Orla Gartland, Everybody Needs A Hero Review

by Eliana Fermi

Everybody Needs A Hero by the Irish singer-songwriter Orla Gartland vibrates with her growth as a songwriter, vocalist, storyteller, instrumentalist, and producer. Released on October 4, 2024, under New Friends Music Ltd, this sophomore album deepens Gartland’s exploration of relationships and self-discovery, blending indie-pop sensibilities with a daring edge that pushes her creative boundaries.

The album opens with “Both Can Be True,” setting a reflective pace while encapsulating a melancholic vibe that lingers through the first few tracks. Gartland sounds unafraid to bear her vulnerabilities, delving into her thoughts on relationships. In her first verse of “Everybody Needs A Hero,” she confesses, “No woman can be an island / But I can sure as hell try.” This candor is emblematic of Gartland’s ability to turn uncomfortable truths into intimate, relatable anthems.

“Sound of Letting Go” and “Late to the Party” feature Gartland playing with indie-pop conventions. These songs, while catchy and energetic, have layers of experimentation, where Gartland’s co-production skills shine. Influences from artists like St. Vincent and Caroline Polachek come to mind, with delicate guitar work and unconventional song structures that elevate these tracks from standard indie bangers to something more adventurous. “Late to the Party” particularly stands out for its collaboration with Declan McKenna, merging Gartland’s storytelling prowess with McKenna’s spirited energy, resulting in a compelling mix of both their styles.

Gartland’s lyrics are very personal in “Mine,” a track that lingers long after it ends. It is raw, confessional, and devastatingly honest. Gartland has mentioned that she hopes “no one relates to it,” which speaks to the profound emotional territory she navigates here. The track took years to compose, and that painstaking process is evident in the song’s careful balance between vulnerability and control.

As much as the album embraces darker, introspective themes, it never feels bogged down by them. “Backseat Driver” channels the restless energy of LCD Soundsystem, crafting a groovy, synth-infused soundscape that counterbalances the album’s heavier moments. “Little Chaos” lives up to its name, with its bouncy, frenetic rhythm creating an infectious indie anthem that feels equally at home in a festival setting or a quiet night spent reflecting.

However, not every track hits the same mark. Gartland’s ambition to showcase her creative range leads to a few shifts that can feel jarring at times. The opening track, while introspective, contrasts sharply with the high-energy numbers that follow, and some may find the emotional rollercoaster a bit too steep. Yet, this unpredictability also works in Gartland’s favor, demonstrating her unwillingness to settle into a predictable mold.

“Everybody Needs A Hero,” is the core sound of the album’s beating heart. Lyrically, it’s one of her strongest, with lines like, “I don’t wanna hide behind my ego / Everybody needs a hero,” laying bare Gartland’s inner conflict between independence and the desire for support. The song’s gradual build, starting with sparse instrumentation and growing into a soaring mid-tempo climax, showcases Gartland’s knack for crafting emotional arcs within her songs. It serves as a fitting closer to the album, even if its placement feels slightly off in the broader flow of the record.

Everybody Needs A Hero shows Orla Gartland as a multifaceted artist who thrives on the willingness to push her boundaries. The album captures her journey of self-discovery while offering a musical experience that is musical and relatable. Gartland has taken her quirky, indie-pop foundation and layered it with darker, more complex themes, daring to venture into new sonic territories while staying true to her authentic voice. With this album, she cements her place as an artist who isn’t just riding the indie wave but shaping its future. That’s the short of it!

Connect with Orla Gartland : Website |