CMAT (musician)
{{Short description|Irish musician and singer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = CMAT
| image = File:CMAT, Brooklyn, March 2022 2 (cropped).jpg
| alt = CMAT onstage holding an acoustic guitar
| landscape = yes
| caption = CMAT performing in 2022
| birth_name = Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|2|23|df=y}}
| origin = County Meath, Ireland
| genre = {{hlist|Folk|pop|country}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|musician}}
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar}}
| years_active = {{start date|2017}}–present
| label = {{hlist|CMATBaby|AWAL}}
| website = {{URL|cmatbaby.com}}
}}
Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson (born 23 February 1996), known professionally as CMAT ({{IPAc-en|'|s|i:|m|ae|t}}, {{respell|SEE|mat}}), is an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/cmat-mn0004150353/biography/|title=CMAT Biography on AllMusic|first=Mark|last=Deming|publisher=AllMusic|website=allmusic.com|date=2020|access-date=12 March 2022|archive-date=13 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313013619/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/cmat-mn0004150353/biography/|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|url=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/|title=CMAT flies to Number 1 in Ireland with debut album If My Wife New I'd Be Dead|website=Official Charts Company|first=Helen|last=Ainsley|access-date=12 March 2022|archive-date=12 March 2022|archive-url=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/|url-status=live}} 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..."{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jan/15/one-to-watch-cmat-if-my-wife-knew-id-be-dead-ciara-mary-alice-thompson|first=Kate|last=Hutchinson|title=One to watch: CMAT|date=15 January 2022|work=The Guardian|access-date=12 March 2022|archive-date=12 March 2022|archive-url=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|url-status=live}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-26 |title=Meath country star Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson to headline Slane Otherside Festival |url=https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2023/01/26/meath-country-star-ciara-mary-alice-thompson-to-headline-slane-otherside-festival/ |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=Meath Chronicle |language=en-US |archive-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=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/ |url-status=live }} She returned to Dublin to study at Trinity College Dublin,{{Cite web |title=Album review: CMAT – If My Wife New I’d Be Dead {{!}} The Point Of Everything |url=https://www.thepointofeverything.com/2022/03/09/album-review-cmat-if-my-wife-new-id-be-dead/ |access-date=2023-07-17 |language=en-US |archive-date=16 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616085930/http://www.thepointofeverything.com/2022/03/09/album-review-cmat-if-my-wife-new-id-be-dead/ |url-status=live }} but left the college and moved to Denmark.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-14 |title=CMAT on the advice she got from Charli XCX, and why 'authenticity' is over-rated |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsandculture/arid-40808079.html |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/cmat-if-my-wife-new-id-be-dead-album-interview-2022-1496117|title=CMAT If My Wife New I'd Be Dead Album Interview|publisher=i|first=Lauren|last=O'Neill|date=4 March 2022|access-date=12 March 2022|archive-date=12 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312222024/https://inews.co.uk/culture/cmat-if-my-wife-new-id-be-dead-album-interview-2022-1496117|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=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|first=Tony|last=Clayton Lea|publisher=Business Post|title=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'|date=4 March 2022|access-date=12 March 2022|archive-date=4 March 2022|archive-url=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|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Kheraj |first=Alim |date=2023-07-13 |title=‘All the saddest people I’ve met are the funniest’: CMAT on making bone-achingly funny pop out of misery |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jul/13/cmat-ciara-mary-alice-thompson-irish-singer-crazymad-for-me |access-date=2023-07-17 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=13 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713234502/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jul/13/cmat-ciara-mary-alice-thompson-irish-singer-crazymad-for-me |url-status=live }} She has since described their relationship as toxic and isolating, and she stopped pursuing a music career, living a partying lifestyle. 