Robert O’Connor

Ephram St. Cloud : Who is Robert O’Connor? (in your own words).

Robert O’Connor : Right now, Robert O’Connor is a singer/songwriter! Actually, I’m quite a lot of things, but I remember this time last year when I decided to come back to the music industry, I edited my Instagram description to«singer/songwriter» and it felt quite surreal, because I hadn’t been that for such a long time. In my five years out from the scene I worked as a journalist, which bled into social media work, and then when that job finished up pretty abruptly I decided I was fed up of uncertainty and went and lived the simple life and worked as a security guard for a year – it was a strangely refreshing experience because it was the first time I worked in an industry that I suppose wasn’t fiercely competitive. For the 18 months I’ve also worked part-time selling houses – that’s how I make my money, and then I spend it making music! But yeah, it’s really great to be able to say I’m a singer/songwriter again and not have to say «I used to be a singer/songwriter».

Ephram St. Cloud : Ireland is not known for country music, so how did you land in country music as your sound for your music?

Robert O’Connor : There are parts of Ireland, more Northern Ireland actually, that are big into country music, but you’re right, internationally it wouldn’t exactly be the first genre this country would be associated with. I think there’s a few reasons I gravitated towards making country music – I really love a good strong story-telling lyric, and a lot of people say country music is «three chords and the truth». My songwriting, at least to me, has always been quite simple – I don’t overcomplicate it, it’s not fancy, and I don’t labour over songs for weeks or months. I write how I feel, I deliver a melody, and that’s all there is to it. I covered a song called «Killin’ Kind» by an American country artist, Shelby Lynne, back on my first record in 2008, so it isn’t a brand new influence for me, but when I got into the studio to make this new music earlier this year, I knew deep down that I was coming back as a country artist. I didn’t want to play the pop game, trend-chasing and all that. I’m 32, I’m a grown man and I wanted the music to reflect that – these songs are about my life right now.

Ephram St. Cloud : «No Second Chances» is one of your latest tracks. Can you explain to our readers the story behind this song?

Robert O’Connor : The song was written about four years ago. I recorded the idea as a voice note in my iPhone one night when I had just called time on a relationship. I wasn’t sure if I’d done the right thing, and I didn’t like the idea of not being friends, of just pretending like it never happened, and that’s where the song came from – the uncertainty I was feeling. Each verse is a part of the break-up – before and after – and the chorus is the acknowledgement that it’s over but it romanticises the idea that «maybe we could start again». I don’t remember coming up with the melody at all, that’s the weirdest part of the song, but it’s never changed. Before I went into the studio I’d be at the gym and I kept hearing these dance tracks and thinking, «maybe I should make it a dance track», but anytime I tried to change it, it never sounded right. It just had to be a country song!

Ephram St. Cloud : Everyone has a song, that they love to play again and again, never getting tired of it – what is your song and why this song?

Robert O’Connor :  Damn, it changes all the time. Like, literally all the time, week to week. I get really obsessed with bands or artists and become totally monogamous with them for weeks and listen to nothing else. Right now for me, the song I keep hitting replay on is Chris Stapleton’s «Parachute». The energy of his vocal is really on another level, I think what he’s bringing to the table is really outstanding.

Ephram St. Cloud : If our readers want to experience Ireland and Dublin – what will you recommend them to see?

Robert O’Connor :  Oh I’m such a bad tour guide, I live in my own little bubble, and as far as Ireland goes I haven’t been outside of Dublin in years – I just get on a plane and hit Spain or if I’m lucky the States – I love the sun and you don’t get that too often in Ireland! I would say definitely get out into the countryside and enjoy the welcoming people you’ll meet on your travels. Funny enough, I did the Guinness tour last year, it wasn’t bad, but I’m really more interested in doing the various whiskey tours! I’m not doing anything for our reputation here am I?

Ephram St. Cloud : When you want to have fun with friends out in Dublin – where do you go out ?

Robert O’Connor :  My favourite kind of nights out are the all-day affairs – so I say take in a rugby match, doesn’t matter if it’s a smaller Leinster game or a big Ireland one, there’s always a great atmosphere, then go for food. Our restaurant scene is growing rapidly, and there’s always a bunch of new places I want to check out – but Italian and Mexican are always top of the list. I’d stay away from touristy places like Temple Bar, and depending on my mood either go to a dive bar like P Macs or if I’m feeling fancy, one of the hotel bars that has a good DJ. I’m into house music when I go out, there’s nothing worse than a Spotify DJ who’s playing radio edits of the Top 20 all night, with zero mixing going on. I like to be taken on a journey by the DJ – I worked in The Liquor Rooms, an underground club, on the security team, and the music there was always great – they’d often have these sprawling ‘70s disco sets and it was like a time-warp, really funky, and the décor matches which I think sets the mood.

Ephram St. Cloud : Do you have any plans for releasing more music this year?

Robert O’Connor :  It’s something I’m very consciously thinking about right now, though I’m trying to stay focused on the here and now because «No Second Chances» is still doing good business at radio, and there’s so many territories and stations I haven’t hit with it. I’ve been writing new songs through the summer, and possibly as a result of them being written during a heat-wave, they all have this very summery feeling to them – I kept coming up with these lyrics and melodies that felt like something you’d hear from The Cure or The Smiths. I definitely won’t release those tracks in the winter, but I do have another idea up my sleeve, I just need to get together with my producers and see if it’s something we can do. In my head I keep saying «three singles feels like the right amount» for this year. Financially you don’t get anything back from singles, so it does become a bit of an expensive hobby!

Ephram St. Cloud : Do you have any new emerging artists that you’ll recommend our reader to check out ?

Robert O’Connor :  Country-wise, I’m really loving Dan + Shay. I heard they’re song «Tequila» and was like, «Damn, why didn’t I write that»! I feel the same way about James Barker Band, they got something really special going on, especially their song «Chills», which puts me in good mood every single time I hear it without fail…that’s powerful! On a more indie note, I recently discovered «Wild Nothing», and I’m working my way through their catalogue right now and it’s a really impressive and beautiful body of work. I heard their album «Nocturne» totally by accident on YouTube and I would say it’s an album I’ll never tire of – it’s so up my street sonically. So now I’m working my way through their catalogue and really having a lot of fun doing it. Their latest release «Indigo» is equally brilliant and I’m wondering if they’re capable of making music that isn’t 10/10.

Ephram St. Cloud : Robert is there something you want to add, before we end this interview?

Robert O’Connor : I suppose you always wanna connect with listeners and my way of doing that now is through Spotify and Apple Music playlists – so if some of the readers would like to follow me on there that would be amazing. I made a playlist, «Nashville Nights», a few weeks ago, and I’ve been adding to it regularly – if you like country music, I can guarantee you’ll enjoy this…turns out I make a mean playlist! My most active social media is probably Instagram, it’s the most personal, so if you wanna dig a little deeper, that’s where to get me! If I’m not posting about music, I’ll probably be talking about food, fitness, UFC…and of course there’s the selfies. I’m @iamrobertoconnor.

Don’t forget to vote on «No Second Chances» on LGBTQ Music Chart for week 39 2018.

Robert O’Connor // «No Second Chances»

Robert O’Connor‘s «No Second Chances» has been added to our official Spotify Playlist – follow it so you are not missing out on great tunes like this one.

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About the Author

Writes for MySoCalledGayLife.co.uk about music, movies, news and lot of other stuff too.