London-based Dubliner Orla Gartland has been chasing the dream for years. Now in her mid-20s, a childhood immersed in traditional folk music was enhanced by early teenage years entranced by the likes of Avril Lavigne, Laura Marling, Joni Mitchell, and Regina Spektor. You can tell from these influences that Gartland's music is informed by several things, not least independence, identity and a particular way of self-expression. She has been releasing music from the age of 17 (when she self-released her debut single, Devil on my Shoulders), eager to communicate but only when she feels she has something to say. Woman on the Internet, her debut album, is full of such connections.
Observant lyrics predominate. From “if you could see yourself from above the sky, I think you’d say that you’re doing fine” (You’re Not Special, Babe) and “you’re not a bad guy but you do this all the damn time” (Zombie!) to “I’m so f**king self-aware it’s exhausting” (Pretending), Gartland has a real knack for locating human imperfections and then leaving them there for anyone to mull over. Musically, Woman on the Internet is crammed with crunchy guitar/piano songs that bristle with a mixture of indignation (Codependency), thoughtfulness (Left Behind, Do you Mind) and unbreakable bonds (Bloodline/Difficult Things).
The result is a debut of strength and value from an under-the-radar artist who will soon be the exact opposite.
orlagartland.com