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-radar/cmat-dublin-cowgirl-turning-shitposting-into-americana-bangers-2782408|publisher=NME|date=10 October 2020|first=Becky|last=Rogers|title=CMAT Dublin cowgirl turning shitposting into Americana bangers|access-date=12 March 2022|archive-date=12 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312221640/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-radar/cmat-dublin-cowgirl-turning-shitposting-into-americana-bangers-2782408|url-status=live}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.limerickpost.ie/2022/03/10/cmat-brimming-with-confidence-and-verve/|title=CMAT brimming with confidence and verve|first=Eric|last=Fitzgerald|date=10 March 2022|publisher=Limerick Post|access-date=12 March 2022|archive-date=12 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312224842/https://www.limerickpost.ie/2022/03/10/cmat-brimming-with-confidence-and-verve/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/meet-cmat-the-snack-and-roll-star-of-another-day-kfc-wrw2768kh|website=The Times|first=Lauren|last=Murphy|title=Meet Cmat, the snack and roll star of Another Day (KFC)|date=7 June 2020|access-date=12 March 2022|archive-date=12 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312223526/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/meet-cmat-the-snack-and-roll-star-of-another-day-kfc-wrw2768kh|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/21803807/|title=CMAT|date=15 July 2020|publisher=RTÉ|website=rte.ie|access-date=12 March 2022|archive-date=12 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312223531/https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/21803807/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ss2l|publisher=BBC|title=Friday Free For All|date=5 March 2021|access-date=12 March 2022|archive-date=12 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312222032/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ss2l|url-status=live}}, 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".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/if-my-wife-new-id-be-dead/cmat|title=If My Wife new I'd Be Dead|website=metacritic.com|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=12 March 2022|archive-date=12 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312221640/https://www.metacritic.com/music/if-my-wife-new-id-be-dead/cmat|url-status=live}} Hot Press magazine wrote that the album was "undoubtedly one of the most thrilling Irish pop debuts of the century".{{cite web|url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/album-review-cmat-if-my-wife-new-id-be-dead-22894814|first=Lucy|last=O'Toole|publisher=Hot Press|date=4 March 2022|title=Album Review CMAT If My Wife New I'd Be Dead|access-date=12 March 2022|archive-date=12 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312222031/https://www.hotpress.com/music/album-review-cmat-if-my-wife-new-id-be-dead-22894814|url-status=live}} 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."{{cite web|url=https://diymag.com/2022/03/04/cmat-if-my-wife-new-id-be-dead-album-review|first=Lisa|last=Wright|date=4 March 2022|publisher=DIY|title=Cmat If My Wife New I'd Be Dead Review|access-date=12 March 2022|archive-date=7 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307175547/https://diymag.com/2022/03/04/cmat-if-my-wife-new-id-be-dead-album-review|url-status=live}} The album entered the Irish Albums Chart at number one.{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2022/0311/1285869-yeehaw-cmat-flies-to-irish-no-1-with-her-debut-album/|title=Yeehaw! CMAT flies to Irish No. 1 with her debut album|date=11 March 2022|publisher=RTÉ|website=rte.ie|access-date=12 March 2022|archive-date=12 March 2022|archive-url=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/|url-status=live}} In June 2022, she released a single called "Peter Bogdanovich", which came with a music video which featured CMAT dressing as the late director.{{cite web | url=https://getinherears.com/2022/06/15/watch-cmat-peter-bogdanovich/ | title=WATCH: CMAT – 'Peter Bogdanovich' | date=15 June 2022 | access-date=19 August 2022 | archive-date=27 June 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627152404/https://getinherears.com/2022/06/15/watch-cmat-peter-bogdanovich/ | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nialler9.com/cmat-dresses-as-peter-bogdanovich-in-new-music-video/ | title=CMAT dresses as 'Peter Bogdanovich' in new music video | date=15 June 2022 | access-date=19 August 2022 | archive-date=19 August 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819184722/https://nialler9.com/cmat-dresses-as-peter-bogdanovich-in-new-music-video/ | url-status=live }} On 19 August 2022, "Peter Bogdanovich"{{cite web | url=https://readdork.com/news/cmat-video-peter-bogdanovich/ | title=CMAT has shared a new video for 'Peter Bogdanovich' | Dork | date=15 June 2022 | access-date=19 August 2022 | archive-date=19 August 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819184722/https://readdork.com/news/cmat-video-peter-bogdanovich/ | url-status=live }} charted at number 20 on the Irish Homegrown Top 20.