Catherine McGrath is a rising star of the British country music scene. Irish born Catherine has been on the road a lot this year playing C2C, The Great Escape, British Summer Time (w/ Tom Petty), Longitude, Latitude, Boardmasters and Harvest Festival to name a few. Her debut album out next year. We caught up with Catherine to discover more about her music.
PG: YOU'VE BEEN DOING LOTS OF FESTIVALS AND GIGS, WHAT'S THE BEST THING YOU'VE LEARNT FROM LIFE ON THE ROAD?
CM: The best thing I've learned is definitely to always carry your own toothpaste and shampoo... haha. But seriously, one of the best things I've learned is that there are people everywhere who love country music like I do, which is amazing to me because I always felt like there was nobody else in the UK who loved it or understood it. I love talking to people every night after the shows about it. I've learned a lot but that to me is the coolest thing so far.
PG: YOUR DEBUT ALBUM IS OUT NEXT YEAR, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THAT?
CM: It's going to have different versions of songs I've already released and some songs that nobody's heard yet. Some songs were written in Nashville and some in the UK so there's a mix of everything and I can't wait to release it.
PG: DO YOU HAVE ANY RITUALS WHEN WRITING YOUR SONGS?
CM: Not really. I always write lyrics into my phone and scroll through lyrics I've thought of to pick out song ideas but the process is never the same at all. It's fun that it's always different.
PG: ARE YOU YOUR OWN CRITIC WHEN WRITING, OR DO YOU LIKE TO HAVE OTHER PEOPLE TO BOUNCE IDEAS OFF?
CM: I love writing with other people. Without other people to say they like or dislike something, I usually start to doubt the whole song and have trouble figuring out what I need to change. It's so good having people who can pick out your best ideas and challenge you more, I think it's the best way to improve and become a better writer.
PG: HOW DID YOU DISCOVER A LOVE OF COUNTRY MUSIC?
CM: Through hearing Love Story by Taylor Swift. I bought her album and watched her interviews where she talked about country and I started to listen to it and fell in love. I was 12 at the time!
PG: WHO IS YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCE?
CM: A mix of a lot of artists - Kacey Musgraves, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift.. it's endless.
PG: WHAT IS THE ONE SONG THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
CM: Love story by Taylor Swift started off my discovery and love of country music really, so that definitely changed my life.
PG: DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE ALBUM?
CM: My dad's own cd! 'Spirit of the Village', is an album of acoustic songs that he wrote.
PG: WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH?
CM: So many people! Kelsea Ballerini is amazing.
PG: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANY OTHER YOUNG MUSICIANS?
CM: Just keep singing always, as long as it makes you happy then you should keep doing it and you never know what might happen.
PG: WHAT'S NEXT?
CM: I’ve got another single coming from my debut album and then my album is being released in Spring 2018. I’m also really excited that I’m headlining my own shows across the UK and the first show has already sold out which is crazy! I’m really looking forward to finally sharing all my new material and performing them all at the shows!