PREMIERE: Emerging R&B artist ORLA shares romantic second single 'Lazy'

Fast-rising R&B act ORLA has dropped her sophomore single 'Lazy', premiered below by Hot Press.

‘Lazy’ follows the release of ‘Close to Me’ in 2020. Written by Belgium-born ORLA on guitar, the song was brought to life by Alex O’Keeffe. The producer is known for his work with artists like Erica Cody, Fia Moon and Bobbi Arlo, and mixed by Adam Shanahan (My fault Music).

Now based in Dublin, ORLA is an exciting new addition to Ireland’s music scene. Growing up in a musical family, she was surrounded by music of all genres from a young age. From the Irish trad music her father played to the French songs she grew up listening to in Brussels, ORLA was always exploring new vocal styles.

Upon hearing the music of artists such as Lauryn Hill and Alicia Keys, she fell in love with soul and R&B. At 17, she moved to Dublin. Starting off as a backing vocalist, she quickly moved on to writing and performing her own songs in venues all around Dublin.

In 2020, ORLA released her debut single ‘Close to Me’. The track effortlessly captured the attention of radio stations and music blog across the country, with Hot Press Magazine dubbing her as ‘an artist to watch’. Soon after the release, the rising star performed an acoustic version of ‘Close to Me’ in The Parlour of Whelans.

Channeling the emotive power of her music into her vocal delivery; ORLA embellishes her music with textured harmonies, vocal runs and layers. In the past year, she has created a new set of songs that truly reflect her current sound as an artist. 'Lazy' showcases her impressive set of Ariana Grande-like lungs.

“I wrote this song a year ago, in the first lockdown," ORLA tells Hot Press. "It was summer and everyone was stuck at home. I was thinking back to a time where my life was so busy in comparison and finding hours to do just nothing with the person I most wanted to be with was a blessing. It’s a song about the early days of romance and knowing that even when you aren’t doing anything extraordinary, being with that person is what makes the time worthwhile.

"I wanted the sound of the song to reflect the romance, comfort and nostalgia of this feeling. It’s more playful, with an upbeat groove and a little less serious than my last song. The layers of vocals are there to create a dreamy feeling, while the saxophone, strings and guitar give it the laid back groove of classic R&B tunes I grew up listening to.”

Listen to the powerful 'Lazy' below: