Since her first EP Roots debuted in November 2013, her musical career has only skyrocketed. Her voice has attracted over 11 million views on YouTube and there’s an obvious reason why. Orla Gartland, a red-haired singer-songwriter hailing from Dublin, started the year off by releasing her second EP Lonely People on 18th January.
‘Lonely People’ is the first track on the latest EP. A loud and funky song that can be played anywhere, it starts off with a catchy guitar riff before adding in the first lines of lyrics and steady drum beat. Almost immediately, a firm tune is established that really compliments Orla’s vocals. The lyrics “this feels like a race against the clock, tick tock” really stand out as they insinuate our teenage years are running out. You can’t help but want to dance to this, wherever you are.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiKXjTUESPo&w=740&h=422]
‘Souvenirs’ follows Orla’s quirky lyric style, incorporated with a bit more of an indie guitar style like The 1975. Even though it’s a slightly calmer song compared to ‘Lonely People’ the rhythms are still fun and encourage the listener to dance anyway. The synths and the drums work together to create the perfect balance playing with Orla’s talented voice and well thought out lyrics above it.
The third song on the EP, ‘Whispers’, shows the listener how diverse Orla can be. The song is about a relationship fading away to nothing and the lyrics reflect this perfectly: “all we built left to ruin / and all I wanted was a chat”. The instruments are much quieter in this song, letting the listener pay more attention to Orla’s emotion filled voice.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8OfG6t50IY&w=740&h=422]
If ‘Lonely People’ starts the EP on a fun note, then ‘Get Back’ ends it on an even better one. The funky tune is euphoric; in a way, it’s a similar style to The 1975 again, with a sweet twist. With a strong set of lyrics, Orla’s edgy tone reminds us of her indie roots. The build up to the chorus “but I’m entranced / I should forget but I won’t sugarcoat this pain” makes you want to hold your breath in anticipation every time you listen to it.
Already with a large fan base from her social networks, the future looks bright for this young singer-songwriter. Orla Gartland will be touring in the UK from February 12th – 23rd, and in North America from March 9th – 25th.
Words by Ashleigh Jim