Emerging Irish songwriter Orla Gartland has dropped the new song “More Like You”.
Born in Dublin, Gartland began writing music at 14. Her early attempts to play in Dublin’s 18+ clubs were rebuffed, but this rejection turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as she began cultivating an online presence that continues to serve her today. After a pair of buzzy EPs — 2019’s Why Am I Like This? and 2020’s Freckle Season — she started working on her debut album.
“More Like You” was co-written by Tommy King, who has toured and collaborated with HAIM and Vampire Weekend. The song channels envy into an effervescent exploration of insecurity of self-love. “I heard it from a woman on the internet,” she sings, “She told me to eat well and try to love myself/ Then maybe I won’t wish that I was someone else/ (Tell me how).”
In a statement, Gartland spoke about the inspiration for the song, explaining,
“Everyone compares themselves to other people right? If you don’t tell me your secret. ‘More Like You’ was born from a petty friend jealousy I have for my best friend’s other best friend. She’s someone who I only ever heard good things about, someone I wanted to hate until I met her and — of course — I didn’t. I loved her
When you don’t have much access to someone it’s easy to put them on a pedestal and forget that they have their own layered and complex life, you only see perfection. I became obsessed. I wanted to sing like her, I wanted to dress like her, I wanted to swap bodies with her Freaky-Friday style. So ‘More Like You’ is another song about identity, about yearning to switch lives with someone who makes it all look easy.”
Update: Check out the video for “More Like You” below. Gartland’s debut album doesn’t yet have a title or release date, but is expected to arrive later this year. Previously, she shared the lead single “Pretending”.
Editor’s Note: Find music from Orla Gartland and other great new artists on our New Sounds Spotify playlist, which is updated daily. Subscribe here!
