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Despite her obvious Nashville influences, 21 year-old Catherine McGrath is a Co. Down native with her own handle on the American genre. Having been interviewed by committed fan Elton John on his Beats 1 show, and with her promotional singles on rotation on BBC Radio 1, her debut album Talk Of This Town, released July 27th, promised incredible things.

Talk Of This Town is the latest album to carefully blend together a comfortable country/pop sound, and the more intricate songwriting talent of traditional country music.  Crafted with a traditional emphasis on storytelling and writing from the heart, McGrath puts her lyrics to a more modern country-pop style much like an early Taylor Swift or Kacey Musgraves. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is a trad album – it’s a modern, polished record. The title track opens with a voguish, contemporary guitar riff and resonant background vocals which instantly reminded me of country princess Kelsea Ballerini (whom McGrath has opened for in the past). It’s a song acutely aware of the relatively unpopularity of country music outside its home place, and the risks that McGrath took in pursuing her dream as a songwriter and musician within such a niche genre.

The writing provides a snapshot of the artist’s life: particularly her love of music, and the emotional struggles of her relationships. If there’s anything that could be better about the record, it’s that more variety or individualism in the songs would be appreciated, because there’s clearly so much potential. Lyrically, McGrath is fantastically real: “but she always comes up in the conversation / I shouldn’t care but you’re only halfway here” on “Wild” turns into “wanted to hate her but she’s so damn nice” on the powerhouse “Thought It Was Gonna Be Me.” Depending on your point of view, it’s either soppy or strikingly authentic and emotive. Nashville star Hunter Hayes is featured on “Don’t Let Me Forget”, and McGrath collaborates with songwriting genius Liz Rose (“All Too Well”, or “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift, anyone?) – on the ballad “Cinderella.”

Personally, my favourite was “Lost In The Middle,” a wildly catchy anthem honouring the escapism to an idyllic American South made possible by putting in headphones:  “and they’re singing ’bout a small town Saturday night / dancing in the dirt, glitter in the sky”. But the standout track is surely “Talk Of This Town” itself – an anxiety-ridden, but defiantly upbeat gem about the search to achieve a distant dream, delivered with cutting-edge production and a magnetic hook: “I’ll keep walking, you’ll keep talking / I’ll move on and still be the talk of this town.”

Country music is beginning to grow in popularity across Europe now, and Irish people are catching on, as artists and listeners. Recently I’ve heard Kelsea Ballerini played in Boots, and Florida Georgia Line sneak onto Spin 1038. With this album, it is apparent that Ireland is producing its own talent capable of sharing the stage with the very best. If the future of country, especially homegrown country, sounds anything like Catherine McGrath and her debut album, it will find a welcome reception.