{{cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/irish-homegrown-chart/ | title=Irish Homegrown Top 20 | Official Charts Company | website=Official Charts | access-date=19 August 2022 | archive-date=19 August 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819184720/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/irish-homegrown-chart/ | url-status=live }} In March 2023, If My Wife New I'd Be Dead won the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year.{{cite web|url=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/|first=Mark|last=Hillard|work=The Irish Times|title=Choice Music Prize: CMAT's If My Wife New I'd Be Dead wins album of the year|date=9 March 2023|access-date=12 March 2023|archive-date=12 March 2023|archive-url=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/|url-status=live}}
In June 2023, CMAT announced her next studio album, Crazymad, for Me,{{Cite web |last=Reilly |first=Nick |date=2023-06-01 |title=CMAT announces new album 'Crazymad, for me', shares lead single |url=https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/news/cmat-announces-new-album-crazymad-for-me-shares-lead-single-29768/ |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=Rolling Stone UK |language=en-GB}} which was released in October 2023. Like her previous album, this album debuted at number one on the Irish Albums Chart.{{Cite web |last=Newsdesk |first=The Hot Press |title=CMAT's Crazymad, for Me debuts at no.1 on Irish Charts, The Mary Wallopers Irish Rock n Roll reaches no.2 |url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/cmats-crazymadfor-me-debuts-at-no-1-on-irish-charts-the-mary-wallopers-irish-rock-n-roll-reaches-no-2-22992235 |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=Hot Press}} Her album was later nominated for the Best Album Ivor Novello Award on Thursday 23 May 2024.{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Mark |date=2024-04-23 |title=Nominations announced for The Ivors with Amazon Music 2024 |url=https://ivorsacademy.com/news/nominations-announced-for-the-ivors-with-amazon-music-2024/ |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=The Ivors Academy |language=en-GB}}
CMAT has been noted for her large fanbase among Irish LGBTQ+ people,{{Cite news |last=Kiberd |first=Roisin |date=2023-10-12 |title=CMAT Makes Country Music Sad, Smart and Strange |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/12/arts/music/cmat-crazymad-for-me.html |access-date=2023-10-21 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-03-29 |title=From Lil Nas X to CMAT - Four queer hits you need to listen to |url=https://gcn.ie/lil-nas-x-cmat-four-queer-hits/ |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=GCN |language=en}} once telling an NME interviewer "I'm making music for the girls and the gays, and that's it."{{Cite web |last=Rogers |first=Becky |date=2020-10-13 |title=CMAT: Dublin cowgirl turning shitposting into Americana bangers |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-radar/cmat-dublin-cowgirl-turning-shitposting-into-americana-bangers-2782408 |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}
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."{{cite web |last1=Savage |first1=Mark |title=CMAT attacks 'fat shaming' comments on BBC video |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c800p0nk04po |website=BBC News |access-date=31 May 2024 |date=30 May 2024}} 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 Gaza war.{{cite web |last1=Savage |first1=Mark |title=CMAT pulls out of Latitude over its Barclays links |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c800ge2y02ro |website=BBC News |access-date=31 May 2024 |date=30 May 2024}}
Personal life
CMAT is bisexual and has been described as a "bisexual icon".{{cite news |last1=Kiberd |first1=Roisin |title=CMAT Makes Country Music Sad, Smart and Strange |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/12/arts/music/cmat-crazymad-for-me.html |access-date=13 October 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=12 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013053818/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/12/arts/music/cmat-crazymad-for-me.html |archive-date=13 October 2023}}{{cite news |last= Duncan |first= Charlie |date= 30 May 2024 |title= Bisexual icon CMAT blasts cruel body-shamers: ‘Didn’t realise it was illegal to have a huge ass’ |url= https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/05/30/cmat-singer-body-shamers-trolls-big-weekend-bisexual/ |work= PinkNews |access-date= 10 June 2024}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
- If My Wife New I'd Be Dead (2022)
- Crazymad, for Me (2023)
- Euro-Country (2025)
=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)
- "Running/Planning" (2025)
Awards and nominations
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0004150353}}
- {{discogs artist}}
- {{IMDb name}}
- {{bandcamp}}
- {{twitter}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:CMAT (musician)}}
Category:Musicians from Dublin (city)