INTRODUCTION
Hello everyone it’s your host Faithfulness and today I have with me Sean MacLeod from Ireland, Scarriff. Sean MacLeod is here to discuss about his recent single “Cool Charisma”. Welcome Sean MacLeod. Before we begin our interview here is what you need to know about this artist.
Sean MacLeod, a former and founding member of the Dublin based band Cisco, is an accomplished singer and songwriter whose music blends infectious pop melodies with thoughtful, often philosophical lyricism. After achieving critical acclaim with Cisco and recording alongside U2’s one time producer Paul Barrett, Sean embarked on a solo journey marked by originality and creative depth, releasing multiple albums and singles that showcase his signature fusion of sixties inspired sounds from The Beatles and The Beach Boys to Motown, with touches of folk, classical, and avant garde influences. His latest single, “Cool Charisma” (October 2025), continues his tradition of crafting melodic, harmony rich pop songs, while his upcoming albums “New Start” and “We Don’t See What That We Don’t See” (Spring 2025) promise to further explore his evolving artistic vision.
Having this brief Introduction, I’m sure new and current fans must be excited about our Interview today.
INTERVIEW
1. To begin with, let’s review your recent work. Cool Charisma feels like a bright and confident return to classic indie pop. What inspired this particular song, and how did it come together creatively?
Answer: Actually, the song is not particularly new. I recorded some time ago and never released it. I just felt I should release it now for some reason. The initial inspiration came from a line from the Irish writer James Joyce. In his book he uses the expression “Oysterface” and I thought it might make for a good line in a song and I suppose it reminded me of John Lennon’s ‘I Am the Walrus.’ So they were the primary influences on the song- a merging of Lennon and Joyce- not to sound pretentious J
2. You’ve had an incredible musical journey, from your early days with Cisco to your ongoing solo career. How would you say your sound has evolved since your time with the band?
Answer: I don’t know how its evolved actually- or if it even has. I just write pop songs. I always have. Maybe, I’ve discovered more different types of music over the years from Avant Garde composers like Harry Partch or Terry Riley to the indigenous music of Bali and I guess all that has had an influence. I am always interested in expanding the form of the pop song and bringing it in different directions but it doesn’t have to go in different directions either it can just be a simple song 3 minutes long with 3 chords and that’s fine.
3. You’ve recorded with notable names like Paul Barrett, who also worked with U2. How did that experience shape your approach to production and songwriting?
Answer: It didn’t really shape it. I liked Paul very much and he was a very gifted producer. He has recorded a lot of Irish artists and he was very good at producing good quality and well produced records but I or we, as a band didn’t have much to do with the process. Each one of us just played our parts and Paul put it together. If he didn’t think the part you were playing worked so well he would re-write it for you. Often it was better but at the same time it didn’t feel like the song was yours anymore. We, that is my previous band Cisco, were happy to have someone of the calibre of Paul to produce our records because we got them to a standard that the radio would play them. But, although I thought Paul did a great job of producing the records for radio play I felt it wasn’t really our music and I didn’t have much to do with the recording. You’d play your part and that was all you didn’t do much else.
4. The chorus of Cool Charisma has such a memorable “call and response” feel. How intentional was that structure, and what do you hope listeners take away from it?
Answer: As I mentioned the main lyric of the chorus came from a line by James Joyce and when I read the line the melody line came straight away and the call and response more or less came with it. It was just a moment of inspiration to begin with and usually when that happens I just follow that impulse. When I recorded it I knew the response needed a choral effect- a lot of voices singing back the line so I just asked a number of singers I know to come in and put their voice down on it. I think there might be about ten different voices on that chorus.
5. Is there a particular song other than this one, you are keen on that seems to communicate your message best and why?
Answer:
There is one particularly. I have lots and lots of songs which mostly all express a particular experience or outlook just as well as this one. I write a lot of songs and usually if I spend time finishing them and recording them it’s because I think they are expressing something worth expressing and sharing with the world.
6. What are some of the difficulties you encountered and some of the highlights in ‘Cool Charisma’ making process?
Answer: I don’t remember exactly but I think I’m always excited when the initial inspiration lands – because I now have something to work with. It’s probably the most interesting and enjoyable part of the whole process. If that inspiration doesn’t come there’s nothing you can do and you just have to wait until it comes and I think there is always that anxiety that it won’t ever come again. So it’s a great feeling when something does land. In this song I was actually happy that I ran into a friend of mine who was the drummer for the Irish group the Frames ( Glen Hansard’ s band- who wrote the music for the film ‘Once’) and I asked him if he would put the drums down on the track for me. He’s a great drummer and I think it really helped the song tremendously. Actually, a lot of reviews of the song tend to mention the great groove the song has- and that’s primarily down to Binzer ( a childhood nickname), the drummer. I was also very pleased with the call and response part as I mentioned.
