CMAT

Where They’re From: Dublin, Ireland

Who They Are:

Irish singer-songwriter Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson – aka CMAT – recently released her third album, Euro-Country, and has been gaining notice for her strong songs, strong stances, and a catchy and infectious wit that has propelled her as one of the buzziest artists to emerge from Ireland in recent years. Her songs were described by The Guardian as “mournful yet accessible, emotionally literate and cleverly crafted, but, crucially, with a huge sense of humour” – which you can hear in the first single we started playing on XPN a few months ago, the self-aware and sardonic “Jamie Oliver Petrol Station.”

After dropping out of Trinity College to study songwriting, she made her way to London then back to Dublin, where she started releasing music under the CMAT moniker. Like her previous two albums, Euro-Country hit #1 on the Irish album charts and made #2 in the UK after a breakthrough set at this year’s Glastonbury fest. She just wrapped up a few US dates and will return to tour (including Philly!) in early 2026.

Genre: indie pop, singer-songwriter

Years Active: 2017 – present

Essential Albums: Euro-Country (2025)