Seja Vogel (pronounced ''say-ah''; born 21 May 1981) is a German-Australian musician who was a member of Brisbane bands Sekiden and

Regurgitator Regurgitator are an Australian alternative rock band from Brisbane, Queensland, formed in late 1993 by Quan Yeomans on lead vocals, guitar and keyboards; Ben Ely on bass guitar, keyboards and vocals; and Martin Lee on drums. Their debut stud ...

Early life

Vogel was born on 21 May 1981 in

Kassel Kassel (; in Germany, spelled Cassel until 1926) is a city on the Fulda River in North Hesse, northern Hesse, in Central Germany (geography), central Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Regierungsbezirk Kassel (region), Kassel and the d ...

, West Germany. She grew up in

Stuttgart Stuttgart (; ; Swabian German, Swabian: ; Alemannic German, Alemannic: ; Italian language, Italian: ; ) is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Baden-Württemberg by population, largest city of the States of Germany, German state of ...

before moving to Australia with her family when she was seven years old. She attended a Steiner School and often credits her creativity to her early Steiner Education. Vogel learnt violin and piano at an early age, and became interested in synthesizers after hearing bands like

The Cars The Cars were an American Rock music, rock band formed in Boston in 1976. Emerging from the New wave music, new wave Subculture, scene in the late 1970s, they consisted of Ric Ocasek (rhythm guitar), Benjamin Orr (bass guitar), Elliot Easton (l ...

Devo Devo is an American new wave band from Akron, Ohio, formed in 1973. Their classic line-up consisted of two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs ( Mark and Bob) and the Casales (Gerald and Bob), along with Alan Myers. The band had a No. 14 ...

and

Kraftwerk Kraftwerk (, ) is a Germany, German Electronic music, electronic band formed in Düsseldorf in 1970 by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider. Widely considered innovators and pioneers of electronic music, Kraftwerk was among the first successful a ...

in high school.

Musical career

Formed in 1998, Sekiden released two albums and two EPs. The band was known for high-energy live performances and they toured extensively throughout Australia, Canada, Japan and the US, touring with bands such as the Zoobombs. Sekiden released music through

Modular Records Modular Recordings (known simply as Modular) was an Australian record label founded in 1998 by Steve Pavlovic that by 2015 was owned by Universal Music Australia. It has released music from local artists such as Eskimo Joe, Ben Lee, The Ava ...

, Australian independent labels Redline Records and Valve, Japanese label Bad News, and the American Boompa! label. Vogel joined iconic genre-mashers

in 2007 as a touring member and also contributed to their studio album '' Love and Paranoia'' that was recorded in

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

. Vogel also played in the backing bands of Spod, Heinz Reigler, Ben Salter and David McCormack. Vogel later recorded and performed under her own name for the album '' We Have Secrets But Nobody Cares'', released through Sydney record label Rice Is Nice on 27 March 2010. Vogel toured widely following the release of the album and supported acts such as Sarah Blasko,

Goldfrapp Goldfrapp were an English electronic music duo from London, formed in 1999. The duo consisted of Alison Goldfrapp (vocals, synthesiser) and Will Gregory (synthesiser). Despite favourable reviews and a short-listing for the Mercury Prize, thei ...

and Warpaint. In between touring and recording, Vogel started a textile label named 'Pul(sew)idth' that produces miniature felt replicas of instruments made by Vogel herself. Seja's much anticipated third album ''Here Is One I Know You Know'' is both a leap in production and again an ode to analogue. Self-produced and recorded in her home studio in Brisbane, it is a dense collection of squelchy synths, drum machines and computer bongos with an undercurrent of sweet melodies sung about self critical and often tongue in cheek self deprecation. The album welcomes a few close friends playing real acoustic instruments, including Jen Boyce ( Ball Park Music) on bass, Stella Mozgawa (

Warpaint (band) Warpaint is an American indie rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2004. The band consists of Emily Kokal (vocals, guitar), Theresa Wayman (vocals, guitar), Jenny Lee Lindberg (bass, vocals), and Stella Mozgawa (drums). To date, the ...

) on percussion,

Fred Armisen Fereydun Robert Armisen (born December 4, 1966) is an American actor, comedian, musician, and writer. With his comedy partner Carrie Brownstein, he co-created and co-starred in the IFC sketch comedy series '' Portlandia''. He also co-created ...

(SNL, Portlandia) on octobans, Georgia Mooney (

All Our Exes Live in Texas All Our Exes Live in Texas were an Australian folk group, consisting of Hannah Crofts (vocals & ukulele), Georgia Mooney (vocals & mandolin), Elana Stone (vocals & accordion) and Katie Wighton (vocals & guitar). The four artists combined at a ...

) on backing vocals, George Browning (Velociraptor) on drums and percussion, Nicole Perry on congas, Chris Farrer (the Quickening) on guitar solos, Conrad Greenleaf ( Richard in Your Mind) on bass and Danny Widdicombe (the Wilson Pickers) on pedal steel.

Podcast

At the end of 2016, Seja started her podcast ''HearSej'' where she talks to musicians and other creatives about their careers in a casual and intimate conversation. At the end of each episode, Seja asks her guest about the strangest experience they have had, as a result of their chosen line of work. Some guests include Kevin Mitchell of

Jebediah Jebediah are an Australian alternative rock band formed in 1994 in Perth, Western Australia. They were formed by Chris Daymond on lead guitar, Bob Evans (musician), Kevin Mitchell (aka Bob Evans) on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, and Vanessa T ...

, Sarah Blasko, Megan Washington, Benjamin Law,

and

Jeff Tweedy Jeffrey Scot Tweedy (born August 25, 1967) is an American musician, singer songwriter, author, and record producer best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the band Wilco. Tweedy, originally from Belleville, Illinois, began his music care ...

(

Wilco Wilco is an American Rock music, rock band based in Chicago. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo after singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup changed frequently during its fir ...

Discography

Albums *'' We Have Secrets But Nobody Cares'' (2010) – Rice Is Nice *'' All Our Wires'' (2013) – Rice Is Nice *''Here Is One I Know You Know'' (2023) – It Records Singles *"I'll Get to You" (2010) *"Like Fireflies" (2013) *"Cmon (2013) *"When You Said You Were Mine" (2013) *"All Your Sorries" (2022) *"Home" (2023)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vogel, Seja 1981 births Living people Australian women songwriters Australian rock singers Australian women rock singers Australian rock guitarists Australian women guitarists Australian pianists Australian women pianists Australian violinists Australian women violinists Australian women keyboardists Australian rock keyboardists German women songwriters German rock singers German women rock singers German rock guitarists German women guitarists German pianists German women pianists German violinists German women violinists German keyboardists German women keyboardists German emigrants to Australia Musicians from Stuttgart Australian people of German descent German expatriates in Australia