It’s hard to believe that Orla Gartland has only been singing and playing the guitar for just over three years, especially when you factor in her age – just 16 years! But it just takes one listen to hear that this young woman is moving on up in the singer-songwriter world.
Orla began posting videos on YouTube in 2009, hoping for general feedback and comments on her singing technique. She got a lot more than that – a large following and overwhelming support from the YouTube community. The majority of her videos posted on the website feature covers and original songs, with Orla playing either guitar or ukelele in front of her characteristic yellow wall.
In early fall, Orla released her debut EP, Laughing at My Own Jokes. The album features three original songs, stemming from Orla’s own life experiences. The singer held a cover-design contest for Laughing at My Own Jokes on YouTube, as an appreciation for her subscribers (won by another talented teenager, Kael Oakley). As both an active YouTube musician and an artist who values her fans, Orla’s future is only looking up.
You can find Orla Gartland on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for updates! Be sure to check out Laughing at My Own Jokes on iTunes.
[Photo credit: Sinead Cahill]
