Orla Gartland
Gartland performing in 2013
Background information
Birth nameOrla Joan Gartland
Born (1995-02-03) 3 February 1995 (age 28)
Dublin, Ireland
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)
Years active2007–present
LabelsIndependent
Member ofFIZZ
Websitewww.orlagartland.com

Orla Joan Gartland (born 3 February 1995) is an Irish singer-songwriter and guitarist who began her career posting cover songs on her YouTube account. As of February 2023, her YouTube channel has received over 286,000 subscribers and 24.3 million total views.[1]

In August 2011, Gartland released her first EP Laughing at My Own Jokes. The album artwork was done by a fan who won a contest. In 2012, she released her debut single, "Devil on My Shoulder", which entered the singer-songwriter iTunes charts in Ireland.[2] On 11 November 2013, Gartland released her second EP, Roots. On 24 November, the Irish Mirror featured Gartland in a full-page article and stated that on iTunes, the EP had topped the main Irish albums chart while hitting number 15 on the main UK albums chart and number two on the US singer-songwriter albums chart.[3]

Gartland's third EP, Lonely People, was released on 18 January 2015, while her fourth EP, Why Am I Like This?, was released on 24 May 2019. Her fifth EP, Freckle Season, was released on 21 February 2020 and features previous singles "Did It to Myself", "Figure It Out", and "Heavy". Her debut album, Woman on the Internet, was released on 20 August 2021. In 2023, she joined the band FIZZ.

Early life and education

Gartland grew up in Drumcondra, North Dublin near Croke Park. She has a younger sister and a younger brother.[4] In an interview with Campus.ie, Gartland stated "I played violin, fiddle, and trad and Irish stuff from the age of about five years old...my parents got me into lessons and the guitar at about 12 years old and it went from there."[5] She nearly went to BIMM University, but deferred her application and moved to London in 2015, as she knew many UK-based musicians through YouTube.[6]

Career

2009–2013: Early music

In 2009, Gartland launched her YouTube channel under the name "MusicMaaad." She posted her first YouTube video at age 13,[5] about which she stated "I had been playing guitar for just over a year and wailing alongside the chords. I hadn't a clue how to sing; the breathing or any of the technical stuff (still haven't the foggiest) – so just wanted some feedback on that really!".[7] She posted covers and then started posting originals. The first original she posted was titled "Green Eyed Monster." Gartland also spent time busking on the streets of Dublin as a teen, through which she befriended the duo Hudson Taylor.[8]

In 2011, Broken Wall Films made a video of Gartland's song "All The Little Details." The video was shot in a coffee shop which remained open for business during the filming.[9][10] "All The Little Details" was Gartland's first professionally recorded song. It was included along with two other songs on her "Laughing At My Own Jokes" EP.

In 2012, Gartland opened for Britain's Got Talent contestant Ryan O'Shaughnessy at The Academy[11] and for Scottish singer-songwriter Nina Nesbitt at Bewley's Cafe Theatre.[12] She released her debut single "Devil on my Shoulder" on 17 June on iTunes, where it reached No. 2 on the Ireland singer-songwriter chart.[13] The single was launched at a sold-out show headlined by Gartland at The Academy in Dublin.[14]

In March 2013 Gartland announced her first tour, headlining five shows in the UK and in Ireland during July 2013.[15][16]

2013–2015: Roots and Lonely People

On 11 November 2013 Gartland released her four-song EP Roots on iTunes.[17] The titular track "Roots" was named Apple iTunes "Single of the Week" in the UK and Ireland.[18] She toured in support of the album in February 2014 visiting ten cities in Ireland and in the United Kingdom.[19]

Gartland contributed the song "Cast Your Stone" on the album Simple Things, a compilation album released on 15 November 2013 by Niall Breslin in support of suicide prevention in Ireland. She participated in a group performance of "Simple Things" musicians on RTÉ programme, The Saturday Night Show.[3][20][21]

The Irish Daily Star selected Gartland as one of "20 music acts to watch in 2014."[22] The Irish Independent selected Gartland as one of "Ireland's most influential teens."[23] GoldenPlec selected Gartland as their "Plec Pick" of 2014, chosen as one of the best solo artists in Ireland.

Gartland, along with Greta Isaac, performed the song "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" which they contributed to the compilation album It's Coming on Christmas. The album raised funds for the breast cancer charity, CoppaFeel!.[24] Gartland has played alongside Dodie Clark in all three of her EP release tours,[25][26] and acted as a supporting act in Clark's 2019 'Human' tour.[27]

Gartland's second EP, Lonely People, debuted in 2015 and was described by Atwood Magazine as an "undeniable triumph" that "captivates" by combining funk and alt-pop.[28]

2018–2020: Why Am I Like This? and Freckle Season

On 2 May 2018, Gartland released her first single in three years, "I Go Crazy",[29] and on 2 November 2018 she released a new single "Between My Teeth",[30] which she announced were both standalone singles.[31] On 8 February 2019, she released a new single "Why Am I Like This?",[32] followed by "Flatline" on 5 April 2019, both of which formed a part of her EP Why Am I Like This?, released on 24 May 2019.[33] "Why Am I Like This?" was featured in an episode of the 2022 Netflix adaptation of Heartstopper, which resulted in the song reaching the No.4 spot in the Billboard Top TV Songs chart, three years after the song's initial release.[34]

