CANADIAN 
Once upon a time, many Irish left their homeland en masse to seek a new life in “the new world”. While the times certainly have changed, with Ireland seemingly stable (especially when considering the havoc that the UK has been putting itself through for the past few years with still no end in sight), now one of the country’s useful exports is not human resources, but music. All kinds of music.
Today we visit Dublin (via the south-central city of Kilkenny), where from hails one of the country’s most precious sonic gems – singer-songer (and otherwise kick-ass pop artist) Cat Dowling, who has returned after a hiatus of a few years, with a new single called ‘Freedom’. Ireland’s national broadcaster RTE calls Downling “an artist with a lot to say and plenty of bewitching ways to say it”. Mail on Sunday says she is “truly a talent we can now believe in”. We agree with both statements and now you’ll see for yourself that the proof is in the pudding.
About ‘Freedom’, Dowling explains: “I wrote this song just after the birth of my second child. It was the early hours of the morning and he was sleeping on my chest. The days had no plan and I loved those quiet hours in the dead of the night when the world slept. The lines and melody landed together. I didn’t know where they came from at the time but now they make sense – it’s a song about being free to be the person we’re born to be without the baggage and shackles of what went before us.”
Her new long-player, expected in autumn 2021, was produced by Gerry Horan with Dowling as co-producer. Mixed by Ger McDonnell (The Cure, U2, Van Morrison, Martha Wainwright, Shane McGowan, Sinead O’Connor), this was partially recorded at Crossroads Studio in Kilkenny, which housed the town’s first pirate radio station. with support from Ireland’s Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media.
This track is stunning and immediately grabs your attention, still holding it well after the music has stopped. The choir effect is very powerful but, more than anything else, the Wow factor here is largely due to Cat Dowling’s own stellar voice, clever arrangement and catchy hooks. Fellow vocalists Leslie Feist and Elena Tonra, frontwoman of the band Daughter.
Earlier this spring, Dowling released the first single‘Trouble’, making quite a big splash in her homeland, with a fantastic video by BAFTA award-winning director Fergal Costello. Based on a black comedy concept, it was filmed in winter in the Wicklow mountains, telling the story of a dark, comedic and violent tale that takes place outside of Belfast in 1981.
Cat Dowling’s voice has been lauded as one of the most impressive and evocative in Irish contemporary music. Against the backdrop of beautiful ambient and eclectic soundscapes, her beautifully dark pop songs and her convincingly intimate vocals will grasp and resonate with you from the outset.
In 2013, Dowling debuted with ‘The Believer’ LP, ranked in numerous ‘Best of Year’ music polls, including The Sunday Times. The title track was the closing track on the ground-breaking second series of ‘Banshee’, produced by Alan Ball (Six Feet Under, American Beauty, True Blood) and appeared on the ‘Witches of East End’ TV series, featuring Julia Ormond. The song ‘Somebody Else’ also featured in ‘My name is Emily’, alongside Lisa Hannigan, Jake Bugg and James Vincent McMorrow.
Cat has also lent her vocals on many collaborative projects, the most recent selected for a closing track on ABC’s ‘How To Get Away With Murder’ with Emmy-winning actress Viola Davis.
Dowling previously fronted Babelfish, which morphed into successful electro/dream-pop oufit Alphastates. As the front woman and main songwriter, she released two albums and gained admirers for the raw energy and stage presence, as well as her hushed and raw deliveries.
On June 25, ‘Freedom’ will be available everywhere digitally. In the meantime, catch up with the rest of her music on Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.
CREDITS
Produced by Gerry Horan
Co-produced by Cat Dowling
Recorded by Karl Odlum, Gerry Horan, Jed Parle
Mixed by Ger McDonnell
Mastered by Fergal Davis
Performed by Cat Dowling, Gerry Horan, Jeremey Hickey, Marja Gaynor.
Music and Lyrics written by Cat Dowling (ISRC: TCAFP2198968)
Follow, support and fan out over Cat Dowling
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