Cool about country
Once too shy to sing in front of her own parents, could this Co. Down native be the ‘Next Taylor Swift’?
On the back of the songs Hell Would Have To Freeze Over and Cinderella at the end of 2016, I wondered in these pages if the ‘Next Taylor Swift’ might come from Co. Down. The artist in question was Catherine McGrath. The then 19-year-old from Rostrevor seemed ready to fill the gap in the market that the Pennsylvanian had vacated to embrace a more r’n’b-infused brand of pop. That London-based Catherine was already working with one of Taytay’s go-to co-writers, Liz Rose, seemed to confirm that the path to greatness was already taking shape.
Almost two years on, she seems to have eased on further down that road. Elton John has signed her to his Rocket Music stable and her debut album, Talk Of This
Town, released last week, is brimming with catchy country-pop tracks that, she concedes, speak much more of the modern Nashville sound than the brand of Irish country beloved in the counties near where Catherine grew up.
‘I always listened to so much music coming out of Nashville that it was always going to be what most influenced my sound,’ she says. ‘Since I was 12, I dreamed of going to Nashville. It took me until I was 18 to finally get there. When I started to work with songwriters there, my songs began to develop that current American country sound.’
More than most, Catherine always seemed destined to be a professional musician. Both her parents play music and have curated a folk festival called Fiddler’s Green in Rostrevor for many years. However, Catherine was unsure of her own abilities at first. ‘I never sang in front of anyone as I was so shy,’ she says.
‘My parents used to sneak up outside my bedroom door to listen to me singing. They always encouraged me. But I knew I really had to get rid of my shyness. I began putting up videos on YouTube of me singing other people’s songs and the response was almost completely positive. I had already started writing my own songs and the feedback gave me the confidence. I wouldn’t have had the nerve to go to London and really push myself until then.’ Once in London, however, it was not long before Catherine was signed by Warner Music. In recent years, she says country music has edging ever closer to ‘cool’. ‘We’ve seen artists like Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé doing crossover country stuff. That helps it become cooler.’
Of course, Taylor Swift has done more to make country cool than anyone. If comparisons with the superstar are putting pressure on her, she is not showing it. ‘I take it as such a compliment to be mentioned in the same breath as her,’ she says. ‘She is part of the reason why I play country music. She is a great songwriter.’
Despite Catherine’s talent, not everyone was supportive when she started out.
‘One of my friends said to somebody: “What’s Catherine going off to London for? She hasn’t a hope.’” Needless to say, that friend is no longer a friend – but did provide the inspiration for Talk Of This
Town, the title track of the album. At this rate, Catherine will soon be the talk of a lot of towns… and for all the right reasons.
‘I take it as such a compliment to be mentioned in the same breath as Taylor’