Catherine Egbert, a 24-year-old musician from Northern California, has made a name for herself in the music scene with her latest project, saoirse dream. A former member of punk bands, Egbert has transitioned into the world of electronic music, merging her diverse musical influences into a fresh cyberpop sound.
Born and raised in Northern California, Egbert was deeply immersed in the local music scene from a young age. She began creating various forms of dance music at just 12 years old, but later shifted her focus to playing bass in punk bands. This duality of musical experience has shaped her current work with saoirse dream, which she describes as the latest evolution of her “forever-running solo project.”
Recently, Egbert has embraced collaboration, expressing how rewarding it is to perform alongside a live band. In her words, “It’s a lot more rewarding to play parties with other people playing with you… I realized how much I felt like I was missing, because I’d been making music that was intended to be played by myself.”
The saoirse dream lineup is a familial affair, featuring Egbert on guitar, her sibling Cleo McKenzie on bass, and Roy McKenzie on drums. She looks forward to showcasing this collaboration on June 17 at McMenamins Mission Theater in Portland, where they will share the stage with Michael Cera Palin and Swiss Army Wife.
Egbert categorizes her music under the umbrella of hyperpop, a genre that fuses elements from various styles, including dance music, mainstream pop, emo, and experimental electronic noise. She acknowledges that while her earlier work was crafted in isolation, she was inspired by the vibrant creativity found within contemporary online communities.
Her musical journey took a significant turn when she moved to Portland, seeking a larger and more dynamic music scene. However, her timing coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, which brought unexpected challenges. “I signed a lease on a place, and then COVID happened. That drove me back into the internet scene,” she recalls.
To adapt to her new circumstances, she took a job at a Subway, allowing her the flexibility to focus on music production during a time when live performances were virtually nonexistent. With an abundance of time at her disposal, she released a series of self-titled albums that helped define her signature sound.
Among her projects was her debut album, “let the sky in,” released in January 2021. However, she refers to it as “album number zero,” deeming her September 2021 release, titled everything*, as her official debut. By the time she released her third album, star★☆, in 2022, she had developed a local following, eager to see her perform live.
Egbert’s first live performance as saoirse dream was an acoustic set in August 2022 at Mano Oculta, a venue that has since closed. This gig was a pivotal moment for her as she discovered a surprising number of fans who were familiar with her music. This support validated her artistic direction and inspired her to embrace her hyperpop roots more prominently.
Moreover, the pandemic turned out to be a mixed blessing for Egbert, as she received compensation from her job at Target during its temporary closure. The extra time and income allowed her to dedicate herself fully to her self-titled album, released earlier this year. “It’s a quantum leap in artistry and sound quality from my earlier work,” she admits, showcasing a new level of focus in her craft.
Looking back on her progress, Egbert reflects, “I think the self-titled was the first album I went into trying to make an album. Before I had all these fragments of scattered half-songs. With [the self-titled], I knew what I wanted, I knew what it was. I just had to put it all together.”
With saoirse dream, Catherine Egbert is carving out a niche that blends punk energy with the experimentalism of electronic music, signaling a promising new chapter in her artistic journey. As she prepares for future performances, the excitement surrounding her growing project continues to build, making it clear that saoirse dream is an act to watch in the evolving music landscape.
image source from：https://www.wweek.com/music/2025/06/10/portland-transplant-saoirse-dream-finds-her-own-blend-of-maximalist-cyberpop/
