Artist Of The Week #174 - Orla Gartland
This week’s Artist of the Week is fast-rising Dublin singer-songwriter Orla Gartland - who has just released her debut album ‘Woman on the Internet’ via her own label New Friends. Born and raised in Dublin, Gartland started writing songs when she was 14 years old. Unable to convince any of the 18+ local pubs and venues to let her perform, she honed her craft online, before heading out on tour the day she finished school. On her return she packed her bags and moved to London, spending the next few years writing, recording, touring and gathering fans apace. She took a moment to talk to us about how the debut album came together.
Hey Orla, so the album is finally here - how does it feel to have it finally out there in the world?
It feels insane, like a really big milestone. This week I’m home in Dublin celebrating with my family and I feel so lucky. My dad is my biggest fan and he is truly in his element.
It is titled ‘Woman On The Internet’ - what is the meaning behind that?
She’s a character that appears in 2 of the songs, it wasn’t a conscious choice but something I noticed right at the end. I like the idea of the Woman on the Internet being a faceless, wizard-of-Oz type character - someone I turn to when I feel lost.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process?
I demo’d it in London and then brought the demos (and my band) down to Middle Farm Studios in Devon. That place is incredible, it’s the a huge old converted barn ran by an incredible engineer/producer/wizard called Pete Miles. It was the perfect atmosphere to inject some fun & chaos into the tracks. Pete has every room there rigged up with patch bays, so you can pick any room and record into the control room from there. We recorded the backing vocals for ‘More Like You’ in the bathroom, because the reverb in there was cool.
What are the key themes and influences on the album?
Themes of growing up, feeling lost, comparison & identity reared their heads over & over - I’ve always preferred the idea of writing & then seeing what the songs had in common, rather than forcing anything from the start. Musical influences ranged from Laurie Anderson to Fiona Apple to The Cranberries.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the album? If so, which one and why?
“Ego is a scary thing, power is a game to win” from a song called Over your Head. I like the intensity!
You were raised by huge music lovers, so what are your earliest childhood memories when it comes to music? What was on the stereo the most in your house?
Honestly anything goes at mine - not surprisingly my dad loves female songwriters so there was always some Brandi Carlisle or Katie Melua on in the house. He also listens to a lot of Van Morrison but that’s one I could never get on board with!
You left Ireland at the age of nineteen to immerse yourself into the music industry. You are now twenty-five. How have things changed for you and the industry? If you could say anything to that nineteen year old version of yourself, what would it be?
Both myself and the industry have changed a lot! I used to worry so much about making all the right moves and now I’m a lot more comfortable with stumbling and finding my way as I go. Back then iTunes was king so everything from self-promotion to the rollout of music felt very different to now! If I could tell that younger me anything I’d like to assure her that everything will work out in the end. Even though I was broke and so lost when I first moved, I think I always had some blind faith in the universe that it’d come together somehow.
Now the album is out there, what next for you?
Sleep! Sleep and tour. It’s looking good for getting back on the road later this year, which feels so exciting. Myself and my band will head out to tour this album in the U.K. in October & Ireland in December. Shows have made up such a big part of me for the last decade or so so not having any has felt like missing a limb!
Orla Gartland tour dates:
Wednesday 6th October - SWX, Bristol
Thursday 7th October - The O2 Academy 2, Birmingham
Saturday 9th October - Manchester Academy 2, Manchester
Sunday 10th October - The Riverside, Newcastle
Tuesday 12th October - The Garage, Glasgow
Wednesday 13th October - Stylus, Leeds
Friday 15th October - Electric Ballroom, London
Sunday 17th October - Concorde 2, Brighton
Thursday 16th December - Academy, Dublin
Friday 17th December - Dolans, Limerick
Saturday 18th December - Cyprus Avenue, Cork