Songwriter, Singer, Guitarist
With his debut album, Postcard from Budapest, Robert Severin explores the legacy of his Hungarian heritage and its connections to his home, Scotland. Each song tells stories of real lives lived and disrupted in 20th century Budapest, several of which have Scotland woven into their histories. They are affecting melodic documents courage and fortitude in the face of unimaginable inhumanity.
Robert sings, and plays acoustic guitar and clarinet. Four of the tracks on the album feature acclaimed Scottish string quartet, Innotet - Seonaid Aitken 1st Violin, Innes Watson 2nd Violin and founder, Patsy Reid Viola and Alice Allen Cello. Seonaid and Innes also contributed to background vocals.
Robert is currently engaged in diverse collaborative projects with other songwriters from the UK and internationally. He is also writing for other artists, with a Nashville release in January 2023. Robert's last solo single, Elena, a collaboration with Dutch poet Linda de Bruijn, tells the story of a Ukranian refugee fleeing from the Russian invasion, released on its first anniversary. Listen here on SoundCloud
Although Robert's principal instrument is the guitar, he is working on new material with diverse compositional approaches, inspired by poetry and film. He is attending an intensive six-day workshop in April 2026, for Sound and Music Composition for Film and Stage, tutored by Charo Calvo and Arthur Brouns, at Ultima Vez, Brussels. More about Ultima Vez
Quotes from album reviews:
I have discovered the premier exponent of British-Hungarian chanson. Robert Severin's songs are lyrically led but all with beautiful, delicate, highly original tunes... A truly gifted songwriter, he is a Jacques Brel for our times.
Colin Bailey, RnR Magazine 5/5 stars.
They are lovely songs...The lyrics are excellent, the stories the songs tell are touching without being sentimental. George Szirtes, Poet and Translator, King's Gold Medal for Poetry 2024.
...Robert delivers intimate songs, beautifully accompanied. This is the musical equivalent of spending a moment reading well thumbed poetry in a quiet city square, as time stands still. Marc Higgins, Northern Sky Reviews 4/5 stars.
Severin delivers an incredibly beautiful musical photo album, in which you want to keep browsing. Jan Willem Broek, De Subjectivisten
...stunning debut album... Liz Clark, Album of the Week, Celtic Music Radio
Thoughtful and literate. Steve Clarke, Strange Brew, Radio Skye
...profound stories. They are stories we should listen to. Mike Wistow, Folking.com
