Who is she? Orla Gartland is a 22 year old Irish singer/songwriter from Dublin, who has just been chosen as a New Momentum Artist.
What is her sound? She has recently evolved from folk-pop with an electro twang and indie-synth undercurrent (see Lonely People, Clueless and Human) to funk-inspired guitar, loop-pedal heavy ballads with impossibly catchy hooks (see Imposter, Impossible and Change). Think: Regina Spektor meets Imogen Heap and has a musical baby in the form of a ginger, guitar-playing, impossibly cool Irish lady. Something like that.
Where do I find her music? Gartland’s main channel of communication, and predominant reason for her initial popularity, is her Youtube channel. As with most social media savvy millennials, you can also find her on a multitude of alternative sources: soundcloud, Twitter, Facebook, Spotify… But for the latest updates, sticking with Youtube is a safe bet. It is, after all, home to the infamous ‘yellow wall videos’, which only the hardcore dedicated fans will remember.
Which songs should I start with? In January 2015, Gartland released her second official EP Lonely People, which showcases some of her best work to date. The production and execution is slick, and Gartland balances punchy percussion, funk-inspired bass and echoing reverb with her mellow vocals which are as sweet and smooth as honey. The eponymous track ‘Lonely People‘ is carried by it’s heavy, lurching instrumentation that ricochets from beat to beat. Yet as the depth of the lyrics kick in – ‘This feels like a race against the clock‘ / ‘maybe youth is wasted on the young, our loss‘ – you can’t help but sense a tone of urgency as Gartland laments time slipping away as fast as sand between our fingers. ‘Souvenirs‘, the second track on the EP, is often compared to the groovy alt-rock riffs of The 1975. It is followed by ‘Whispers‘, a stripped back, bittersweet ballad about the fading away of a relationship accompanied mainly by a soft guitar melody. Gartland’s sonic range is diverse and she masters each genre with an idiosyncratic ‘Orla’ twist – there is an ethereal quality to each of her tracks, supported by a heavy instrumental backbone. It’s hard to grasp in words, but her sound is undeniably unique.
As well as her original tunes, Gartland’s covers are well worth a listen – she puts a funk spin on songs which you never think would work with the twang of an electric guitar backing, but somehow it just does. Particularly noteworthy covers include: ‘Everywhere‘ (originally by Fleetwood Mac), ‘Torn‘ (Natalie Imbruglia), ‘I Wanna Dance with a Mountain That’s High Enough‘ (… I’ll let you figure that one out).
Why should I listen to her? Gartland is a genuinely talented, passionate new musician and I am often blown away by her innovative spin on popular tunes and modest mastery of the guitar. Her live performances are equally impressive, and having spoken to her briefly after a gig one time she is impossibly sweet and humble about her incredible talent. Rather than putting herself on the pedestal of musicianship, Gartland is firmly rooted and her lyrics are universally meaningful – she wants to use the channel of music to truly connect with others. Her dynamic, fresh music will have you dancing around your room while her deep, introspective lyrics will also give way for reflection and contemplation. I foresee huge things for Gartland in the near future, so watch this space.
If you are convinced, consider sponsoring Gartland on Patreon in her newly-formed “Secret Demos Club”. This link is here.
Photo credit: provided by artist, Orla Gartland
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