Pittsburgh local music spotlight: Cathleen Ireland

Cathleen Ireland’s latest album, “In the City,” drew inspiration from driving through Pittsburgh.

“It encapsulates the ‘night out on the town’ excitement from getting ready to getting out to hanging out with friends,” Ireland said, “with the gorgeous lights of Pittsburgh as the backdrop and the music on center stage.”

The album was produced in collaboration with Ryan M. Tedder, who’s worked with Jennifer Lopez, Ariana Grande and more.

“Working with Ryan has been a dream come true for me and I owe it all to my videographer and bandmate, Joe Chilcott, for introducing us,” said Ireland, a native of Penn Hills. “Ryan has a beautifully calming temperament which I devour because I have an extremely nervous energy. He’s been writing beats since before we called them beats, and his songwriting in the R&B/neo-soul arena is unparalleled. We instantly connected because he innately knew what to write for me, music-wise, and I was quickly inspired by the beats he presented me. Our early days of getting to know one another and forming our process are some of the greatest memories of my career.”

Ireland cited the Crafty Jackalope in Bridgeville and Jergel’s as some of her favorite local venues, as well as a performance at the Millvale Music Festival (where’ll she return again this year).

“Baja Bar and Grill is excellent because I’m a true river rat and I love the ambiance by the water,” she said. “Avalon Community Park is a blast to play and has such a great family feel with kids running around throwing footballs and doing cartwheels, and it totally reminds me of the street in Penn Hills where I grew up.”

Her 2025 highlight was performing “Jungle” with her friend John Graziani, who co-wrote the song. No matter where the performance takes place, Ireland said she relishes the link with the audience.

“Connecting with the crowd is one of the most satisfying feelings you can experience even if it is only one person in a crowd of a thousand,” she said. “When you look at that individual and they respond to your gaze and smile back or move to the beat they are validating the musical connection. I really prefer more intimate venues where you can see the whites of their eyes. I like that closeness and when it feels like I’m just singing for my family in the living room.”

And, for the record, Ireland has been asked many times about the similarly named supermodel, Kathy Ireland.

“I used to get that all the time when I was working as a salesperson in the ’90s,” she said. “I think I owe her a debt of gratitude because having the same name definitely helped me open some doors in those days. It was a great icebreaker!”

Ireland filled in TribLive on what else we should know about her music:

Musician: Cathleen Ireland

Band members: Because I’m a solo artist, I typically utilize friends and bandmates from my cover band when applicable.

Founding story: I’ve been writing songs since I was about 5, first writing while my father bounced me on his knee, “love my daddy give me a ride.” In seventh grade, I wrote the music on guitar and the melody for a poem my friend had written called “Special Lady.” It became a family favorite that relatives would request at parties and reunions. Once I got in a real band I left the music writing to the professionals and focused more on lyrics and melodies, and it has been my therapy since then. Like the jigsaw puzzle you do to relax.

For fans of: Dua Lipa, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez, Sabrina Carpenter

Influences: Madonna, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, Katy Perry, Janet Jackson, Prince, Toni Braxton, Anita Baker, Cyndi Lauper

Releases: “Love Ya Self” album, 2024; “In the City” album, 2025; singles “School” and “Something to Believe In” coming soon

How to find her: Ireland can be found at her website, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Three other Pittsburgh area bands to check out: The Moat Rats; Miss Freddye; Jim Donovan and the Sun King Warriors

Favorite pizza shop: Pasqualino’s Pizza Palace in Penn Hills or any Pasqualino’s restaurant

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