SISTIR, the moniker of Irish artist Aisling McCarthy, has firmly established herself as an accomplished musician and singer. With a career spanning several years, touring with White Chalk across Ireland, the UK, Germany, Austria and Switzerland (supporting artists such as Kodaline, James Bay, Walking on Cars and Rea Garvey) and solo supporting David Keenan, Keywest, Cronin and Mundy.
For almost a decade, she has been writing and producing music alongside teaching in a secondary school full-time. However, it had become increasingly challenging to balance both jobs. As she puts it, "Teaching is an intense job that requires a lot of creative energy, and I couldn't keep up with releasing music." Feeling like it was time to fully commit to her music, SISTIR made a bold move and relocated to Chiang Mai, Thailand, where she could focus on her craft. "Since I've come here, I've had the time and energy to create and have been so inspired by this beautiful place."
Her previous three singles, 'Bridge', 'In the Eyes,' and ‘touch wood’ premiered on BBC Introducing and quickly gained popularity on Irish radio stations such as RTE 2fm, RTE Radio 1, FM 104, and iRadio, among many others. Her unique ear for melody and tumbling rhythms caught the attention of music critics, and her single was featured in Wonderland alongside The Weeknd, Hotpress, The Last Mixed Tape, Nialler9, Mystic Sons, Cloutcloutclout, and many more. As Hotpress noted, "Keep an eye out for her progress in 2023," and Wonderland described her music as "expansive and strong, with vocals that pierce and lyrics that tell an emotional story."
SISTIR's debut EP, dropped June 16th, alongside her single, 'Touch Wood'. Drawing on her influences, SISTIR carves out elbow room at the table of celestial soundscapes with chilling 80's synth, haunting harmony, and wavy guitar riffs by former Keywest Guitarist James Lock. Singular and authentic, McCarthy's music deals heavily with femininity, mysticism, trauma and living in emotional urgency. Cultivating deep ruminations on the self as if pried from the ribcage of Kate Bush with Blood Orange sensibilities, SISTIR 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.
For fans of Caroline Polachek, Banks, HAIM, Lykke Li and Florence and the Machine, SISTIR's music invites the listener to shatter, to heal, and repeat. With her impressive track record and captivating sound, SISTIR is undoubtedly one to watch in 2023 and beyond.
