Women of Modern UK Jazz
27 October 2025
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Hailing from Brighton, Orla is quickly becoming a name to watch – and her latest single is a testament to just that.
How did you approach the writing process for ‘FOMO’?
I went to James’ studio on a sunny day in June, feeling a bit at as my friends were on a holiday to Paris that I didn’t go on. I’d been listening to some of my favourite jazzy artists such as Amy Winehouse, Cleo Sol and D’angelo in the summer and had sent James some references before I arrived. He’d started working on the music and I told him about how I was experiencing some FOMO with my friends being away. I always like creating and writing about what I’m feeling or going through that day, so it naturally became the concept of the song! We nished writing most of the song on the day and it really helped me turn my feelings around and help me shift into a positive mindset.
“Healing and growing and learning who I wanna be”, Orla sings, capturing the journey of knowing what’s best for yourself and embracing self-growth – a raw, unltered and relatable insight into Orla’s experience with FOMO.
Her seamless jazz-infused melodies branch away from music tradition, showcasing a powerful delivery complemented with experimental undertones – while embracing a catchy, optimistic pop-adjacent hook – ‘I’m getting better there’s no doubt’. This head-bopping sing-along intermission amongst jaw-dropping jazz complexity creates a space for a multitude of genres to mingle and ourish – something Orla has pioneered, crafting an unmissable sound that is uniquely hers.
Whats your most notable achievement/milestone so far?
My most notable milestone so far has probably been touring Europe with Blue Lab Beats or finishing my 1st project! Both have felt like big achievements for me at the start of my career, and I’m so excited to grow and achieve even more over the next few years!
While jumping from strength to strength, Orla has continued to receive support from AudioActive, who continue to pioneer the youth music movement in Brighton and surrounding areas. Her journey so far has been nothing short of impressive – supporting artists like Sophie Faith and IYAMAH, a string of career-highlights that are undoubtedly set to continue into 2025 with the backing of the local music community.
Any advice for aspiring jazz/soul singers looking to build their presence in the local music scene?
I would say to really work on your condence and your craft, build a strong network and small team of people you trust, speak to as many people as you can to get your name out there and believe in yourself! Take all the opportunities you can get at the start, it’s scary putting yourself out there and rejection can be hard to navigate but it’s really important to be able to pick yourself back up and keep pushing when you face a setback or rejection.
Tell us your plans + goals for 2025?
Lots and lots of plans and goals! But the main ones are to release my debut EP, play lots more shows and record and release lots more music in 2025. Hoping to play at some festivals this year, open for some bigger artists, lm live sessions as well as getting my EP on vinyl – so stay tuned.
Orla’s latest single ‘FOMO‘ is out now, and she’ll be making an appearance on the live stage in the coming months at the ‘Global Soul Showcase‘, The Jazz Cafe, London on April 20th 2025. After a recent appearance at The Old Market in Hove paired with enigmatic music teasers on her Instagram page – Orla is only just getting started, and is showing no signs of slowing her infectious momentum!
