Catty (singer)

Catrin Hopkins was born on 7 August 1997 in Caernarfon, Gwynedd.^[2][3] She was raised in Y Felinheli and attended Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen.^[4] When asked when her first connection to music was, she recalled being in her early teens and being taken to a karaoke bar abroad whilst on holiday with her parents. She sang and received a warm reception, as well as an inner love to singing.^[1] At the aged 14, she competed in Open Mic UK, as well as performing at local festivals and fun days in her area.^[4]

CATTY is a lesbian.^[5] She has stated that growing up queer in a small Welsh town was not ideal for her and she moved to a big city in England as soon as she could. However, she has stated that when she goes back home, she feels more accepted than she did growing up.^[1] Since 2024, she has been in a relationship with I Kissed a Girl cast member Amy Spalding.^[6]

In 2016, Hopkins began her professional music career in the musical duo Dusky Grey, alongside Gethin Williams. The pair lived within 20 minutes of each other in Wales, but met each other on Facebook and began performing together. They were signed to Warner Records and began releasing music together, as well as releasing their own solo projects. In 2018, her song "9" received airplay from BBC Radio Cymru.^[7] Since the COVID-19 pandemic, they have each solely worked on their own projects due to being dropped by the label.^[8][9] In 2021, she released her debut single under the stage name CATTY. Released in April 2021, "Bella Donna" was described by Lock magazine as "a super sleek cut that hooks you in with its badass bass thuds and sublime vocals".^[10] The title was inspired by the 1981 album by Stevie Nicks. Whilst releasing music, she has worked as a waitress and barista to raise funds, which she has stated that she is not ashamed of as an independent artist.^[2]

CATTY continued releasing various singles, including "Maybe All the Rumours Are True", which was played on BBC Radio 1's Future Pop show.^[11] In 2024, she released the song "I Dated a Monster",^[12] which interpolates "Monster" by the Automatic.^[13] As well as other singles, the song was included on her debut extended play (EP), Healing Out of Spite (2024).^[14] The single of the same name became CATTY's first to chart, reaching number 77 on the Official Singles Chart in the UK.^[15] Also in July 2024, Catty supported Stevie Nicks at BST Hyde Park.^[16] With no label or agent, only herself and her manager, the pair emailed numerous contacts to attain Catty the gig, to no avail. Eventually, after sending the booking agent a voice note on Instagram, she was booked for the festival.^[5] That same year, she was also the opening act for Dylan and Beth McCarthy.^[8]

In May 2025, CATTY released the song "Joyride", described as "sapphic soundtrack of the summer" by Diva.^[6] She wrote the song partly due to a Twitter bet that she could not write a love song, wanting to prove that she could.^[8] The song was accompanied by a music video described as a sapphic twist on Thelma & Louise, starring CATTY and her girlfriend, Spalding.^[6] It was followed by the track "Prized Possession".^[17] CATTY then released the song "4am (Back in His Bed)", written about a woman who was using her as a "little play thing" during a rocky patch with her boyfriend.^[18] The songs were all featured on her six-track second EP, Bracing for Impact.^[19]

As a child, CATTY listed Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion amongst her main influences.^[4] When in Dusky Grey, she named Fleetwood Mac as her main inspiration,^[9] one she has continued to list since.^[20] She has also named Lady Gaga, Lennon Stella, Seinabo Sey, Chappell Roan, Cher and James Dean as musical inspirations.^[9][8][17] CATTY has also been inspired by musical theatre, listing Chicago and Burlesque as influences.^[8]