Track of the Day: Sean MacLeod – Romeo (2025)
While he may have begun earning critical acclaim with his Dublin-based band Cisco, it is Sean MacLeod’s solo efforts that draw our attention alongside his international following. We might be late to the party, but the Irish artist’s music is welcoming, making you feel as if you had known MacLeod all your life. Drawing influence from iconic groups like the Beatles and Beach Boys, his original music lilts toward vintage pop; however, as much as MacLeod structures infectious pop tunes, he oozes eclecticism with a fusion of folk, classical, indie and the avant-garde. Join us as we delve into his latest single, ‘Romeo’.
Following his ten-track album, New Start, ‘Romeo’ leans strongly toward the sound of the Beatles. I might consider the single at its core a pop song, but various elements make ‘Romeo’ both familiar and refreshingly new in its vintage sentimentality. Jangle-pop flavours exist, yet an indie-pop tone peeps from the background. A slice of indie-rock wafts across, while a sweep of Britpop inserts a bit of a Dodgy-esque flair to the powerful Beatles-esque soundscape.
Produced with Robert MacLeod, ‘Romeo’ is a concoction of pulsating drums, bold guitars and a shimmering spark of keyboards, all entwined in kaleidoscopic harmony. The thing is, as much as the melody is a march of blended instrumentation, you can identify each element playing its particular role in the symphony. For me, the guitars pack a punch; however, it is the vocals that up the ante in this toe-tapping tune.
Rich, bold and warm, MacLeod’s honey-soaked vocals have you singing along even if you don’t actually know the song. I found myself mouthing the word “Romeo” each time the chorus kicked in, and that was only on the first playing of ‘Romeo’. Contagious, hypnotic, and just a feel-good number to plaster a smile on your face, ‘Romeo’ is a breath of fresh air to any dull Tuesday. This is my introduction to MacLeod, and I am eager to discover more from the talented troubadour.
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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