Interview: Bitter Rocc's final plans

When Hot Press last caught up with Bitter Rocc, aka 26-year-old Dubliner Richard O’Connor, he had just released the MMXIII EP – as an exclusive download on hotpress.com might we add. Rocc was delighted with the critical response to it, and its predecessor Cold City. Just eight months later, The Hardest-Working Musician in Ireland™ is back with the EP’s second instalment, and looking forward to showcasing it alongside an accompanying photo exhibit in Dublin’s 4 Dame Lane.

While he’s busy with preparations, it’s clear that O’Connor is in a really good place – we’re guessing that’s down to both the ease with which this album came to be, and the rose-mantic inspiration behind it: he tied the knot with long-term love Danielle last month in Vegas.
“I feel like I’ve finally made it,” he grins. “This album didn’t take me long to do at all. I recorded it in the space of three or four weeks. It was the whole marriage thing: I was just on such a high. You can hear it in the album, where I talk about ‘the dream’. If you’re happy in your job and have a good partner by your side – you’re living the dream. That’s the true meaning for me, and that’s what the album’s based on. I’m starting a new life.”
The change of tone is apparent in O’Connor’s lyrics. Cold City and the MMXIII EP saw him delve into a painful past and discuss violence, drugs, homelessness and domestic abuse. The process he says, proved cathartic – he’s come full circle since that first release last year.
“All the horrible things I talk about is the truth,” he explains. “I just wanted to finally get rid of it – I look at these albums like a therapy session, I’m writing down everything, and then it’s gone. When I put out Cold City, it was a major turning-point. Then, MMXIII was completely different: I was talking about redemption of the soul. Part Deux is more about taking responsibility for stuff that happened, letting go of the past and looking towards the future.”
Always eager to push boundaries, O’Connor has teamed up with photographer Jason Don Matthew, who shot a series of images which will tell the album’s story visually. Sounds quite conceptual?
“Absolutely. When I started making this album, I knew I wanted to do something really different, so I came up with the idea that we stage photos and tell the story of the whole record. I pitched the idea to Jason, and gave him total freedom with it. And he really went all out!”
The images will be exhibited on Friday November 22 at a ‘listening party’. As O’Connor explains: “It’s an old-school thing, a listening party. You don’t hear of them much anymore! The images will be exhibited around the room, so you can follow the story of the album as you listen to it. It’s sponsored by Project A Apparel – an Irish clothing brand who wanted to support a local talent. They’re a great bunch of people. It’ll be more of a relaxed celebration than a live gig, where you have to stand there and listen to a bunch of songs you haven’t heard before!”
Launch over, O’Connor will focus on putting together a special album package, featuring the CD and a book of Matthew’s images. To raise the dosh, he’s set up a Fund:It campaign.
“Hopefully it’ll reach its target of €850,” he says. “As far as I know, it’s the only project of its kind, and a big thing for the scene. It’s also a way to give something back to those willing to contribute.”
Indeed, we advise you stock up on as much Bitter Rocc memorabilia as you can, since O’Connor has some sad – and pretty darn unexpected – news.
“I’m going to do one more full studio album next year, and then I’m going to bow out,” he reveals. “I’m starting this new journey, and I don’t look at music as a career. I want to experiment in new ways. I’m really into animation, video and painting, so I want to branch out into those things.”
As bitter (teehee) a pill as that is to swallow, we have a feeling we’ll be hearing plenty more from Mr. O’Connor in the future. For now, this newlywed is simply enjoying life.

Bitter Rocc launches MMXIII Part Deux in 4 Dame Lane on November 22. The album will be available as a download from hotpress.com. Donate to ‘Picture & Sound’ at fundit.ie/project/mmxiii-pt-deux-picture--sound. See also projectaapparel.com.