While Trinidad and Tobago continues to celebrate its internationally recognised soca stars, another local talent is quietly making moves in the global music industry, performing on major American stages alongside some of R&B’s biggest names.
Trinidadian singer and songwriter Seige Lander, professionally known as Sej, has been building an international career, securing performances as an opening act for Grammy Award-winning entertainer NE-YO and international recording artist Akon during their 2026 Nights Like This Tour.
Her appearances have taken her to several major concert venues across the United States, including stops in Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New Mexico and California.
One of those performances took place on July 28 at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, Illinois, where the Trinidadian entertainer opened the evening with several songs, including her 2026 release, “Body”.
The milestone represents an important development for the emerging pop and R&B artist, who has been working to establish an international audience while maintaining a connection to her Caribbean identity.
From Trinidad to the American Music Industry
Born and raised in Trinidad, Sej grew up surrounded by Caribbean musical influences, including those of Dominica and Barbados through her family connections.
Her musical journey began with singing in choirs and participating in parang, but pursuing entertainment professionally was not initially the direction her family expected.
Coming from a family with a strong background in medicine and other professions, she faced pressure to pursue a more traditional career.
That direction began to change after an encounter with soca superstar Machel Montano during a music video production.
Sej has explained in interviews that she approached Montano for an assessment of her singing ability. After listening to recordings she submitted, he encouraged her to develop her talent and pursue opportunities beyond Trinidad and Tobago.
That encouragement helped strengthen her decision to pursue music professionally.
She subsequently travelled to Florida, where she began developing her songwriting abilities, recording music and building connections within the American entertainment industry.
A Connection with NE-YO
A significant breakthrough came when her music reached the management team associated with NE-YO.
According to Sej, she was invited to Las Vegas and challenged to write and record a contribution to one of the R&B star’s songs within a limited period.
Her performance impressed the team, eventually leading to a production arrangement with Compound Entertainment, the music company associated with NE-YO.
The opportunity introduced her to experienced music professionals and helped her continue developing a sound that combines contemporary pop and R&B with Caribbean influences.
Her growing catalogue includes “2 Shots”, released in 2024, “Bad Man” in 2025 and “Body”, released on July 10, 2026.
The recordings reflect her ambition to create music that appeals to international audiences without completely abandoning the rhythms and cultural influences of her upbringing.
Taking Her Music to Major Stages
Her participation in the NE-YO and Akon tour has given her the opportunity to perform before audiences attending concerts headlined by two internationally established entertainers.
Concert records also confirm a performance at Mystic Lake Amphitheatre in Minnesota on August 5, where her set included “Body”, “2 Shots” and “Bad Man”.
While she is still developing her profile as a recording artist, these appearances mark a significant step in expanding her performance experience and introducing her music to audiences outside the Caribbean.
Machel Montano also publicly acknowledged her connection with NE-YO during a 2025 interview with the Recording Academy, providing further recognition of her progress within the international industry.
In a March 2026 interview with Voyage MIA, Sej expressed her desire to eventually headline tours across Europe, the Caribbean, Asia and other international markets.
For Trinidad and Tobago, her story highlights another path through which local musical talent can reach overseas audiences.
Although her work is rooted primarily in pop and R&B rather than traditional soca, her Caribbean upbringing remains an important part of her artistic identity.
From singing in Trinidad to opening concerts featuring internationally recognised performers, Sej is continuing to build her career one release and one performance at a time.