On her brand new single, “Separate”, Melbourne/Naarm based artist Kaitlin Keegan delivers the pandemic love song we all need right now.

Following on from her Sadisco EP and two previous standalone singles, “Missed Call” and “It Ain’t You”, “Separate” is another irresistibly melodic gem from the 23-year singer-songwriter. Guaranteed to hit you in the feels without ever veering into melodrama, the track is a study in the power of simplicity and restraint, letting Keegan’s effortlessly warm and captivating vocals shine over a driving bassline, tight drum groove, sparse guitar strums and chiming atmospherics. And at its heart is a hugely relatable story, especially considering the last couple of years.

“‘Separate’ is about living apart from someone you love,” Keegan explains. “It follows a couple navigating a long-distance relationship and trying to work out if it’s truly worth doing. I think that’s something a lot of people have had to go through with the pandemic. Living far away from a partner or loved one is super difficult, so we wanted to explore that a bit.”

Even the writing of the song had to overcome some physical distance. Co-written over Zoom with fellow Melbournian, Sidney Rose, while each was locked down and homebound, the duo took the opening line that Kaitlin had written – “I wanna hit up your line but I know I shouldn’t/Hate that our time zone is so different” – and built the track out from there. While it was the first time the pair had written together, the chemistry was immediate.

“Writing ‘Separate’ with Sidney was our first ever session, and it was kind of mind blowing,” Kaitlin says. “We just clicked. She is so easy to work with and our writing styles complement each other so well. We listen to a lot of the same music so that really helps too.”

Drawing inspiration from artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Holly Humberstone and even Taylor Swift’s Folklore, “Separate” perfectly captures the melancholy yearning of love from a distance. But Kaitlin also hopes it brings some joy too. “I hope that anyone listening who has experienced feeling alone or separated from their loved ones can relate or feel heard in some way,” she says. “But on a lighter note, I hope the listener can have a dance and just enjoy the song, cause I’m just so dang proud of it!!

To help bring the track to life, Kaitlin teamed up with Stephen Mowat (WILSN, Gretta Ray) on production and mixing duties. Working out of Aviary Studios in Abbotsford, Mowat was quick to recognise the more pop potential of the song. “When I showed my home demo version to Stephen, he immediately had so many cool references and ideas,” Kaitlin explains. “My version was a really simple guitar track and a vocal track, and Stephen brought a brightness and fun pop vibe to it. He really elevated what was already an awesome song.”

Together they built something truly special. “Separate” is that unique kind of song that depending on your mood could have you introspectively gazing out your window, lost in thought, or up on your feet, dancing around the house. “When the song was mastered and all finished I had a bunch of my friends round and we ate so many dumplings and danced around my living room listening to it,” she says. “That’s the energy I want this song to bring!”