Dublin-born, London-based artist Orla Gartland teamed up with indie superstar Declan McKenna to release “Late To The Party” on Aug. 27. This track is the latest release from Gartland’s upcoming second studio album, Everybody Needs a Hero, set to drop Oct. 4. In the album, listeners can expect Gartland to tackle what being a “hero” really means – whether it is someone we look up to, someone who rescues us from our own selves, or a figure we use to deflect from our darker selves.
“Late To The Party” will shift up the pace of the album, according to Gartland. She described it as a “big old bratty song” that explores resenting the baggage you take on from loving someone, and yearning to have a blank slate. The track is fun and loud, and is sure to be a staple track on Everybody Needs a Hero.
About collaborating with Declan McKenna, Gartland said:
“I first wrote ‘Late To The Party’ over a couple of solo sittings in my studio, mumbling out the lyrics while playing drums. A few months later I sent the song to Declan – for me he is one of the absolute greats, a properly timeless artist & writer. We worked on the song remotely at first, sending stems back & forth and then jumped in the studio for a day to dismantle the song & put it all back together. Dec’s parts & energy added so much to the track for me and after months of revisiting it ‘Late To The Party’ was suddenly complete.”
Gartland and McKenna dropped an official music video with the release of “Late To The Party.” While you wait for Everybody Needs a Hero to drop, be sure to check it out on Gartland’s YouTube channel.
This November, Gartland will embark on her very first North American headline tour. Every date is currently sold out, but keep up with Gartland’s official website for ticket availability updates.
Follow Orla Gartland: Instagram // Spotify // YouTube // TikTok // Website
Follow Declan McKenna: Instagram // Spotify // YouTube // TikTok // Website
