This edition of Indie Folk BOPS is all about depth and renewal. From piano-led introspection to cinematic alt-folk, these two artists remind us how emotional honesty and melodic craft can still feel utterly timeless.
Sean MacLeod – Beautiful Star
Sean MacLeod crafts timeless melodies with a philosophical heart and an unmistakable Irish soul
Irish songwriter Sean MacLeod returns with Beautiful Star, a piano-led reflection that glows with warmth and quiet wisdom. Drawing on the spirit of 70s prog and classic pop, the song layers intricate harmonies over a perfectly balanced melodic structure. It’s music that feels both grounded and transcendent, capturing the kind of sincerity that only experience can shape.
A founding member of Dublin band Cisco, MacLeod has built a remarkable career defined by curiosity and craft. On Beautiful Star, he leans into the introspective side of his writing, exploring themes of faith, connection, and artistic endurance. The result is a track that resonates far beyond its simple structure, a gentle reminder that beauty and truth often share the same quiet space.
Dryadic – Ghosts
Raw, poetic, and fiercely hopeful, Dryadic transform pain into power with cinematic grace
UK alt-folk ensemble Dryadic unveil Ghosts, a haunting, piano-driven track about facing shame and reclaiming self-worth. Frontwoman Zora McDonald calls it “naming the pain but refusing to be held hostage by it,” and that honesty radiates through every verse.
The band’s trademark cinematic textures – bowed double bass, rolling percussion, and haunting violin – wrap around Zora’s intimate vocals, creating something both fragile and defiant. Influences like AURORA, Daughter, and Florence + The Machine echo softly at the edges, but Dryadic’s storytelling and emotional rawness make Ghosts entirely their own. It’s a song about release, survival, and the healing that comes when we finally let light back in.
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