Sean MacLeod – Inside Out (2025)
With a PhD in Musical Composition in his hands, several well-received singles, and two albums – well, the second hasn’t been released yet – Sean MacLeod is more than just a lovely smile. Beneath the charming exterior, the Irish singer-songwriter, composer and author uses a boundary-breaking musical style to capture and express existential issues like alienation, isolation and inner turmoil. Of course, it’s not all doom and gloom, with empowering questioning of human experiences. In this review, we take a look and listen to his single, ‘Inside Out’.
The fourth track on his 2025 album, That’s When The Earth Becomes A Star, ‘Inside Out’ is a solid folk-rock tune, melding a bold bass with dynamic drums, interspersed keyboards and a rhythmic guitar. Interestingly, while every element has a particular individuality, the track’s steadiness is evident in ‘Inside Out’s harmonic attitude. Yes, the song lilts from a heavy, hard-hitting melody to something vibrant, then ebbs back to the broodier tone; however, it is this movement that so effortlessly captures the raw emotion behind ‘Inside Out’s message.
Taken from an album that “explores themes of alienation, transformation and the search for spiritual meaning in a world increasingly shaped by technology, materialism and commercial culture”, ‘Inside Out’ is almost a lyrical plea and shape of someone facing the drudgery, destruction, and “you got me inside out” attitude of an age where “digital culture increasingly define our understanding of ourselves.” MacLeod’s rich vocals dance across the track, while also reaching into the darker side of the protagonist’s reality.
‘Inside Out’ is an engaging single – confident and emotive but without being too “in your face”. It’s soothing and easy to listen to, but profoundness lingers beneath. I particularly like the ending with its shivering tambourine; a pleasant out to a complex in.
A month ago, I enjoyed MacLeod’s single, ‘I’ve Seen You Around’, and today ‘Inside Out’ stands tall as another insightful and passionate tune. I await his upcoming album, We Don’t See That We Don’t See.
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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