Orla Gartland’s debut album ‘Woman on the Internet’ is nothing short of delightful
Filled with just the right amount of insecurity, wit, internet influence and laced with Orla’s irresistible charm, it’s no surprise that Woman on the Internet is simply delightful
Photo: Press
Irish singer-songwriter Orla Gartland, best known for her career on YouTube, has released her debut album, Woman on the Internet. As a follow-up to her last project Freckle Season, Gartland’s album is the perfect project to relate to her audience in the digital age while also maintaining true to herself. While preceded by a handful of single releases, the singles are only a preview of what Gartland offers up on her first album.
The first track, Things I’ve Learned, has a very enticing instrumental arrangement that builds and crescendos as the song progresses. A fine-tuned mesh of rock sounds and electronic diddies makes for an impactful first impression. Orla shares with listeners from the get-go that she’s learned a lot throughout her life thus far, especially about being empowered as a woman and the worthlessness of comparing yourself to others. Newcomers to Orla’s music may find themselves pleasantly surprised and interested to hear more.
You’re Not Special, Babe is one of the handful of singles released prior to the album’s release. It almost feels like a juxtaposition from the dramatic energy of the prior track; nevertheless, as bedroom-pop as it may sound, it’s quite a zinger lyrically. Essentially a letter to her past self that she’s not the only one who’s going through hard times, it’s ironically a song that you might catch yourself grooving to. Dance through the pain, as they say.
Followed by another previous release, More Like You is all about the comparison discussed in the beginning. She’s infatuated with who she sees as the perfect person and how she wants to be like (or, maybe, exactly) them. She almost pleads, “Tell me how, tell me how / To be more like you”. More Like You continues the more mellow instrumental composition of You’re Not Special, Babe but is never dull. If you find yourself staring at someone else’s Instagram a bit too long, queue this one up to cure your comparison blues.
Over Your Head returns to the rocky side of Orla’s music, and is a standout track on Woman on the Internet. An absolute rager of a song about unkept promises and power balances, its back and forth from smooth indie-rock progressions to stop-and-start full blast rock slam reflects the lyrical content. A marvellous production and vocal effort from Orla, it stands out as a testament to how diverse she can be overall, and especially on one track. The following track, Zombie!, follows suit in rage but with a more direct approach. Beginning with a chorus round, the instrumental comes about very fast. Approaching the subject of toxic masculinity both lyrically and sonically, it’s hard not to let your tensions go when listening (especially when Orla is screaming for part of it). The song’s piano-centric breakdowns work wonderfully in building things back up, sans the end where the energy slowly becomes stripped down to what sounds like Orla singing in her rawest form. As the second half of the album approaches, the emotional highs are still ever-present.
Madison is an acoustic heavy song about someone who came into Orla’s life who seems to have a lot of wisdom whom Orla comes to when she needs to clear her head. Its catchy chorus will be stuck in your brain and its easy-going nature will make the track one you can chill out to, even in the midst of existential dread. The following song, Do You Mind?, makes a turn in the album towards a sadder direction. Presumably about cheating or the general turmoil of a relationship, the handclaps and more industrial sounds are accompanied by a tragically beautiful piano. It’s the first ballad-adjacent song of Woman on the Internet; nevertheless, it is an excellent example of Orla’s songwriting abilities and ability to strip things down masterfully.
Codependency’s theme is out front with the title. It picks up the tempo and reflects the codependency cycle with an upbeat indie rock style. The song also brings back around a signature technique of breaking things down and bringing them back with a bang, making for a grand final chorus. Pretending, the lead single from the album, is an outcry of exhaustion from putting up a front and being hypercritical of oneself when no one else is perfect. Filled with relatable lyrics and references to her own work (including the second reference to the album’s title), having it as the first taste of Woman On the Internet not only serves her well but placing it near the end of the album also enhances the listening experience.
Left Behind starts with a spoken introduction (“Alright, let’s go”) followed by a sombre piano melody. If there’s a perfect song to detail long-distance relationships, Orla’s got it. The feeling of being the one who’s left behind to wait for the other to come around can be painful and the weight of it being worthwhile starts to bear down (“But it's better to be holding you while you pass through / Than not holding you at all”). Left Behind is Gartland at her most vulnerable in her music; as well as leaving room for the melancholy in the various emotions that comprise Woman on the Internet.
The concluding track, Bloodline / Difficult Things, is a reflection of a family (even including what is presumably audio of a home tape) and feeling distant from your roots, even if you wish things were different. This is arguably Orla at her most open in the album about herself; a great note to end the album on. Full of slick guitar licks, glitchy sonics, and drums with just the right amount of clash, it’s a fantastic first part of the song. It definitely feels like a closing track without choosing the typical ballad format; a wise choice considering the previous track of Left Behind. The second half of the song talks about a lack of communication (“We never talk about difficult things”), presumably about her aforementioned family. It’s a slower half, but one that is well rounded.
If there is a debut effort to give a listen to this year, Orla Gartland’s is a high contender. Filled with just the right amount of insecurity, wit, internet influence, and laced with Orla’s irresistible charm it’s no surprise that Woman on the Internet is a delightful album. She has come a long way since her YouTube beginnings; however, she has only gotten brighter and better as time has gone on. What’s next for Orla is something to keep an eye out for; she’s got a bright future ahead on the internet and IRL.