Catherine McGrath - Bringing Great Country Music to the UK
- by Andrew Braithwaite
Catherine McGrath is beginning to make waves, not only in the country music scene but also breaking into UK mainstream. The “New Country Pop” artist can sure back this up too - boasting great vocals, songwriting talent, along with the looks and age on her side.
At just 21, McGrath has already accumulated 12 million streams on Spotify, plus drawing the attention from stars like Elton John, and more recently BBC Radio2. This week, Jo Whiley and Simon Mayo selected her latest track “Lost In The Middle” for their popular drivetime show.
“A breath of fresh air… extraordinary songwriting ability and an amazing voice.” – Sir Elton John
With country gaining recent popularity in the UK generally, it seems Catherine McGrath couldn't of appeared at a better time. A favorite of Music Talkers, we had the chance to check her song "Wild" out back in April, we were instantly impressed! She combines a perfect balance of country and pop, with hints of Nashville - Ideal for any country fan, or anybody new to the genre, perhaps wanting to ease their way in. This could be why she might be the ideal artist to bring country to the UK, generating more exposure for this style of music too.
Although stars like Taylor Swift have become a household name in the UK. It feels that Catherine McGrath offers more of a Nashville sound and feel. This is maybe no surprise, with her latest album being recorded between studios in Nashville and London. Looking at her posts on social media, it seems she also loves spending time there too, with a recent post saying: “First ever CMA fest was amazing. I miss Nashville already…”
At a first listen, you might think that Catherine McGrath is straight out of Nashville, however she’s actually from a small town in Northern Ireland, raised from a family of music lovers. With the close connections between Irish folk and country, this could be why she fits in so well. Reports suggest that she was naturally embraced and accepted in Nashville.
In previous interviews, Catherine mentioned some of her main influences came from Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts. This maybe not too surprising either, considering the talent and success these artists have achieved.
Catherine has just announced a major UK headline tour in September. Keep up to date with Catherine McGrath on her official Facebook page
