Orla Gartland

Orla Gartland (born 1995) is an Irish singer/songwriter from Dublin who gained popularity from posting cover songs on her YouTube account. At present, her YouTube channel has received over 11 million views in total.[1]

Gartland describes her music as folk pop, most heavily influenced by Joni Mitchell,[2] Regina Spektor and Imogen Heap.[3][4] She frequently refers to herself as a «music makin’ ginger nutcase.»[5]

In 2012 Gartland released her debut single ‘Devil on my Shoulder’ which entered the singer/ songwriter iTunes charts in Ireland.

On 11 November 2013, Gartland released a four-song EP Roots. On 24 November, the Irish Mirror featured Gartland in a full-page article and stated «last Tuesday on iTunes her debut EP, Roots, hit No1 in the main Irish albums chart, 15 in the main UK albums chart and No2 in the US singer/songwriter chart.»

Life and career[edit]
In an interview by Campus.ie, Gartland is quoted «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.»[3] She posted her first YouTube video at age 13[3] 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!»[4]

In 2011, Broken Wall Films made a video of Gartland’s song «All The Little Details.» The video was shot in a coffeeshop which remained open for business during the filming.[7][8]

In 2012, Gartland opened for Britain’s Got Talent contestant Ryan O’Shaughnessy at The Academy[9] and for Scottish singer/songwriter Nina Nesbitt at Bewley’s Cafe Theatre.[10] 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.[11][12] The single was launched at a sold-out show headlined by Gartland at The Academy in Dublin. [13]

In March 2013 Gartland announced her first tour, headlining five shows in the UK and in Ireland during July 2013.[14][15]

On 11 November 2013 Gartland released her four-song EP Roots on iTunes.[16] The title track «Roots» was named Apple iTunes «Single of the Week» in the UK and Ireland.[17] She toured in support of the album in February 2014 visiting ten cities in Ireland and in the United Kingdom.[18]

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 RTE program The Saturday Night Show.[6][19] [20]

On 20 November 2013, Gartland was invited to interview and perform on The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show broadcast nationally in Ireland on Today FM.[21]

On 4 January 2014, Gartland performed the title track «Roots» on The Saturday Night Show.[22] [2] The Irish Daily Star selected Gartland as one of «20 music acts to watch in 2014.»[23] The Irish Independent selected Gartland as one of «Ireland’s most influential teens.» [24] GoldenPlec selected Gartland as their «Plec Pick» of 2014, chosen as one of the best solo artists in Ireland. They published a lengthy interview and noted her sold-out performances in Ireland and the UK.[25] On 5 February, on RTÉ Radio 1, she performed the song «Roots» after being interviewed on The John Murray Show.[26] The Sunday Times published an article about her February 2014 tour and mentioned Gartland’s «15-year plan for future success.»

On 16 November 2014, Gartland announced the upcoming release of her second EP, Lonely People. She will tour in support of the new EP in February, headlining ten shows in the UK and Ireland.[28] She will also headline seven shows in the USA and Canada in March 2015; her first tour in North America.

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![29]

On 28 December 2014 Gartland was interviewed by Stephen Byrne on RTÉ 2fm.

On 30 Janurary 2015, Gartland performed Lonely People from her EP of the same name on the The Late Late Show on RTÉ One television

In 2015, Gartland was selected to perform at the SXSW music festival in Austin Texas [32] and at the Eurosonic Noorderslag music festival in Groningen Netherlands.[33]

Discography[edit]
«Devil on My Shoulder» – Single (2012)
Roots – EP (2013)[16]
«Cast Your Stone» – On compilation album Simple Things (2013)
«Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas» - On compilation album It’s Coming on Christmas (2014)
Lonely People (2015)