AWAL Signs CMAT to Global Recordings Deal

28 October 2021 - Press release

Irish Singer/Songwriter Announces Album Deal with AWAL

AWAL has announced a worldwide deal with acclaimed Irish singer/songwriter CMAT. Under the recordings deal for her forthcoming album, CMAT will benefit from AWAL’s global marketing, creative, synch and A&R teams.

Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, the Dublin artist better known as CMAT, spent her formative years studying the work of Dolly Parton, Charli XCX, Loretta Lynn and Cate Le Bon alongside copious research into RuPaul’s Drag Race, music TV of the 70s and 80s, the life and works of Anna Nicole Smith, Dublin’s drag scene and celebrity socialites London/LA between 1999 and 2009, all resulting in CMAT: an alternative pop star for an alternate universe.

From her 2020 releases ‘Another Day (KFC)’ to her signature song, ‘I Wanna Be A Cowboy, Baby!’ it was clear that CMAT’s songwriting had surprisingly wide appeal. Key supporters of her work to date include Dork, The Guardian, Popjustice, The Irish Times, Wonderland, Clash and The Sunday Times, alongside editorial playlist support from Spotify, including a number of NMF UK nods, and 2021 tips from a range of influential publications.
She opened her 2021 account with her fourth offering, the pop gem, ‘I Don’t Really Care For You’, which landed Spotify support on NMF UK, Fresh Folk and Folk Pop playlists; radio plays from Jack Saunders on BBCR1 and Steve Lamacq on 6 Music, and a debut play on Apple Music 1 from Matt Wilkinson’, confirming her as one to watch.
Paul Hitchman, President of AWAL said, “AWAL is increasingly the partner of choice for the most exciting and original new artists. CMAT has an incredibly strong creative vision for her music, and we are more than happy to empower and partner with her and her team to take her career to the next level.”

Will Hunt, Senior Director of A&R at AWAL added, “CMAT is a unique songwriting talent with a special voice. She's a true career artist. There are no boundaries to what she can achieve and we're so excited to be working with her.”

Barry O’Donoghue of THIS Management, who represent CMAT said, “We are delighted and excited to be working with Will, Charlotte, Paul and the rest of the top team at AWAL Recordings as we saddle up for the release of CMAT’s debut album next year.”

CMAT said, “After two years of riding solo, I literally could not be happier AWAL are hitching themselves to the CMAT wagon!”