Biography
Orla Monelle is an independent Pop/ R&B artist born in Belgium and based in Dublin. At just seventeen she moved from Belgium to Ireland to start her musical journey. She has released eight singles to date, including Romanticise and The Best Love, which showcase her ability to blend emotionally driven songwriting with strong pop and R&B sensibilities. Boasting over 200,000 plays on Spotify, her music has secured spots on playlists like 'New Music Friday UK', ‘R&B Fresh Finds’ and has been played on stations such as RTE 2FM, BBC Radio 1Xtra, Spin 1038, Today FM and BBC Radio Ulster to name a few. Orla has captivated audiences across Ireland and the UK with notable intimate performances including Sofar Sounds in Belfast and The Ruby Sessions in Dublin. She brings the full sound of her songs to life with her band as demonstrated at her packed out headline show in February 2024 and her performance at International Women’s Day event ‘Her Sound, Her Stage’ in The Workman’s Cellar in March 2025. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Olivia Dean, Sinead Harnett and Joy Crookes, Orla’s music combines elements of both Pop and R&B music to create a unique sound.
New single 'In The Sunlight' out May 14th
‘In the Sunlight’ is Orla’s third and final single ahead of her debut EP Romanticise (out May 29), with the track set for release on May 14. Written by Monelle and co-written and produced by Cian O’Donoghue. Serving as the closing track of the EP, ‘In the Sunlight’ reveals a more introspective side of Orla’s artistry. It looks back on a past relationship with the clarity that comes from distance, capturing both growth and acceptance. At its core, ’In the Sunlight’ is a quiet celebration of personal evolution. It speaks to staying true to yourself and choosing no longer to hide in the shadows.
Debut EP- Romanticise
Orla Monelle’s debut EP Romanticise is set for release on May 29th. The EP’s lead singles, Romanticise and The Best Love, have already garnered strong support across the UK and Ireland, receiving airplay and praise from stations including RTÉ 2FM, Spin Southwest, and Amazing Radio. Her next single from the EP, In The Sunlight, will be released on May 14th. She will launch her EP at her show in Little Whelan's on the 29th of May.
About Writing 'Romanticise EP'
"I wrote this EP over the course of a year, about independence, love, and letting go enough to have fun. The irony is that, while writing it, I wasn’t in that carefree place myself but I knew it was where I wanted to be. I wasn’t in love either, but I wrote ‘The Best Love’ as a kind of wish, hoping that this kind of love existed, and that one day I’d find it. I wanted to believe in that feeling before it was real. That’s really what this EP is about. I wrote and sang these songs not as a reflection of where I was, but as a vision of where I hoped to be, something I could grow into over time. I kept singing them, holding onto that belief, until it’s true.”