Orla Gartland
Photo by Karina Barberis
What happens when a vision for yourself becomes actualized in real-time? It’s a wild thing to say, but I’ve witnessed this recently; with a friend no less. Her name is Orla Gartland, she’s a singer-songwriter from Ireland who’s built a career that’s wholly reflective of who she is, which is…I mean how many people get to say that? Orla was one of the earliest adopters of YouTube in the UK and Ireland, building a loyal community through her quirky covers and heartfelt original songs. Over the years she’s leaned more towards crafting original material, building towards her debut album, Woman on the Internet (which is out now and nominated for the RTE Choice Music Prize).
The album is full of infectious bangers that paint a vivid portrait of not just Orla’s mind but insight into the internal struggles of people everywhere. What’s Orla’s secret? Well, I’m sure she has many, but a major one is her ability to explore our flaws without a sense of self-deprecation; instead, she tackles them with a bold sense of having her eyes wide open to them. Throughout the album, she poignantly examines themes such as being a people-pleaser, wrestling with imposter syndrome, tackling toxic masculinity and so much more.
On today’s podcast, we explore the stories behind some of my favourite songs off the album and also reflect on where Orla’s been (along with where she’s going). You can catch Orla live with her band in Europe starting on April 6th in Paris (you’ll find tour dates here).
After you hear the episode, be sure to check out Orla’s track Pretending on the official New Exchange Playlist. Also, follow Orla Gartland on Bandcamp (where you can also buy her brilliant music), Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
