January 2024. 25 January 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240125125311/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/brits-nominations-2024-nominees/. live.
- Web site: Taylor . Mark . 2024-04-23 . Nominations announced for The Ivors with Amazon Music 2024 . 2024-05-28 . The Ivors Academy . en-GB.