Sean MacLeod – Beautiful Star (2025)
While Sean MacLeod began streaming music as a solo artist last year, at least according to Spotify, this singer-songwriter is by no means a newbie. The founding and former member of the Irish band Cisco, which achieved critical acclaim across Ireland and beyond, MacLeod is not the minnow in the shark pool; if he were, he’d be the shiny minnow flitting about so you can’t take your eyes off him. The Irish musician reached our ears earlier this year with ‘Romeo’ and ‘Cool Charisma’. Today, we take a listen to his most recent release, ‘Beautiful Star’.
Following the 2025 single, ‘I Know Not’, ‘Beautiful Star’ adopts a soothing, calm, almost languid sound as compared to the upbeat, high-energy ‘I Know Not’. Drawing on his influences of the Beatles, ‘Beautiful Star’ drags listeners back to the days of the 60s with an indie-rock flair. Like a shining sonic river, each instrument flows in and keeps the waters moving with sophistication and elegance. With a driving piano, bold drums, and a soaring guitar, the track has a mellifluous harmony to wash over you with vibrant colours and warm comfort. Add MacLeod’s rich but dulcet vocals, and it’s one of those songs made to begin the weekend, created for a road trip, or something playing in the background where you begin humming along without realising you’re humming.
Melodically, ‘Beautiful Star’ is just that: a beautiful star. It lights the room as a shimmering star burning bright with enchanting allure. Lyrically, it is as intriguing “…expressing deep philosophical and spiritual questions with an easy-to-digest pop sensibility”.
My overall opinion of Sean MacLeod and ‘Beautiful Star’? Chilled-out and gentle, ‘Beautiful Star’ quickly won my heart as a breath of fresh air. MacLeod continues to show innovation and originality as an artist – something we see, or rather hear, in every new release. So far, I’m highly impressed by Sean MacLeod, but will the run of great music continue? Personally, I think so.
Find out more about Sean MacLeod on his Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Bandcamp, Soundcloud and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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