Severance by Robert O'Connor

‘Severance’ is the turning point in Robert O’Connor’s artistic evolution — an eight-track electro-pop EP that channels late-90s trance, Scandinavian pop precision, and widescreen emotional storytelling into a bold, cohesive statement. Produced, mixed, and mastered entirely by Gareth Shortland, the record marks the first full collaboration between the pair and set the foundation for the sonic world Robert would continue exploring over the next several years.

The project first took shape in early 2021, during the promotion of Robert’s previous EP, ‘Transcendence’. A demo of “Save You”, originally produced with Jordan Arteaga, wasn’t landing the way Robert envisioned, and it sparked the memory of the Chicane classic “Saltwater”, which had inspired the earliest version of the song. Reconnecting with Gareth — who had remixed Robert’s 2018 single “You Found Me” — the two quickly discovered a shared language and direction. “Save You” became a vocoder-soaked trance anthem steeped in late-90s energy, and the collaboration naturally expanded into a full EP.

“Been & Gone” followed — a whimsical, synth-driven Scandinavian-pop track written during a coffee break at Robert’s then day job, capturing the rush of unexpected attraction and the temptation of escapism. Vocals were recorded with Richey McCourt (who handled all EP vocals except “Save You”) and shaped into one of Robert’s most dynamically arranged choruses.

A cover was planned for the EP, but Robert avoided touching ABBA’s catalogue directly, despite Gareth’s encouragement. Instead, Gareth suggested “The Last Time”, written by Robin Randall, Judithe Randall, and Jeff Law for Agnetha Fältskog’s ‘I Stand Alone’. Robert became captivated by its emotional depth and agreed to reimagine it. Recorded with Richey in early 2022, it became one of the EP’s defining tracks — released as a single the same week ABBA Voyage premiered, landing widespread playlisting and expanding Robert’s audience dramatically. Sakgra’s remix would later match its popularity, finding a long life on Italo Disco and Euro-pop playlists.

“Separate Ways”, recorded during the same sessions, became the darker sibling to “Save You” — a haunting trance track with a vocal performance Gareth described as reminiscent of Craig David in its phrasing. Its lyrics revolve around emotional ultimatums and the slow collapse of connection: “you put those walls up, and I just can’t climb them.”

The EP’s centrepiece, “One Way Ticket”, emerged only when Robert and Gareth struggled to agree on a fifth track. Gareth sent a backing-track idea one morning, and Robert wrote the verses on his commute to work and the chorus on the way home, terrified someone else would receive the instrumental first. With its ABBA-inspired ad-libs, Steps-esque sparkle, and Pet Shop Boys–tinged synths, the song became Robert’s “signature track” and his biggest hit to date — a maximalist electropop anthem about leaving everything behind and choosing yourself.

Like ‘Transcendence’, ‘Severance’ uses an intro, interlude, and outro to bind the EP into a single, narrative experience. The Intro is a deliberate homage to Steps’ “Steptro” — the first album Robert ever bought. Its swelling heartbeat-like motif was crafted to recreate that same sense of excitement and anticipation, leading seamlessly into “Save You”. The Interlude resets the emotional palette with cinematic strings and piano, bridging into the EP’s final chapter. The Outro, echoing the melodic DNA of “The Last Time”, reflects on the themes of the EP — cutting ties, leaving behind past versions of oneself, and stepping into unknown futures.

Robert describes the title ‘Severance’ as a response to the pandemic years in which the project was conceived — a period of fractured relationships, dismantled routines, and forced reinvention. The EP became his declaration of independence: bold, nostalgic, genre-fluid, and uninterested in trends. That conviction resonated. The record produced five consecutive Top 5 placements on the LGBTQ Music Chart, received widespread critical acclaim, and was performed live in full at a special Dublin show.

‘Severance’ remains a pivotal moment — the project where Robert stopped asking what the industry wanted and instead made the record he wanted to hear.

Tracklist

1.	Intro	1:54

2.	Save You	5:27

3.	Separate Ways	3:07

4.	One Way Ticket	3:42

5.	Interlude	1:35

6.	Been & Gone	4:00

7.	The Last Time	3:33

8.	Outro	1:14

Credits

released October 7, 2022

Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 & 8 written by Robert O’Connor & Gareth Shortland
Track 5 written by Robert O’Connor, Gareth Shortland & Gavin Sheridan
Track 7 written by Robin Randall, Judithe Randall & Jeff Law

All tracks produced, mixed & mastered by Gareth Shortland
All vocals recorded by Richey McCourt (except “Save You,” recorded by Gavin Sheridan)

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