Getting Lost in the World of Dublin Duo, Sei Green

Chemistry, balance, and the inspirations behind one of Ireland's most captivating new bands

Sei Green doesn't sound like a band in a hurry. The Dublin duo of Ellen Sleator and Adam Garrett make music that unfolds patiently, built on slow-burning grooves, soulful melodies, psychedelic textures, and an instinct to let songs find their own direction. It's an approach rooted as much in intuition as intention, inspired by long days in Phoenix Park, conversations with strangers, old skate videos, fashion editorials, and a belief that the best ideas come from trusting your instincts rather than forcing them.

Their single, "Still Exist," continues that journey while hinting at two distinct musical worlds beginning to emerge. One leans into the hazy, cushioned psychedelia and groove that first defined Sei Green, while the other reaches toward something more immediate, reflecting a band finding new balance—and new momentum.

We caught up with Ellen and Adam to talk about Dublin, creative partnership, bird watching, trusting each other's instincts, why nature remains their greatest teacher, and the slow, organic evolution of Sei Green.

Thanks for taking the time to do this! You're both based in Dublin. How has the city been inspiring you lately?

Adam: Dublin is the best place in the world in summer. It just brings the best out in people, especially after seven months of cold and rain. There’s more of a connected feeling amongst the people, so it’s been quite inspiring in a community sense, wanting to share ourselves with the world more, I guess.

Does your city—its architecture, people, or politics—find its way into your songs? If so, how?

Adam: In a way, the most inspiring part of the city for us is the park. We live by the Phoenix Park, and the nature around it definitely finds its way into our music. We love to emulate the natural sounds we hear with our instruments, whether it be synths that feel like wind or percussion that feels like birds singing.

Was there a shared influence—an artist, scene, record, or moment—that inspired you to start making music together?

Ellen: I think we were definitely both big chillers. At the beginning, we both enjoyed just sitting in a groove for a very long time and seeing what melodies and emotions came up. I think that's what attracted us to each other's style—how we approached music and where our ears went.

What's been the most surprising thing that's happened since you started sharing your music online?

Ellen: I guess that people like it and seem to want more of it! We hadn't a clue how it would go down, to be honest, and we didn't really care either. Making our first project (yet to be fully released) honestly saved us both from a low time in life. It was never about what sounded the best or impressed people. It was about whether it felt good or not.

After spending so much time writing and creating together, what's something you've learned about each other that surprised you?

Ellen: We are both extremely passionate about what we feel is best for the music, haha, and willing to put up a fight for it! You have to let the other explore though, or you can never find new perspectives in a tune. Adam likes to listen back and play loud. I freak out at loud noises, so this is a constant back and forth, which carries some humour to it at least!!

Adam: Something I've learned about Ellen is that she has a world created for something inside her head. A strong vision, and the more we make music together, the more I realise I need to trust that vision when she's sure and let the production flow in that direction.

We love "Still Exist." It's your third single, right? Is it leading to a larger project? If so, can you tell us a little about it?

Ellen: We've got kind of two worlds growing simultaneously at the moment, I would say. One, which "Still Exist" falls into, is where we began. It's kind of slower grooves, real cushioned and round. It's dipping its toes into the psychedelic side of things but has a strong R&B taste as well as a laziness about it. Then on the other side there's an uptempo, almost Daft Punk sonic palette forming. I think both of our lives have really went from being very introspective to finding new balance, and you can see this in the development between the two projects.

For your live shows, has it just been the two of you, or do you bring additional musicians into the band?

Ellen: For our live shows, it began with myself, Adam, and Will (our beautiful Brazilian god of a drummer). We had tracks filling in the rest at this time. To be honest, we never even knew if we would play with a band. We made the tracks just to hear our songs and be able to play along, and little by little it grew into what it is. Arthur now plays guitar with us. He is one of the kindest souls. We really are so lucky to have gained such pure, top-class musicians.

What's the biggest difference between the artists who released your first song and the artists you are today?

Ellen: SPEED. Life has thankfully found its feet again for both of us recently after some personal things. You can hear this drive. The music pushes with a forward movement in it now. It was very much a moment before (which I miss sometimes because I'm an annoying nostalgic human), but it's reaching now.

What's a hill you'll die on?

Ellen: Look within for answers and make peace with what you find or you'll be forever chasing.

Adam: Prince is better than MJ, but Off the Wall by MJ is better than any Prince album.

GREAT TAKE!

What's the most surprising source of inspiration you've pulled from recently?

Ellen: An Italian clothing brand. I really enjoy the way fashion editorials are shot. This and old skate videos. They create an entire world that you feel you should be a part of. I've also been reading a fantasy novel that has been inspiring me a lot. I think it's remembering how much of that inner-child imagination exists inside me still. Everything that grows comes from that place.

Has there been a recent performance, film, book, album, or conversation that really left a mark on you?

Ellen: Pirates of the Caribbean... Conversations with people—snippets of them—are always the main source of inspiration, or at least the way you choose to digest the conversation.

Adam: There's a live set on YouTube by Connan Mockasin called Sundae Sessions that I watched years ago and still put on every few months. It's perfect. Every aspect of that show, for me, is what it's all about. I just watched it again a couple of days ago.

What's your greatest challenge as a band right now—and how are you working through it?

Ellen: I would say choosing one thing at a time and making it happen. We have a lot of music, but I guess time is the biggest challenge. We all work different part-time jobs, leaving only one day between us in common.

In a world that can feel increasingly artificial, what's feeling real to you right now?

Ellen: Getting out to the west of Ireland and, as we mentioned earlier, conversations. Seeking knowledge from the people around us and how their little brains see things. Playing outside. Bird watching—that's a wonder that'll never grow old. You can walk down the same path every day and not notice a thing, or you can really listen and observe, and nature does fascinating things. You'd always learn and never get bored if you listened to nature.

What's something you've done recently that you're genuinely proud of?

Adam: Every now and then we have to push ourselves to get where we need to get. I guess getting into spaces when creating where we feel like we have nothing—low energy or just a lack of inspiration. I find we get there sometimes. But we always push to change the energy upwards before leaving a session. It can be a really proud feeling, pulling something out of absolutely nothing.

Are there any lyrics—your own or someone else's—that best represent where your head is at right now?

Ellen: I don't think it's right now, but it always comes back to me: "There is a child inside of you who's trying to raise a child in me." — Adrienne Lenker. It's a beautiful way to live and resonates a lot with where I sit with music, tapping into the child that's in us! Oof, she has such a beautiful lens!

Are there any artists, musicians, filmmakers, or visual artists you'd love to collaborate with right now?

Ellen: Adrienne is definitely someone I'd love to even just have a chat with. I'm happy to just sit and observe with her for a while. I'm definitely mostly drawn to working with visual artists though. This is big time where I want to take our music. Somewhere collaborative with our own visual team.

Any plans to tour the U.S. anytime soon?

Not yet, but we're working on it.

If someone only listens to one Sei Green song after reading this interview, which song should it be and why?

Adam: Probably "Bored of Resting." I think it gives more of a direction to the material we're sitting on right now waiting to release.

Finally, can you share a Good Call? Something you'd recommend everyone check out. (It doesn't have to be music.)

Ellen: My best mate Callum sent me a documentary recently called Listers, about bird watching. I'm sure you've heard of it? Well, the development in that piece of film is excellent. It's like an invisible world that builds around something as simple as bird watching. It gives me the same feeling as most subcultures, like something existing in the shadows of the surface-level society that's in front of us.

Photos by @carmenjpeg

Follow Sei Green on Instagram at @sei_green

Sei Green “Still Exists”

Sei Green “Deep Green” (LIVE)