Irish country-pop artist CMAT has renewed her global recording contract with AWAL, as confirmed by the label. This partnership comes after a notable year for CMAT, whose real name is Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, during which she released her third album.
Key Milestones in CMAT’s Career
CMAT, 29, has had a rapid rise in the music industry. She signed with AWAL four years ago and has released three albums since then:
- If My Wife Knew I’d Be Dead (2022)
- Crazymad, For Me (2023)
- Euro-Country (released August 29, 2023)
Both her previous albums reached the top of the charts in Ireland. However, it was the release of her latest work, Euro-Country, that significantly elevated her profile, peaking at No. 2 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart and hitting the top on the Irish Albums Chart.
Success in Festivals and Tours
CMAT’s summer has been marked by standout performances at major festivals, including:
- Glastonbury
- All Together Show
In addition, she opened for Sam Fender during his stadium tour, showcasing her growing popularity.
Industry Praise and Recognition
Barry O’Donoghue, CMAT’s manager, expressed excitement about the extended partnership with AWAL, highlighting the artist’s prolific output in a short time. Lonny Olinick, CEO of AWAL, praised CMAT’s artistry and mentioned the anticipation for her future projects.
Euro-Country includes popular tracks like “The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station” and “Take A Sexy Picture Of Me.” The latter track even inspired a TikTok dance trend known as the “Woke Macarena,” contributing to its success. The song achieved CMAT’s first placement on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, reaching No. 42.
The album received critical acclaim, earning nearly unanimous five-star reviews and securing CMAT her second Mercury Prize nomination.
Upcoming Tours and Future Projects
Currently, CMAT is in the midst of a sold-out headline tour across the U.K. and Ireland, set to conclude on December 5 at the 3Arena in Dublin, which has a capacity of 13,000. Looking ahead, she will headline at London’s Lido Festival next summer, alongside acts like Father John Misty and Sharon Van Etten.
AWAL continues to support a diverse roster of artists, including Laufey, Djo, Little Simz, and Jungle. Recently, the company announced the launch of AWAL Middle East, which will be based in Dubai in collaboration with Sony Middle East.
