Cork native Chubby Cat — the name conceived by electro-pop singer Cat Doran through a random name generator — is kicking back after finishing her first round of shows in a blazing-hot summer schedule of festival appearances. Briefly returning home after a week of playing three shows via London and Berlin, Cat is only beginning her reign. Lauded as a 2FM Rising Artist for 2024, Cat crafts music with vigour, catchy yet emotive.
She gives little away in her lyrics and relies on tone and sound to create an immersive experience that makes you feel like the only place you should be when listening is on a dance-floor. “It’s like buying a horse in a market,” Cat opens when we meet via Zoom. She is recalling the weekend just past at The Great Escape festival in Brighton, which marries musicians and industry professionals, showcasing the hottest up-and-comers on the scene.
Artist showcase events pose a unique dynamic — the pressure of which might feel more like a Tuesday morning PowerPoint presentation than a time to let loose and perform. “It was really cool to play in different venues and I met loads of people, but I have so much more fun when I play a normal gig,” she continues. “At a showcase, I feel like everything has to be perfect.
” The strive for perfection does not only exist in the land of music showcases for modern-day artists. With the rise of TikTok populism, there is a pressure to become a social media star as well as a musician. “I struggle a lot wi.
