CMAT has had social media in a frenzy with her witty country style songs, but now her talent has brought her to be nominated to win a mercury prize and critics believe she’s the leading contender
The Mercury Prize Awards show is set to take place on October 16 at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, but fans are already betting there’s one clear frontrunner: Irish singer-songwriter CMAT, following the release of her third album, Euro-Country.
Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, better known as CMAT, has been on a rise since supporting indie star Sam Fender on tour. But her success started long before that during lockdown, her witty country-pop storytelling earned her a loyal fan base across Ireland, turning her into what she calls a “big fat pop star.”
Since then, her songs and personality have taken her far beyond Dublin. With hits like Take a Sexy Picture of Me and Stay for Something, CMAT has built a devoted following across the UK, Europe, the US and Australia mixing humour, heartbreak and a little bit of chaos into her sound.
READ MORE: Emily Atack’s go-to smudgy eyeliner that’s a ‘makeup bag must-have’ is slashed to £23READ MORE: Strictly’s Tess Daly forced to apologise for Vicky Pattison’s behaviour
But one song in particular has taken social media by a storm, ‘take a sexy picture of me’, as it started a new Tiktok dance, and has seen many take to the app to mime the lyrics, marking 169k post under the sound.
And other stars have endorsed the song describe as the ‘woke macarena’, Lola Young has learnt the dance, Julia Fox, Chicken shop’s Amelia Dimoldenberg and Liz Gillies, just to name a few.
However while the song is gaining popularity, CMAT describes it as a sad song, “If we’re dealing with a song that’s as dark as this, and as grim as this, we have to make it a bit funny,” she said. “The thing with this song was, I wanted it to sound joyous and uplifting to sing but also to be a bit of a rallying cry.”
For more stories like this subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp, for a curated roundup of trending stories, poignant interviews, and viral lifestyle picks from The Mirror’s Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox.
Now shortlisted for the 2025 Mercury Prize, Euro-Country is being celebrated for its sharp lyrics, ambitious production and emotional depth. The album, which debuted at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart, has drawn praise for its blend of satire and sincerity, tackling themes of fame, loneliness and self-awareness.
There are many artist up for the album of the year Mercury prize including:
- EURO-COUNTRY by CMAT
- Weirdo by Emma-Jean Thackray
- EUSEXUA by FKA twigs
- Romance by Fontaines D.C.
- In Limerence by Jacob Alon
- Hamstrings & Hurricanes by Joe Webb
- Transform Me Then Into A Fish by Martin Carthy
- Afrikan Alien by Pa Salieu
- Fancy That by PinkPantheress
- More by Pulp
- People Watching by Sam Fender
- The Clearing by Wolf Alice
But critics are tipping CMAT as a leading contender to win tonight’s award, with several outlets naming Euro-Country their pick of the year. But while she’s considered a strong favourite, the Mercury Prize is decided by an industry panel and the winner is yet to be announced.
Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We’d love to hear from you!