If you’ve never heard of CMAT… first of all, have you been living under a rock? Second of all, get to know!
The 29-year-old, whose real name is Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, has been making waves in the industry in recent times and has just announced her upcoming third studio album and a tour of the UK and Ireland.
Here’s everything we know about CMAT, who exclusively makes music for ‘the girls and the gays’:
Who is CMAT?
Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson AKA CMAT. Pic: Per Ole Hagen/Redferns
Born February 23, 1996, Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, known professionally as CMAT, is an Irish singer-songwriter.
She was born in Dublin but raised in Co Meath in Clonee and Dunboyne. The 29-year-old returned to her Dublin roots when she decided to study a Trinity College.
However, that was short-lived and she left college in favour of upping sticks for Denmark.
CMAT. Pic: Jason Sheldon/REX/Shutterstock
CMAT had aspirations of becoming a professional musician from a young age and relocated to Manchester with her then-boyfriend. Chasing their musical dreams, they performed together as ‘Bad Sea’.
The singer has since said this relationship was ‘toxic’ and ‘isolating’. She started to live a partying lifestyle and put her music dream on pause.
CMAT attended an in-person listening session with none other than brat summer pioneer Chari XCX, who advised her to refocus. CMAT then returned to Ireland and launched her career as a solo artist.
Career
CMAT. Pic: C Brandon/Redferns
CMAT is still relatively new to the Irish music scene, having only released her debut studio album If My Wife New I’d Be Dead in February 2022.
It impressively entered the Irish Albums Chart at #1. It also won the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year in March 2023.
Pic: CMAT/Instagram
That June, she announced her follow-up studio album Crazymad, for Me, which was released four months later. It was just as successful as its predecessor and debuted at #1 in the Irish Albums Chart.
CMAT was nominated for International Artist of the Year at the 2024 BRIT Awards amongst huge names such as Kylie Minogue, SZA, Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift.
Pic: CMAT/Instagram
CMAT, who is openly bisexual, has a large fanbase among the Irish LGBTQ+ community, previously telling NME: ‘I’m making music for the girls and the gays, and that’s it.’
The singer announced her third studio album EURO-COUNTRY in March 2025, which is due for release in August. She also announced a UK and Ireland tour.
Eclectic style
Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, aka CMAT, attends the BRIT Awards 2024. Pic: Jim Dyson/Redferns
We love CMAT’s eclectic sense of style.
Perhaps her most daring look to date was her cheeky ‘fit at the 2024 BRIT Awards. She made a very bold fashion choice as she wore a black satin dress by designer Sophie Lincoln featuring a high neck, puffy shoulders and sleeves, and trimmed with feathers.
While it looked chic from the front, CMAT shocked photographers when she turned around, as the very low-cut back revealed much more than anyone expected, putting her bum on display!