7. Looking back, what lessons from your Cisco days still influence your work as a solo artist today?
Answer: Cisco was just a great learning period. We all grew up together and we all wrote songs and we just learned from each other I think. I think it was quite a remarkable group because we had five really good songwriters and we had some really good singers too. We were together for about 10 years and it was a real disappointment to break up but it’s pretty difficult to make a good living in Ireland playing original music.
8. There’s a distinctly philosophical and spiritual tone in your lyrics. What draws you to explore those deeper themes within upbeat pop melodies?
Answer: I grew up with pop music. I grew up listening to the Beatles and 60s and 70s music so it was kind of my musical heritage. And while I love lots of music, I just feel that the pop song is the musical tradition that I belong to. I’m very interested in lots of things – literature, film, theatre and also I am very interested in philosophical ideas ( my primary degree was in Philosophy and English literature) as well what one might call the spiritual dimension of the human being and I like the idea of exploring philosophical and spiritual themes within the pop song. I think it gives a broader dimension to the simple pop song while at the same time presenting rather difficult ideas in a kind of more digestible way.
9. Could you describe how this release is different from your previous work and where this one belongs in the sequence of your career?
Answer: I think it’s just another song among many. I’m just happy I got the opportunity to write and record it and share it with people and I hope it brings something positive to someone else’s life.
10. Were there any collaborations or production choices that played a big role in shaping the final sound?
Answer: I think, as I mentioned having a serendipitous meeting with the drummer the day before I went into the studio and also having the good fortune of having a lot of good singers around who were happy to put their voices on it.
11. Since you released a ‘Cool Charisma’, what has the reaction of the fans been?
Answer: I think some people like it. Hopefully. J
12. How can your fans reach you and your music whether through the internet or in person?
Answer: They can find my music on most online music platforms- Spotify, Bandcamp, Soundcloud and they can follow me on Facebook and Instagram. If they are around the west of Ireland over the next few months they can come and see me play live. They can find live dates on my social media
13. You have two albums coming next year, ‘New Start’ and ‘We Don’t See What That We Don’t See’. Can you tell us how these projects differ in style and concept?
Answer:
14. What is one thing that your fans do not know about you but would want to reveal?
Answer: They might not know that I also write books on music and they can also find them on my social media sites.
15. Would you like to add any concluding thoughts to your fans or new listeners hearing about you for the first time?
Answer: If they like anything they have heard they can find lots more on the places I’ve mentioned and if they wish to get in touch I’d be happy to her from them. Also, if people are interested in hearing more music like ‘Cool Charisma’ I have quite a lot of material to release over the next year. The new album ‘New Start’ is currently out but I have a new album ready to be released in the new year and also another album which will be mixed and ready for released sometime towards the second half of 2026.
IN SUMMARY
This has been an exciting session for us all Sean MacLeod, I believe fans and anyone out there just discovering your music for the first time are equally excited about this project. Thank you for the privilege to experience this masterpiece, it’s been an honor.
Here is my thought on what i have to say after listening to “Cool Charisma”:
Listening to “Cool Charisma” felt like being pulled into a warm, sunlit wave of pure indie pop bliss. The song’s glistening guitar riffs and steady beat instantly caught my ear, but it was the groove, subtle yet undeniable, that truly drew me in. There is something effortless about how Sean blends the vintage charm of The Beatles and The Beach Boys with a modern indie flair, creating a sound that feels both familiar and refreshingly new. His vocals carry a smooth confidence, with just the right touch of warmth, while the layered backing harmonies add richness and texture that make the track even more captivating. What stands out most is how the song manages to balance its infectious rhythm with genuine musical craftsmanship, making it as thoughtful as it is catchy. “Cool Charisma” is the kind of song that naturally lifts your mood, the kind that has you moving your shoulders, snapping your fingers, and smiling without even realizing it. It is a delightful reminder of how timeless melodies and heartfelt energy can make pop music feel alive again.
Finally to our audience, I urge to listen to “Cool Charisma“, add it to your playlist and be Inspired by it and on behalf of Dulaxi I like to appreciate you all by saying thank you everyone, See you on our next interview.
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