Irish singer-songwriter CMAT emerges as the frontrunner for Best Album at the Mercury Prize Awards in Newcastle tonight with her third record, Euro-Country
The stars are gearing up to attend the Mercury Prize tonight at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, and Irish singer-songwriter CMAT is emerging as a clear favourite following the release of her third album, Euro-Country.
Bookmakers have placed her at the top of the odds, citing her distinctive sound and growing international profile.
Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, professionally known as CMAT, first gained attention during lockdown with her clever country-pop storytelling and her early tracks combined humour, heartbreak, and candid reflections on life, quickly building a devoted fan base across Ireland.
CMAT has described herself as a “big fat pop star,” a title that reflects both her playful self-awareness and her growing popularity. Supporting indie artist Sam Fender on tour helped extend her reach, but her rise was already underway thanks to her unique voice and lyrical wit.
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Euro-Country, her third album, marks a progression in CMAT’s sound, blending country-inflected pop with indie sensibilities and sharp social commentary.
The record explores themes of loneliness, identity, and relationships, while maintaining a cheeky edge. Tracks like Take a Sexy Picture of Me and Stay for Something exemplify her music style, which can be described as candid, humorous, and occasionally chaotic – but always deeply personal.
The album’s production mixes traditional instruments like acoustic guitars with contemporary pop and electronic touches, creating a sound that is both familiar and fresh, which has made her music go viral on TikTok and beyond.
CMAT’s ability to balance light and dark themes has contributed to her expanding international following. In the UK, Europe, the US, and Australia, her music resonates with audiences who appreciate its honesty and unpredictability.
Bookmakers highlight the album’s sharp lyricism and the way CMAT addresses emotional vulnerability with wit, making Euro-Country a strong Mercury Prize contender.
Her biggest hit, Take a Sexy Picture of Me, has gone viral on TikTok, sparking a dance challenge that has generated over 169,000 posts.
Celebrities including Lola Young, Julia Fox, Amelia Dimoldenberg, and Liz Gillies have all attempted the routine, calling it the “woke Macarena.”
Despite the playful reception online, CMAT emphasises the track’s underlying seriousness. “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.”
This year’s nominees for the Mercury Prize Awards were announced on BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Sounds by Lauren Laverne this morning. The twelve nominees are the ‘Albums of the Year’, but the overall winner will be unveiled tonight.
Among the albums nominated is Pulp’s More, which is their first album in more than 20 years. The rock band, which rose to prominence back in the 1990s, hadn’t released a studio album since 2001 prior to the release of More in June this year.
This year marks the first time that the Mercury Prize moves beyond London. Organisers have said that the relocation to Newcastle, in partnership with Newcastle City Council and The North East Combined Authority, “signals a new dawn” for it.
The Albums of the Year for the Mercury Prize 2025 are:
- 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
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Source: Mirror
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