Fresh off the airwaves of BBC Introducing and praised by Hotpress, SISTIR returns with ‘in the eyes’ – a hauntingly beautiful follow-up to her previous hit ‘bridge‘.”
Hailing from the heartlands of the Irish Republic, McCarthy has long established herself as an accomplished musician and singer, having toured with White Chalk across Ireland, the UK, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, supporting artists such as Kodaline, James Bay, Walking on Cars and Rea Garvey. As a solo artist, she has opened for David Keenan, Keywest, Cronin and Mundy, among others.
SISTIR’s music is a unique blend of chilling 80’s synth, haunting harmonies, and wavy guitar riffs. With a warm and inviting voice layered across soaring and progressive production, her songs deal with a mix of femininity, trauma, sexuality and emotional urgency. McCarthy leads us by the hand into a continent of the soul, of melancholy and the immediate, the surface of which is peppered with subtle Motown reverence, Europop calls and traditional Sean nós response. The upcoming release of ‘In the eyes’ promises to continue this trend.
‘In the eyes’ is a follow-up to ‘bridge‘ and was written in Bristol with James Lock, after the end of a relationship that prompted McCarthy’s move to the city. The song explores the emotions and healing involved in the aftermath of the relationship. McCarthy’s melodic voice and Lock’s guitar work capture the rawness of the experience, with the line “who are you at your best” expressing McCarthy’s desire to see her ex-partner thrive.
Hotpress has praised SISTIR’s music and urged fans to keep an eye out for her progress in 2023, while Mystic Sons has called ‘bridge’ one of her most impactful cuts to date. The upcoming release of ‘In the eyes‘ promises to build on her success, with the track receiving it’s first airplay as a showcase feature on BBC introducing West with James Threfall on March 25th.
For fans of Lykke Li, Banks, Florence and the Machine, HAIM and Marina and the Diamonds, McCarthy’s unique ear for melody and tumbling rhythms invite the listener to shatter, to heal, and repeat.
