The Ivor Novello Awards specifically recognise the importance of songwriting.
The Dunboyne country pop star was previously nominated at the Mercury Music Prize last year for Euro-Country where won.
Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson was previously also nominated for the BRITs for International Artist and/ Artist of the Year this year and also International Artist of the Year in 2023.
She’s previously won the Choice Music Prize for Irish album of the year twice in 2023 and this year for Euro-Country and in 2023 for her debut album.
The Ivors are a genuinely prestigious award because of its singular focus on songwriting as a craft, and over three albums, CMAT has shown herself to be a great songwriting – writing from a specificity of her own experience but relating it on a personal and global level. She’s both an astute writer and a funny person, you see that in her speech last night.
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As she said, in full:
This record Euro-Country is about the very complicated relationship I have with my country, which as, I don’t know if you know… is Ireland.
I happen to be a legal immigrant in this country, only because Ireland was lucky enough to get colonised 800 years ago by England.
And, that is actually the only difference between me and you, admin wise.
I have a very specific idea of what songwriting is supposed to be for and i think it is to reflect the times through your own personal views so that people can have something to connect to and to learn from years later.
Now I would compel my fellow artists in the room – it is not the time to sit on the fence, fascism is on the rise.
That cunt Bertie Ahern recently decided to be racist on camera, he revealed his true colours. Fuck Reform, Fuck Nigel Farage.
I have no time, sympathy, or empathy for anybody that decides to make life more difficult for people who are just trying to live, and that’s what this record is about.
Thank you for my award, I really love it.
CMAT referencing Bertie once more, as she does on the title track of the album, is timely as he was caught on camera saying we are taking in too many African immigrants from the Congo – a statement that came days before a Congolese man Yves Sakila was killed outside Arnott’s in Dublin by security guards in what is being called Ireland’s George Floyd’s moment.
After her speech, CMAT also referenced previous winner Conor O’Brien aka Villagers who won an Ivor Novello in 2011.
“”It’s really nice to finally win an award in England. English people don’t generally give me awards, so that’s a first, really good. I’m actually a big fan of the man, Ivor Novello, himself as well…
He’s the tits, this award is the tits. I love Amy Winehouse so much, and she won Best Song Musically and Lyrically for Love Is a Losing Game, and I remember that because I was like 10 when it happened, and she was a really big thing for me.
“And I always loved the fact that she won that award, and so did a guy from Ireland called Villagers (singer-songwriter Conor J O’Brien). He won it in 2011 for a song called Becoming a Jackal.
“And I remember being like, ‘Wow, it’s crazy that the most famous person in the world and this indie artist from Dublin both won the same award. What an interesting award show. I would f****** love one of them’.”
Accepting her award for International Songwriter of the Year, Rosalia said:
“There are countless outstanding writers which will not be recognised as they deserve because they aren’t middle-class white Europeans, whose upbringing has been sufficiently stable for them to turn a hint of talent into a successful career.”
The Ivors Academy formally launched in Ireland
The Ivors Academy is a professional association for songwriters and composers, and the organisation behind the prestigious Ivor Novello Awards and it launched in Ireland in February.
It means the Ivors will advocate and represent Irish songwriters with former Arts and Culture Minister Catherine Martin will lead on policy in Ireland and report into Roberto Neri, CEO of The Ivors Academy.
The Ivors Academy will enhance engagement at EU level on major topics including AI, copyright, fair terms and remuneration for songwriters and composers.
Other winners on the night included:
Rising Star Awar
Jacob Alon
Outstanding Song Collection
Lily Allen
Songwriter of the Year
Sam Fender
PRS for Music Icon Award
Calvin Harris
International Songwriter of the Year
ROSALÍA
Academy Fellowship:
George Michael
Thom Yorke
Best album
Euro- Country – CMAT
Best contemporary song
I Stand on the Line + Know Yourself – Kae Tempest/Fraser T Smith
Best song musically and lyrically
Don’t Fall Asleep – Jacob Alon
Most performed work
Messy – Lola Young
Rising star
Jacob Alon
Best original film score
Testimony – Tom Hodge
Best television soundtrack
Trespasses – David Holmes/Brian Irvine
Special international
Linda Perry
Visionary award
Kano
