Hi Sean. What was life like for you before you got into music?
I got into music at a very young age. Since I was seven I was playing the piano and by the age of twelve I had started playing the drums. I had an older brother and cousins who were all into music and played instruments and who were in bands, so I can’t remember my life without having music in it.
What’s the live music scene like in Scarriff, Co Clare right now? Anyone we should be looking out for?
There is not much of a live music scene here in Scarriff at the moment. In the surrounding area however, there is quite a big Traditional Irish music scene but that’s not really the type of music I play. In Ennis , the main town in my county, there are a few music initiative, such as the Ennis Eccentric Music Collective. They run gigs for original music once a month and it has some very good acts. I played there last month with an Irish indie band called Savage Hearts. They were very good. Very raw.
It seems like being a social media curator has become added to the many jobs of a musician, how do you feel about this?
It’s true that the music industry requires most of its artists to have to become ofay with social media as a promotional tool but I think this is pretty much the same in most areas of life now because social media and digital technologies are at the centre of modern life- be that social, economic or any other aspect of modern life. Personally, I don’t really enjoy it so much and also it, I feel, doesn’t really help artists so much because they just get lost in noise with everyone else screaming for attention.
How do you manage engagement on your socials?
I don’t manage it very well. I find it’s a very hungry beast that requires constant feeding. I often just get overwhelmed by it all mainly because it often feels like all the promotion and work that goes into the social media side doesn’t really go anywhere.
What’s Your View of the Music Industry Today?
I don’t really think much of the music industry today. In fact, I don’t think there is one really. There’s a machine that pushes its products and music is only a very small aspect of that.
I think the popular music industry, which is what the music industry is , had a particular period in which it thrive and seemed to be healthy enough for musicians to get on in but I think that more or less died sometime ago.
Where Do You Feel You Currently Sit Within the Music Industry?
Probably, that music , mainly the pop and rock music of the 50s to 80s, had both musical and social meaning and in the last few years that has completely gone. I think not so much because the beast took over but mostly because things have only a certain longevity.
So why continue on playing and making music? Because that’s what I do and I think people are still making very interesting and very well produced music – even though it doesn’t have the same currency it once did. But also we need to keep making music because we never know when a shift will occur and something will bring life back into the thing.
What’s the Biggest Thing You Have Learned Recently as You Progress With Your Music?
That you just have to keep writing songs and playing and don’t let all the other stuff associated with music as an industry get the better of you.
What’s Currently in Your Ears and on Rotation at the Moment?
I am currently recording an album of songs which have a slight New Wave feel to it so I’ve been listening to a lot of New Wave and post-Punk music like Generation X, early U2 and Simple Minds and that kind of stuff.
What Was Your Best Experience on Stage?
Probably the last gig I did at the Ennis Music Collective because that was a good gig and your are only as good as your last gig. ☺
What Was Your Worst Experience on Stage?
There are too many to recount. Over the years I have experienced all sorts of situations which I’d rather forget if possible. The only good thing about them is you stop caring about how your gigs go and so they tend to go much better for that reason. ☺
I Hear You Have New Music. What Can You Tell Us About It?
Yes, I have a lot of new music which I have being recording over the last two years. Actually, I recorded three albums of music and I am keen to get the songs out.
I released for or five songs in 2025 the latest is called ‘I Know Not’ which is quite experimental- using a lot of microtonal tunings but still its is wrapped up in a nice easy to digest pop sensibility. I’m looking forward to releasing the rest of the music in 2026 so keep an ear out.
What Was the Recording Process Like?
It was long. It takes me quite a while to record everything because I usually play all the parts myself- except sometimes I get a drummer on some of the tracks.
It’s too difficult to record the drums myself so I often hire a drummer. I usually have to demo the song and then give it to the drummer and then rerecord all the parts again over the new drum track so it takes me a considerable amount of time but at the same time I usually work through the tracks quickly enough once I get a feel for it.
What Was the Biggest Learning Curve in Writing the New Tunes?
I guess every time I record an album I feel lucky that I have been given the inspiration to do so. If there’s no inspiration its pretty difficult to do anything so I’m always learning to trust that the creative forces will flow and that there is a spark of creativity that I can draw from. In that regard creating music is quite a spiritual activity for me.
Would You Change Anything Now It’s Finished?
On these new records, there isn’t much I would change- some guitar tone on one track but generally I am happy with these recordings. I used to book studio time and I always felt there were things I wanted to redo but I couldn’t because I would have to wait ages to book the studio again but know because I record in my own studio I can re-do things if I feel I need to.
Is There Anything Else You Would Like to Share With the World?
The music is enough and if people wish to support the music they can do so by visiting seantmacleod.bandcamp.com. Fans can access lots of extras there- like lyric sheets, liner notes and photos.
FOLLOW SEAN HERE
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