Orla Gartland – ‘Everybody Needs A Hero’: a bold and brilliant delivery
THE SKINNY: When Orla Gartland released her debut album, Woman On The Internet, in 2021, she was already a seasoned and revered artist. From building a tight and dedicated fan base on YouTube as a teenager, it felt like she was able to grow and develop in her own lane, following the whims of her own unique artistic language and interests with the support of listeners keen to stick with her. Now, on her sophomore effort Everybody Needs A Hero, the benefit of that comes to powerful fruition on a project fueled by Gartland’s incredible evolution and dedication to honouring that and only that.
From start to finish, Everybody Needs A Hero feels like Gartland putting her talent on full display, along with her desire and willingness to grow. As she co-produced the record and hunkered down in her studio to figure out guitar, bass and drum parts, the entire album is crafted by her vision and mission to be more than just the ‘singer-songwriter’ she started out as. It’s an album that makes it clear that Gartland wants to be well-rounded and complex, looking to the likes of St Vincent and Caroline Polachek for inspiration for that and daring to lean into bigger and bolder sounds and diverse compositions.
On tracks like ‘Sound of Letting Go’ and ‘Late To The Party’ especially, she’s presenting indie bangers but giving major space to an experimental edge, clearly born from a decision to lean into her ideas right through to the final product. The high-octane power comes from Gartland knowing herself and trusting wholeheartedly in her vision. She seems to have so successfully shrugged off any difficult second album fear and has unleashed something so boldly and brilliantly unique as it’s so boldly and brilliantly her, combining the artist she began as with all the years of development since.
The whole crux of the album speaks to her development, too. Everybody Needs A Hero acts as an autopsy, or an MOT, of a relationship but not in a boring way, contemplation connection in its various cliches. Instead, Gartland is turning a microscope on herself in all the weird, uncomfortable moments when a relationship suddenly feels like a spotlight on trigger switch reactions and subconscious behaviours that seem to come crawling out only in deep, long-term intimacy. It’s witty and inventive in moments, brutally honest and sincere in others, but across the whole album, Gartland continues to nail her own brand of expertly balances specificity and relatability.
But the core of who she is and what first attracted people to her music remains, just in elevated ways. In the album’s softer moments, the beauty of her voice, first heard on grainy YouTube videos, comes through clear as ever. And in the lyricism of tracks like the staggeringly emotive ‘Mine,’ she still lets that raw talent breathe.
In short, Everybody Needs A Hero is an album that announced Gartland as one of the most exciting new talents around on every level. As an instrumentalist, a performer, a writer and a producer, the record proves her to be one of the best as she’s developed year on year, allowing her to become an artist able to deliver foolproof greatness but powered by a sharp personal vision and a fierce trust in sticking with it.
For fans of: Overanalysing your long-term relationship and worrying that every little thing you feel is odd.
A concluding comment from Orla Gartland’s therapist after tapping her toe for 45 mins or so: “So, there’s a lot to unpack here…”
Everybody Needs A Hero track by track
Release Date: 4th October 2024 | Producers: Orla Gartland, Tom Stafford + Peter Miles | Label: New Friends
‘Both Can Be True’: Beginning with a ballad is a bold yet fitting move for a bold second album. Gartland is prepping to show the full expanse of her talent, and she’s beginning right here with the raw and stripped-back talent that first caught her fan’s attention and the lyrical power she’s developed over the years since. [4.5/5]
‘Sound of Letting Go’: And from that, we jump to the whole opposite side as Gartland shows her production power and just how far she’s grown from those ‘singer-songwriter’ roots. On the album’s loudest and boldest moment, the short 2:50 minute track sees her rival the power of St Vincent as an artist with a clear vision, unafraid to evolve. [4.5/5]
‘Little Chaos’: At every turn, Gartland is showing her development from her debut. ‘Little Chaos’ lyrically feels the closest to that earlier project, but it’s in the production details, like the glitchy, computerised delivery of “chaos” before the finale climactic chorus, that makes it special, elevated and incredibly polished even while being fun. [4/5]
‘Backseat Driver’: Gartland’s ability to create a catchy instrumental is unrivalled. It is impossible not to tap a foot or bob a head to this one as the hooky baseline builds and breaks into exciting new places. When the chorus of voices comes in, it’s reminiscent of her side project FIZZ and the indie pop power that was her contribution to the band. [4.5/5]
‘The Hit’: While the record is obviously a treasure trove of Gartland’s talent as a musician, songwriter and producer, ‘The Hit’ shines a gorgeous spotlight on her vocals. It’s just as well crafted and written as the rest, but with each listen, the beauty of her voice here grabs my attention. [4.5/5]
‘Simple’: Described by Garland as an active challenge to strip back the humour and try her very best to be sincere throughout, ‘Simple’ becomes a beautifully honest love song that’s full of joyous feeling but without the need for any cliches or flashy tricks. Instead, all it needs is her way with words and an instrumentation that perfectly matches the imperfect energy of th song. [4/5]
‘Late To The Party’ featuring Declan McKenna: If there’s any justice in this industry, ‘Late To The Party’ will be rightfully celebrated as one of 2024’s biggest bangers. The combo of Gartland and McKenna as two of indie’s brightest talents and most capable musicians is glorious, but paired with the unique lyricism delving into the idea of baggage in a relationship, it’s a neurotic anthem and an infectious hit. [5/5]
‘Three Words Away’: Popstar, Rockstar, she can do it all. ‘Three Words Away’ wades into darker waters as the record once again serves as a perfect example of Gartland’s production power. The layering of this track is superb as the instruments swell and break in unexpected yet expert ways. There’s something about it that feels like it could be the theme tune for some Disney Channel action series, and I mean that as the highest of compliments. [4/5]
‘Kiss Ur Face Forever’: As the song that began this whole new era, ‘Kiss Ur Face Forever’ nails the album’s themes as Gartland analyses the weirdness and trickiness of long-term relationships in the modern age. Complete with some incredible guitar riffs, it’s high-octane and still sounds just as great months on. [4.5/5]
‘Who Am I?’: Leaning into the soundtrack energy again, ‘Who Am I?’ has coming-of-age Americana energy. But the central lyric of “if i’m your everything, who am i?” has so much bite and so much power, it’s catches you off guard. One of the most poignant considerations of relationships and identity I’ve heard in a long time, it’s a song that deserves to populate big feeling playlists till the end of time. [4.5/5]
‘Mine’: No words can be put to this song to do it justice, and it feels like no words should try. ‘Mine’ is one of the most upfront, honest and devastatingly stark looks at sexual trauma put to tape. It’s an incredible and important song. [5/5]
‘Everybody Needs A Hero’: For the album’s conclusion and title track, Gartland presents her summarising thoughts on love, the need for connection but the tricky push-and-pull of two people battling each other for who needs it more. It’s the dance of a relationship where ego, desire and comfort as all in a difficult play. As the song goes from gentle acoustic poetry to grunge power, she captures all of it so effortlessly. [5/5]
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