ANCHR's Artist the Week: Orla Gartland

This week’s artist of the week goes to singer-songwriter Orla Gartland, who I had the chance to see perform in England last week.

Photo by Karina Barberis

Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, Gartland first garnered a fanbase by posting covers of other songs on her YouTube channel. When I saw her in London and Leeds, her setlist featured a medley of bits of cover songs, so she still mixes in those covers along with her original material.

Speaking of original material, Gartland has released a handful of EPs and a debut full-length record called Woman on the Internet (another nod to her start in music). There’s a vulnerability in Gartland’s songwriting that’s both raw and relatable—her Spotify bio even reads “I find it easier to put my feelings into songs than to explain them out loud.” Personally, I’m glad Gartland has given us all a soundtrack for our feelings. In one of my favorites from her, “Pretending,” she sings “All the people over there/they don’t seem to have a care/I’m so fucking self-aware, it’s exhausting” about the strain of being a people pleaser. I also love her anthem about the highs and lows of life that we all experience, called “You’re Not Special, Babe.'“ Standout lyrics from the song include “People always let you down/find the ones that get you/stick to them like hot glue/dance if you want to.”

If you can’t get enough of Gartland’s solo material, make sure to check out her other band called FIZZ. The group released their debut single “High in Brighton” just this past June, and have already followed it up with two more singles. The debut single has an epic, show-tuney chorus and is about, you guessed it, wanting to get high in Brighton (but mostly, escaping real life). What’s not to love?

You can keep an eye on Orla Gartland’s upcoming tour dates here, and be sure to follow her on Instagram.