Robert O’Connor: Making Waves with Swimming Against The Tide

Dublin-based pop artist Robert O’Connor has finally dropped his awaited album entitled Swimming Against The Tide, a new exciting chapter in his career. The album, mixed over two years with Gareth Shortland (who worked with the likes of Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Steps) boasts a fusion of inspiration across three decades: the ’80s, the ’90s, and the ’00s.

From the urbane, velvety feel of sophisti-pop to the throb of the electronic beats, Swimming Against The Tide feels like a sonic time capsule of O’Connor’s personal and musical evolution throughout the ten-track collection. Comprising six self-written songs, a couple of tastefully chosen cover versions, and contributions from notable songwriters such as Tee Webb and Gordon Pogoda, this new album is very much the perfectly appointed pop record that O’Connor has been working toward.

Lead single Head Turner dropped January 24 and set the scene for the impending album. An anthem of self-assurance through nu-disco, it is a mix of smooth, spiraling synths with an infective groove-a la Jamiroquai combined with Jessie Ware. The track captures the raw emotion of sloughing worries and stepping with a newfound, empowered freedom upon the dancefloor.

Along with the album, O’Connor has also assembled Night Tides: The Chillout Collection, a 13-track companion piece that reinvents his songs as relaxed, atmospheric soundscapes. Scheduled for release on February 7, the collection offers a fresh look at his music, transforming hits like Everything You Wanted into sleek, late-night ballads.

With Swimming Against The Tide, Robert O’Connor further carves his unique space within the pop landscape-true to his artistry and giving the fans energy and introspection.