On 6 September 2019, Gartland released the single "Did It to Myself", followed by "Figure It Out" on 1 November 2019,[35] and "Heavy" on 15 January 2020, all of which appear on her EP Freckle Season. "Figure It Out" is described as being about a relationship between individuals where neither can escape from it and the idea of needing space from someone you still care about.[36] "Heavy" featured in the BBC Three trailer for the 2020 adaptation of Normal People,[27] with "Did It To Myself" featuring directly in the TV series.[37] She was also a co-writer of K-pop boy band BTS's song "134340" from the album Love Yourself: Tear.[33]

In 2020, Gartland was part of an Irish collective of female singers and musicians called "Irish Women in Harmony", that recorded a version of the song "Dreams" in aid of the charity Safe Ireland, which deals with domestic abuse which had reportedly risen significantly during the COVID-19 lockdown.[38][39]

Gartland also released her fourth and fifth EPs, Why Am I Like This? and Freckle Season respectively, as a vinyl in 2020 titled Why Is Freckle Season Like This?. The vinyl included the tracklist of both EPs in addition to a currently unreleased song, "Don't Fall In Love With A Musician" and an acoustic version of "Figure It Out".[40]

2020–present: Woman on the Internet and FIZZ

On 16 October 2020, Gartland released a single called "Pretending".[41] The song discusses the difficulty and trouble of pretending to be the person someone else wants, in order to be a "people pleaser".[42] This is to be the first single released from Woman on the Internet, her debut album released on 20 August 2021.[43][44] The second single, "More Like You", was released on 13 January 2021. According to Gartland herself, the song deals with identity, jealousy, and the desire to have the life of someone who seems to have everything easy.[45] The third single, "Zombie!", was released on 13 April 2021. It deals with the topic of toxic masculinity and with Gartland entreating another individual to open up about their emotions and stop repressing their true feelings.[46][47] The song was produced alongside Pete Robertson, a producer for beabadoobee and The Vaccines.[48]

In 2023, Gartland formed a band called Fizz (stylised as FIZZ) with Dodie, Greta Isaac, and Martin Luke Brown. Their debut single, "High in Brighton", came out in June.[49] Their debut album, The Secret to Life, was released on 27 October 2023.[50]

Artistry

Gartland has recalled listening to the likes of Brandi Carlile, Katie Melua, and Van Morrison growing up. In 2013 and 2014, she described her music as folk pop, most heavily influenced by Joni Mitchell,[51] Regina Spektor, and Imogen Heap.[5][7] She frequently refers to herself as a "music makin' ginger nutcase".[2] She also cited Kate Bush, Fleetwood Mac, Cyndi Lauper, and Greg Holden as influences.[52]

The Irish Times called Gartland a "pop rock purveyor".[53] Gartland stated the main themes of her debut album were growing up, feeling lost, comparison and identity, and that the album's musical influences included Laurie Anderson, Fiona Apple, and The Cranberries.[54]

Personal life

In June 2021, Gartland publicly came out as bisexual on Twitter.[55] As of 2020, Gartland was a regular volunteer at Ealing Soup Kitchen.[56] She shares a flat with fellow musician Lauren Aquilina.[57]

Discography

Studio albums

List of solo studio albums
Title Details Peak chart positions
IRL
[58] 		UK
[59]
Woman on the Internet 3 10

EPs

Title EP details
Laughing at My Own Jokes[61]
  • Released: 23 August 2011
  • Label: None
  • Formats: digital download
Roots
  • Released: 11 November 2013
  • Label: Independent
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Lonely People
  • Released: 18 January 2015
  • Label: Independent
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Why Am I Like This?
  • Released: 24 May 2019
  • Label: Independent
  • Formats: CD, vinyl, digital download
Freckle Season
  • Released: 21 February 2020
  • Label: Independent
  • Formats: CD, vinyl, digital download

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
IRL
[62]
2012 "Devil on My Shoulder" 83 Non-album single
2013 "Roots" 30 Roots
"Cast Your Stone" — Simple Things
2014 "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" — It's Coming on Christmas
2018 "I Go Crazy" — Non-album singles
"Between My Teeth" —
2019 "Why Am I Like This?" 94
[63] 		Why Am I Like This?
"Flatline" —
"Did It to Myself" — Freckle Season
"Figure It Out" —
2020 "Heavy" —
"Pretending" — Woman on the Internet
2021 "More Like You" —
"Zombie!" —
"Do You Mind?" —
"You're Not Special, Babe" —
2023 "Kiss Ur Face Forever" — TBA

Music videos

Year Title Album Director
2011 "All the Little Details" Laughing at My Own Jokes The Podsmiths
2012 "Devil on My Shoulder" Non-album single Tom Clarke[64]
2013 "Roots" Roots Yousef Thami[65][66]
"Clueless"
2014 "Lonely People" Lonely People Orla Gartland
"Souvenirs" Joey Phinn
2015 "Whispers" Scott Tolleson
2018 "I Go Crazy" Non-album singles Guy Larsen
"Between My Teeth" Ewen Farr
2019 "Flatline" Why Am I Like This? Jack Howard
"Inevitable" Guy Larsen[67]
2019 "Did It to Myself" Freckle Season Zoe Alker[68][69]
"Figure It Out"
2020 "Pretending" Woman on the Internet Rosie Brear[70]
2021 "More Like You" Greta Isaac & Orla Gartland[71][72][73]
"Zombie!"
"You're Not Special, Babe"

Awards and nominations

Choice Music Prize
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2022 Woman on the Internet Irish Album of the Year 2021 Nominated[74]

References

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  50. ^ https://diymag.com/news/fizz-announce-debut-album-the-secret-to-life
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External links

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