After more than two decades fronting New York’s Irish punk mainstays The Ruffians, Sean Griffin is stepping into a new chapter, one driven by urgency, reflection, and creative independence. His upcoming debut solo album People Are Mad arrives not as a departure from his roots, but as a powerful extension of them, blending the grit of punk with the soul of traditional Irish instrumentation and deeply personal storytelling.
Alongside the album’s announcement, Griffin unveiled the single “Be My Girl,” an upbeat folk-rock track that highlights his gift for character-driven songwriting. Moving from a tender, romantic sway into a soaring, explosive hook, the song captures a deeply human longing, for connection, purpose, and the sense of completeness that comes with finding one’s other half. It’s a theme that runs throughout People Are Mad, grounding the album’s energy in emotional honesty.
Created in the wake of personal loss, shifting band dynamics, and a growing need to bring long-held songs to life on his own terms, People Are Mad captures Griffin at his most honest and artistically unfiltered. Collaborating with acclaimed producer Kenny Siegal and a cast of accomplished musicians, Griffin delivers a record that feels both raw and expansive, where every track tells its own story while contributing to a cohesive emotional journey.
In conversation with Earmilk, Griffin opens up about the inspiration behind going solo, the collaborative spirit that shaped the album, and his enduring commitment to storytelling through music.
After more than 25 years with The Ruffians, what inspired you to step out with your debut solo album People Are Mad at this point in your career?
After playing with the Ruffians for 25 years the thing that inspired me to do this solo album at this point in my career was a strong sense of urgency to get these songs recorded in a way that was artistically satisfying, without having to compromise what my vision was for the songs. I had also lost two band members over the last few years and with everyone’s schedules it wasn’t working out with the band, so I had to get done. I am very happy with what we got, and I feel like it is the best thing I have done.
The album blends traditional Irish instruments with punk rock and garage rock elements. How did you approach shaping the overall sound of this record?
I got to collaborate with Grammy Award Winning producer Kenny Siegal which was amazing. We focused on the songs, and tracked everything with a live band at the same time. It really helped capture the essence of the songs, and helped inform the sound and energy. Mathew Cullen was the engineer and he was also a joy to work with. Each song is its own little world and I tried to capture the story and vibe that was appropriate for each one. This made for an eclectic bunch of songs, with different environments but there is a thread throughout it and I think it holds up well as a collection.
Your single “Be My Girl” has a strong storytelling element. What inspired the song, and what message or feeling were you hoping listeners would take away from it?
“Be My Girl” is about the longing for a permanent relationship. The idea of finding your other half and being complete. At the time I wrote it I was observing many people at the pub who seemed lonely while their friends were getting on with their lives, and no amount of drink was fixing their emptiness. The general idea is basically finding a relationship with purpose. I hope people find the love they need to make it all worth it for them, and to carry on in a world that can often make us feel alone – even at a time when we are so “connected.” With my background this means a marriage with children and purpose. This has always been an important thing for me, and I hope it will mean something too for other people.
You worked with Grammy-winning producer Kenny Siegal on the project. What was that collaboration like, and how did he help shape the final sound of the new music?
Working with Kenny was amazing. I was already a fan of his from his work with Langhorne Slim. He just got right in there and helped flesh everything out. I feel he cared about my songs as much as I did, which I haven’t really experienced before. It was a balance to get it right but I think he really elevated the songs. Obviously we each had our influences but I feel he supported the whole process and that we made something very special and unique. He also brought people into the project like Paul Kolderie, and Greg Calbi that ultimately brought it to a whole other level. It was the best decision I made working with him at Old Soul.
The record features contributions from musicians including Lee Falco, Brandon Morrison, Will Bryant, Eugene Bender, and Michaela Davis. How did these collaborations influence the album?
Every one of these musicians are just fantastic at what they do, and they all brought their gifts to my songs. It was a dream team. We also were joined by many other fantastic players including All Ireland Uilleann piper Issac Alderson, and Harmonica players Mike Farkas, and Andrew Parker, banjo player David Moore, accordion player Andre Michot, guitar virtuoso Erik Holmbom, background singers Kaia Dedek, Jules Olsen, Jolynda (Kiki) Phillips, and the one and only Wreckless Eric. Kenny also played lead guitar, pedal steel, dobro, and sang. It was such a gift getting to work with everyone.
Your songwriting is often described as visual and character-driven. How do you approach storytelling when writing lyrics?
When I write a song I often think of a character and a vibe or environment, and then I try to take that character through the paces. I try to put myself a little inside if the character and often sing in the first person. I approach it with honesty and humility, and I hope that people will identify enough with the character that they will want to sing along. I have been accused of my songs often sounding like a bar fight or bar anthem meant to be shouted back at the top of one’s lungs. It is probably true, because there is nothing quite like getting a room of people to sing back your songs to you.
After sharing the stage with artists like Shane MacGowan and building a long career with The Ruffians, how do you feel your perspective as a songwriter has evolved?
My perspective as a songwriter has certainly changed over the years, I hope it has evolved, but I’m not always sure. I think after doing this for a while you realize in the early days it was something instinctual and now I am more aware of the process, and that can sometimes bring out my inner critic or perfectionist. This is a fast way to kill a song before it gets a chance. I try to stay grounded in the primal joy of making a song and allow it to flow, but that can be challenging at times. Sitting alone in a room and working without being interrupted is a rare experience these days. I find that going on car rides Is my favorite place to write these days. It allows me to catch these crazy little songs as they go floating by.
Looking back on the process of creating People Are Mad, what moment or part of the journey stands out the most to you?
The thing that has stood out to me the most during the process of this whole record is the unshakable love and support I have received from my wife and children. It is so humbling to have someone be there throughout the process and to be so encouraging and wonderful. My wife Julie has made the dream of this record possible and without her it never could have happened.
Finally, what do you hope listeners take away from your music?
I hope that listeners take away with them some of the fun and joy that I had bringing these songs to life, and that they will mean something to them in a way that is important to them. I hope people identify with the characters and that someone can feel seen, heard, loved, and remembered in a way that only music can bring to them. Perhaps a little bounce to their step, and some levity in a crazy world. Thank you so much for having me. People Are Mad will be released on April 17th on Right Track/Universal, please checkout my website Seangriffinofficial.com for more information about shows and merch. I hope to see you at a show soon!
Connect with Sean Griffin: INSTAGRAM
*photo by Brooklyn Zeh
