All the little details about Orla

Orla Gartland, the quirky artist from Dublin played live at the Wardrobe last night as part of the Oxjam Takeover in Leeds.

“Oxjam is Oxfam’s music festival with events being held across the UK in hundreds of towns and cities all run by volunteers who know and love their local music scene with a passion for fighting poverty and social inequality.” (Quoted from the Oxjam Leeds website)

Orla Gartland has had an incredible YouTube presence for years and people from all over the globe are following the originals and covers that she uploads to YouTube. To this date her channel has received more than 9.5 million views. The 18 year-old is now taking a gap year and has gone on her very first tour this summer “easing into it” as she says herself. Her YouTube fans are unbelievably proud of her success as an artist.

The live performance Orla gave at the Wardrobe last night just showed how talented and likeable she is. She performed four originals, including her brand new song “Roots” which will be available on 11^th November on iTunes. Everyone that can’t wait that long can have a sneak peak of the song on YouTube. Orla’s second song was an amazing cover of “Another brick in the wall” by Pink Floyd, which of course can also be found in her YouTube library.

Orla had agreed to meet me for a quick interview at the venue before the gig. I was so excited about having a chance to meet her. I have been following the self-proclaimed "ginger nutcase" on YouTube for years and decided to ask her some questions based on one of her earlier songs called “All the little details”, in which she asks 23 questions in order to find out all those little details.

Orla, where do you live?

Orla: “Dublin, but I have spent a lot of time in London this summer.”

Do you get scared of big dogs, heights or bears?

Orla: “No!”

No? You’re not afraid of bears?

Orla: “Well, if it was right next to me. But I don’t lay awake at night thinking about bears.”

What is your favourite food?

Orla: “Pancakes! I can make them really thin, like Crepes. I don’t like the American ones. You feel too stuffed after.”

Do you wear slippers or socks at home?

Orla: “Slippers. I don’t remember a lot of the questions from the song. It seems like so long ago.”

How do you actually like your steak?

Orla: “Well done.”

What’s your favourite colour?

Orla: “Blue.”

Favourite season?

“Autumn. I like the temperature. It’s never too warm or too cold!”

And finally, what’s your favourite number?

Orla: “Lucky number seven.”

This wasn’t Orla’s first time in Leeds. On 10^th September she was supporting Lauren Aquilina at the Cockpit and said: “I had a really good time in Leeds.”

The gig also featured a number of other talented singer-songwriters like Billy Lockett, who will be going on tour with KT Tunstill this year.

Last nights gig was part of the main festival, which will take place on 26^th October in some of the best music venues in Leeds.