Hot Dogs and High Kicks: An Interview with Orla Gartland

Orla Gartland’s 2025 Outside Lands performance was an infectious, high-energy display of individuality and charisma. Backstage, she shared insights on songwriting, stagecraft, and the fine art of keeping a hot dog–wielding festivalgoer glued to her set.

“Everybody Needs a Hero” – Orla Gartland

I give it the same energy, but it is a different beast.

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Orla Gartland greets me with bright blue eyeliner and a hug.

Earlier in the day, the Irish artist took the Panhandle Stage for a bold and bouncy set. She left audience members in awe of her crystal clear voice, effervescent energy, and unruly left leg that crunches up when she gets excited. Her Outside Lands ’25 show wrapped up a string of summer festival performances and began the wind down to a year of touring.

She opened with “Kiss Your Face Forever,” a kick-drum driven track devoted to the multi-faceted nature of having butterflies. Gartland’s face slackens with intensity as she chants over the crowd, “Let’s play a game of emotional monopoly in the name of monogamy.” Her all-girl band is a united front of wolf cuts and color coordination, and Gartland sports red, ripped lace tights and an oversized jersey. Her audience is quick to pick up on her sharp lyricism, chanting the chorus in solidarity

Gartland opts for an acoustic interpretation of the first verse of “Why Am I Like This?” Her most popular song is an excellent introduction to her artistry. The 2019 single is a touchstone for this independent, self-funded artist. The feelings bubble up into something impossible to contain, easier to scream than to say.

She keeps the energy up by skipping around the stage during “Backseat Driver,” attacking various percussive instruments and singing about the dangers of avoiding the truth. She also features a surprise cover of Chappell Roan’s “Red Wine Supernova,” saying, “I didn’t write this song, but I wish I did.”

After the show, I join Orla Gartland in her trailer, surrounded by half-empty cans of water and makeup products scattered around the floor-length mirror. Gartland tells Atwood Magazine about her love of songwriting and the art of not taking yourself too seriously.

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:: stream/purchase Everybody Needs a Hero here ::

:: connect with Orla Gartland here ::

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A CONVERSATION WITH ORLA GARTLAND

Atwood Magazine: You mentioned the Shrek 2 soundtrack, which is one of my favorites. Have you heard the Frou Frou cover of “Holding Out for a Hero?”

Orla Gartland: I thought about having that cover, but I think the Bonnie Tyler version is better to walk out to. The Frou Frou one is almost too cool.

I see this element of punk in you as you perform. You have these emotive, almost aggressive movements. Do you resonate with that?

Orla Gartland: I get intimidated by the word “punk” because I don’t know a lot about that scene. I think of a lot of Irish artists, like Sinead O’Connor, when I hear “punk.” She has punk in her heart. I also think of The Cranberries, especially how they hold themselves and what they stand for. It feels like the opposite of ladylike, which I do resonate with. Even Haim, with their weird faces and not being concerned about how they look. There is a wide spectrum there. On one hand it’s standing up and speaking for what you believe in, but it’s also about being scrappy.

It’s really interesting with this lineup. On Friday, I saw Doja Cat perform and she was seductive and feminine. Then you have female performers that are a bit more derivative.

Gartland: Yeah, definitely. It’s a very diverse lineup. It is always cool to see the spectrum of femininity, and I like how this festival features it all.

Your choruses tend to be simple and punchy, like an anthem. But your verses are “stickier,” as you like to call them. What draws you to this dichotomy?

Gartland: It reminds me of that Springsteen quote: “The verses are the blues, the chorus is the gospel.” I love a repetitive line that you can sink your teeth into. It’s good for something like this, where people can sing along. I like to be wordy in my verses and that’s where the meat is for me. It’s really nice to have something universal in the chorus and specific in the verses. If you are super wordy and everything is dense, it might be a lot for the listener.

It sounds like the chorus is your thesis.

Gartland: Yes, exactly. I am interested in the art of the song. Like having a second verse that recontextualizes the chorus. I think it’s the coolest thing.

Orla Gartland Is Everybody’s Superhero in Her Sophomore Album ‘Everybody Needs a Hero’

:: FEATURE ::

You describe yourself as a “humorous performer.” Does a festival show give you more room to play around compared to a headline show?

Gartland: It’s a bit more like an audition. I like the challenge of retaining the attention of the surrounding crowd. This might have been my favorite festival. I enjoyed seeing the people at the food stalls start to migrate towards the stage. It’s always fun to challenge myself, like “I have to be engaging enough to keep that guy with the hot dog here.” That’s part of why I put a cover in. I want to engage people. At a headline show, you can be more indulgent. I give it the same energy, but it is a different beast.

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