Photo Credit: RDLC Photos
Following extensive praise from BBC Introducing, Virgin Media’s Six O’Clock Show, RTÉ 2FM, Today FM, SPIN 103.8, Hot Press and more, Cork singer-songwriter Cathal Fitz releases his debut EP Concise Waffle, this Friday, September 4th, with focus track ‘Unnecessary’.
Sharing stages with Darren Kiely, Skinny Living, Seamus Harty, Jack L, Jerry Fish and more less than two years into his career, Fitz is quickly establishing himself as a rising talent across Ireland and beyond. With only a handful of singles under his belt, he has already amassed over 100,000 Spotify streams: A confident new voice that carries far beyond his beloved County Cork.
After leaving his job in 2024 to pursue music full‑time, the singer-songwriter has stepped boldly into his debut era. The leap has certainly paid off: His hometown headline show in Cork sold out in under 20 hours – a defining moment that signals his arrival as an artist ready for the national spotlight.
Debut EP, Concise Waffle features the acclaimed singles ‘Paper Planes’ and ‘Rock and a Hard Place’ – two songs praised for their emotional clarity, social awareness, and raw honesty – with the former earning playlisting on Red FM and Galway Bay FM’S ‘Homegrown Track of the Week’.
Blending intimate acoustic storytelling with modern pop‑folk textures, Fitz writes with a sincerity that resonates deeply: reflections on fatherhood, sobriety, insecurity, connection, and the quiet courage it takes to grow.
Described by Hot Press as:
“…a raw and candid examination of addiction, self-awareness, and the desire for human connection”
Written across cottages, late‑night living rooms and moments of reflection, the EP captures Fitz at his most vulnerable and self‑assured; a songwriter learning to trust his voice, confront his past, and create with intention. It is a project rooted in lived experience, shaped by the people who anchor Fitz’s life, and delivered with the honesty that has already earned him national attention across Ireland and the UK.
EP Artwork By Sarah Hickey
Opening the EP, ‘Unnecessary’ sets the tone for the emotional honesty that follows – a reflection on the weight we carry, the expectations we inherit, and the quiet desire to step into a more authentic version of ourselves.
The EP’s rawest moment, ‘Rock and a Hard Place’ (released 21st August) is a confession of addiction, self‑sabotage, love, and the fight to become better. Fitz first posted the song online, where it immediately caught the attention of Virgin Media’s Six O’Clock Show, leading to a national TV performance that introduced him to audiences across Ireland. With mandolin and violin from Emily O’Donoghue and production from Kealan Kenny, the track captures the tension between hope and fear: the feeling of never knowing whether you’re falling or finally safe.
A candid confession about creative insecurity, ‘It’s No Use’ captures the moment Fitz broke through a long‑standing sense of musical stagnation. With encouragement from producer Kealan Kenny, he turned self‑doubt into fuel, recording the track live and raw. It’s a celebration of authenticity over comparison – beautifully imperfect music born from honesty.
The emotional centre of the EP, ‘Not Possible’ was written quietly at night so as not to wake Fitz’s young son. The song contrasts a child’s innocence with an adult’s inner storms, weaving themes of therapy, memory, fear, and hope. Anchored by a phrase shared between father and son – “I love you.” “I love you more.” “Not possible.” – it’s a tender portrait of growth and the grounding power of love.
‘Paper Planes’ (released 31st July and subsequently earning playlisting on Red FM and Galway Bay FM’s Homegrown Track of the Week) is a vivid, socially conscious meditation on the emotional weight of modern life. Inspired by the idea of folding problems into “little paper planes” and watching them drift away, the track confronts political division, social fatigue, and the systems that leave people fighting just to survive. Fitz’s writing traces the human cost of that division, fractured values, misplaced faith, and the shared love that breaks under pressure while still insisting on the possibility of change.
Speaking on the track, Fitz shares:
“’Paper Planes’ is about wanting to escape the chaos for a moment, but also recognising that real change comes from facing it. It’s the emotional end point of Concise Waffle”
Musically, the single blends introspective lyricism with soaring guitar textures, building toward a cathartic release that mirrors its message: empathy is overdue, and collective responsibility matters.
UPCOMING SHOWS
15 September: Manchester Gullivers
16 September: Sheffield Network
17 September: London Star of kings
18 September: Glasgow Hug & A Pint
23 September: Dublin Cat & Cage
26 September: Source Grassroots Festival, Coachford
11th October: Cork – Hometown Headline Show – Sold Out
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