Robert O’Connor release his new single, a cover of the Bananarama classic “Trick of the Night” on November 29

The brooding mid-tempo ballad, originally released by Bananarama in 1986, is a change of pace for Robert, who has released a trifecta of uptempo bangers in 2024 – “Mysterious Times”, “Everything You Wanted” and “Something Strange” – which have accumulated over 100,000 streams on Spotify.

His most recent release, “Something Strange”, was lavished with acclaim from critics, with Parkett calling the track: “A masterclass in dream-pop. It’s atmospheric, emotional, and meticulously crafted – an example of electronic pop at its finest”.

Furthermore, the single became his 14th consecutive Top 5 hit on the LGBTQ Music Chart, entering at number three. Robert says of his growing gay following: “There’s something unique about the loyalty of LGBTQ listeners. They’re often tastemakers, supporting artists long before the mainstream catches on”.

Speaking of his choice to record the song, Robert said: “I heard the track earlier this year when I saw the band perform live at the London Palladium, and the song stayed with me long after the show had ended”.

The Irish artist continued: “I approached my long-term producer Gareth Shortland with the idea of recording the track as a pre-Christmas single, and we have added the appropriate amount of bells to give it that festive feeling”.

Recorded in late summer with Richey McCourt handling vocal production duties, the track carries a cautionary message directed towards a friend who has left home to seek his fortune in the big city but is experiencing challenges and facing the prospect of becoming a rentboy.

“Trick of the Night” features artwork shot by Daven Casey, and will be accompanied by a music video directed by Kapture Lab.

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