Irish singer CMAT has said her new album, Euro-Country, is "really personal" and explores how the record "is dealing with Ireland as a case study for capitalism".
The country-pop sensation from Co Meath, real name Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, released her third record today to rave reviews, with The Guardian and The Times both awarding it five stars.
In a candid chat with Marty Whelan on RTÉ Lyric FM this morning, the chart-topper explained how her new offering tackles a number of big themes, including personal reflections on economics and identity.
"This record is really dealing with Ireland as a case study for capitalism. I think that's kind of the angle and the true line in everything. I talk about my childhood and I talk a lot about the recession.
I'm also just making it really personal. I don't think there's any point in talking about political stuff unless you're going to have a lot of heart and soul and personal experience in it."
Euro-Country follows 2023's Crazymad, For Me, which garnered numerous accolades - including a BRITs Best International Artist nod and Best Album nominations from the Ivors, Mercury Prize, and the Choice Music Prize - an award she previously won for her debut If My Wife New I’d Be Dead.
The new album, released via AWAL Recordings, was recorded in New York and co-produced by long-time collaborator Oli Deakin and CMAT herself.
The 29-year-old singer is set to play Dublin's St Anne's Park on Saturday 30 May 2026, and Virgin Media Park, Cork on Saturday 20 June 2026.
Asked about her upcoming tour dates, she said: "I think this year might be closing in on 100 shows - which is a show every three days - which is mad. It's crazy."
CMAT said that while she has her ups and downs dealing with her hectic work schedule, her sister Róisín helps keep her grounded.
"This is the thing - being a popstar is either the best thing ever or the worst thing ever, and there's not really any in-between moments. It's either just really full whack 'oh this is amazing' or really full whack 'I'm having a terrible time because I'm so exhausted'.
"And it is just genuinely being tired - it's not that anything is individually bad. We keep on making a joke because I was being a bit of a rat last week. I was very cranky because I was exhausted and they were like: 'Why are you being so horrible? All of your dreams are coming true'. But they were all coming true in the same week, so you don't even have a chance to acknowledge what's happening."
Joking that her sister now has to put up with her diva antics, she laughed: "Course I'm being a diva. I'm starting to lose my head. Yeah, I'm starting to lose the run of myself. I had to hire my sister to pay back for all the childhood bullying she did to me."
She added: "She does pull me out of bed on days where I am being a little rat. She'll kick me out of bed if I'm being a hypochondriac, but if I am actually sick, she will mind me."
Euro-Country is out now.
