Newcastle-based pop and rock act Cat Ryan first hit our radar last summer thanks to their powerful and emotional track Like This. Since then, the band have been working on their debut EP, released at the end of last year to critical acclaim. It’s called King Of The World.

By Graeme Smith

Feature photo by Will Copley

Cat Ryan are Mary-Anne Murphy, Dan Wright, Jake Waller and Charlie Radford. Lead singer and multi-instrumentalist Mary-Anne founded the band in 2018 drawing inspiration from the likes of Vampire Weekend and Declan McKenna. Their music has been featured on BBC Radio 1 and they’ve performed on stages at Truck Festival and Y NOT Festival, and supported Sundara Karma.

King of the World is a deeply personal collection for Mary-Anne, and includes tracks she wrote as far back as 2017. It opens with Speeding Too Slow. It’s a punchy and vibrant start, with percussive layers and a bittersweet sense of whimsy. The lyrics are instantly striking, right from when Mary-Anne’s charismatic vocals come in. The melody of its chorus will stick with you.

Rex Mundi is the EP’s lead single and it’s easy to see why. Its upbeat personality will have you falling in love with it, while its story, rich with narrative, explores the world from the perspective of a greyhound trying to break free of its constraints. It’s a definite highlight.

A cosmic and textured instrumental Interlude leads into Lost My Connection. The story of a long-distance relationship, it has an edge of melancholy about it, while its beat will still have you dancing through the sadness. Daydream closes the EP with perhaps its rockiest moment, distilling elements of shoegaze through a pop lens. It’s a chilled finish, and the perfect way to round off a flawless debut.

Cat Ryan have everything they need to be huge on the UK indie scene. I feel it’s only a matter of time before they’re playing some big headline sets based on their lovable sound.

You can give King of the World a listen below.