Sej Brings Trinidadian Roots to Global Music With Genre-Blending Sound
Sej is quickly proving herself as one of the Caribbean’s most exciting new voices. Hailing from Port of Spain, Trinidad, the singer-songwriter blends pop, dancehall, Afrobeats, and R&B into a sound that feels both global and deeply rooted in her culture. Since stepping onto the scene, she’s been praised for her authenticity and even co-signed by icons including NE-YO, with whom she recently collaborated after signing to Compound Entertainment.
Her latest single “Bad Man” explores the challenges of modern dating through the lens of independence and self-discovery, while earlier tracks like “2 Shots” showcase her ability to fuse genres into vibrant, carefree anthems. With more music on the way, Sej is carving out space to tell stories of love, womanhood, and heritage—always bringing her Trinidadian identity to the forefront.
Now based in Miami and working out of Circle House Studios, Sej’s journey from a chance encounter with soca legend Machel Montano to sharing stages and spaces with global stars has been defined by leaps of faith and relentless focus. As she puts it, “Caribbeans are responsible for the essence of so many artists’ music today and they don’t even know where it comes from.” For Sej, that essence is the heartbeat of everything she creates.
Your new single, “Bad Man,” delves into the complexities of modern dating. What was the creative process like for this track, and how did you balance personal experience with
cultural themes to create the song’s narrative?
“Bad Man” came to life last year during a songwriting camp. The writers I worked with were these two amazing writers from the U.K., Dyo and Mira Ma, and the song came to us very
naturally. The beat came first and then we all started coming up with melodies.
The lyrics also came to me very quickly. I already had an idea of what I wanted to talk about after hearing the beat – I knew I wanted it to feel strong and powerful. I pulled from
my own experience with a Libra man, I took those feelings and put it in the song – which is why it sounds so authentic.
Whether its through lyrics or the way I speak, I feel my culture will always shine through. My accent and the cadences I use allow me to bring the Caribbean to the beat. That’s how
I balance it – if it’s a beat selection that’s very pop, I’ll bring the Caribbean flow to the beat.
Your music is a unique blend of pop, dancehall, Afrobeats, and R&B. Who are some of your biggest musical influences from each of these genres, and how do they inspire you to create your own original sound?
Rihanna, Beyonce, Adele, and Ed Sheeran are all big pop inspirations for me. For R&B, I really look up to Jhene Aiko, SZA, and Kehlani while Burna Boy and Wizkid are my inspirations
on the Afrobeats side. I also love Shenseea and Jada Kingdom, who I pull Dancehall inspiration from – I like how they set the template for their genres. Just those two alone influence a lot of my sound, and then I layer that with the Afrobeats and Pop elements
but as I mentioned, the cadences I usually go for are very Dancehall and Caribbean-influenced.
You’ve mentioned that “music is a connection to heritage.” How do you intentionally infuse your Trinidadian roots and Caribbean identity into your work, not just in the sound but also in the lyrical storytelling and accompanying visuals?
I always try to use Trini dialect in my songs’ lyrics, that’s my way of teaching a little bit of my culture to my listeners. Every time, I’ll try to introduce a new Trini word that
people might not know—it’s like an Easter egg you can pick up on as you listen. And my accent too—I know a lot of mainstream artists, especially in the UK, tend to sing with an American accent to make it more digestible but I want you to digest this accent.
I’m not changing my accent for anybody.
Visually, I really lean into a maximalist style. I draw a lot of inspiration from old photos of my mom and my family to weave those influences into my outfits and my work.
After moving to Miami and working at Circle House Studios, you’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with R&B legend NE-YO. What was the most valuable lesson you learned from working with him, and how has that experience influenced your artistic growth?
NE-YO always told me not to overthink so much, because I used to overthink a lot. He taught me to just trust my gut—especially in music, and he’s the king of telling me to simplify.
He says always go with your first instinct because it doesn’t need to be complicated. People tend to connect with simple, memorable lyrics things because not only are they open ended so people can connect them to their own life, but it’s easier to sing along.
Just being around him and seeing how he works in the studio, and even on tour, really inspired me. It motivated me to push myself harder because I want to reach that level, even
strive to surpass it.
Your debut single, “2 Shots,” and the new track, “Bad Man,” showcase two different moods and messages. What can fans expect from your upcoming releases, and what themes are you most excited to explore next?
My next single is called “No Regrets.” With each release, I want to reveal a different side of my personality. “2 Shots” showed the fun side I bring out with my friends, “Bad Man” was
about self-growth and “No Regrets” is definitely the softer side of me—the lover girl who’s scared of getting her heart broken, but who while still buss a wine while crying.
We have more music coming out very soon, so definitely keep your eyes and ears peeled. I’m excited to keep performing and getting my songs out there—you’re going to be seeing me
everywhere soon.
How has the support on social media made you feel, including recognition from top streamer, PlaqueBoy Max? How did that come about?
It really just makes me excited to keep going. In this day and age, artists have to keep posting nonstop until we get some kind of recognition and it can be exhausting. But, when
it finally pays off it makes me want to go even harder.
When I saw PlaqueBoy Max was asking people to submit music, I knew I had to shoot my shot. I sent mine in like 12 times! I didn’t even think he would play it. I was watching 27
Dresses with my friend Natalie while we waited, and then all of a sudden he goes, ‘Next up, Sej_Official.’ I was like, wait, what?!
He was vibing, clapping and the chat was going crazy. Some people were even saying I sounded like AI, which honestly, I’ll take as a compliment! Then he said, “We need to get you
to the next round.”
For me, it was such a big moment. I didn’t expect him to like it that much. That’s all I really wanted, a chance for people to actually hear me. Finding out his mods had already
put me in a folder of artists they thought were good made me feel even better. It was like, period—I belong here.