New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Dublin-based Kilkenny-born indie pop artist Cat Dowling has signed to Ireland's Forever In Financial Arrears Records or FIFA Records, as it is more commonly known. She will release her next album in autumn via the steadily expanding label, who have continuously worked with exciting new Irish talent (Fight Like Apes, One Morning in August, Klubber Lang, Hope is Noise, Dae Kim,
Lorraine Nash), as well as releasing material from more established names on the Irish indie scene, such as The Frank & Walters, Emperor of Ice Cream, August Wells, Power of Dreams and Whipping Boy.
Lauded as one of the most wonderful and evocative vocalists in Irish contemporary music, Cat Dowling's beautifully dark pop songs and those husky and achingly intimate vocals will grip you from the outset. The former Babelfish and Alphastates frontwoman creates well-crafted songs that inspire.
Dowling also presents the video for her lush slice of soulful pop perfection, 'Freedom', created by film-maker Alba Lahoz. When restrictions momentarily lifted in Ireland, Cat's three free-spirited tearaway children do their thing, showing that Freedom is a space inside us that can never be tamed.
"Sometimes we think big. Sometimes we think small. Sometimes we think with all we have got. When we have limited access to other humans, the humans closest to us are the most important humans of all," says Cat Dowling.
"This video was filmed on a bitingly-cold December afternoon when light was sparse, winds howled and the skies randomly opened. We managed to find the sun, fell in love with the wind and forgot about the camera. It was mainly filmed on Donabate beach and Dollymount Strand in Dublin. Freedom is best explained and expressed in childhood when there are no limitations, everything is possible and we are free to be truly ourselves".
Produced by Gerry Horan with Dowling as co-producer, and mixed by Ger McDonnell (The Cure, U2, Van Morrison, Martha Wainwright, Shane McGowan, Sinead O'Connor), Dowling's latest output was partially recorded at Crossroads Studio in Kilkenny with support from Ireland's Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media.
Earlier this year, Dowling released the first single 'Trouble', making quite a big splash in her homeland, with a fantastic video by BAFTA award-winning director Fergal Costello. Based on a black comedy concept, it was filmed in winter in the Wicklow mountains, telling the story of a dark, comedic and violent tale that takes place outside of Belfast in 1981.
In 2013, Dowling debuted with 'The Believer' LP, ranked in numerous 'Best of Year' music polls, including The Sunday Times. The title track featured in the second series of 'Banshee', produced by Alan Ball (Six Feet Under, American Beauty, True Blood) and the 'Witches of East End' TV series, featuring Julia Ormond. The song 'Somebody Else' was also used in 'My name is Emily'. Cat has also lent vocals on many collaborative projects, including for ABC's 'How To Get Away With Murder' with Emmy-winning actress Viola Davis.
'Freedom' is out now, available everywhere digitally, including Spotify, Apple
Music and Bandcamp. Fans can expect Cat Dowling's next long-player to be released in November of this year.
"Remarkable-voiced Cat Dowling's solo debut considerably exceeds expectations and previous endeavours, delivering an impressive collection of slow-burning melancholic indie rock" - Sunday Business Post
"It's her incredible vocals that resonate. When mercurial, she is reminiscent of the gutsy
Karen O. When the pace slows, the respectful tone evokes Kristin Hersh" - Sunday Times
"Cat Dowling's vocals, melodicism and pop sensibility are brilliant... introspective and heartfelt... passionate and liberating" - Big Takeover Magazine
"The strongest collection of her career. She has exceeded expectations with an LP throbbing with anger and ennui" - Irish Times, Irish Independent
"An artist with a lot to say and plenty of bewitching ways to say it. Excellent" - RTE
"Truly a talent we can now believe in" - Top40-Charts.com
Produced by Gerry Horan
Co-produced by Cat Dowling
Recorded by Karl Odlum, Gerry Horan, Jed Parle
Mixed by Ger McDonnell
Mastered by Fergal Davis
Performed by Cat Dowling, Gerry Horan, Jeremey Hickey, Marja Gaynor.
Music and Lyrics written by Cat Dowling (ISRC: TCAFP2198968)
