Scottsdale triplets Ari, Sela and Alex Poulos were 8 years old when their ema (technically “mother” in Hebrew, but they used the endearment for their grandmother) took them to a Santa Fe music store to pick out musical instruments. Ari chose a guitar; Sela, drums; and Alex, a keyboard. They formed a band, Just Seconds Apart, named for the timing of their births, and played everywhere from talent shows to spring training games.
Now 25, the trio has opened for The Plain White T’s and, more recently, singer Jesse McCartney. Between tours, the triplets are busy in their home studio recording new material to take on the road. Recent music includes a single, “So Far Gone,” a song about finding a path back into the light after losing your way.
Their music, a blend of pop, rock and folk with Western elements, is a collaborative effort, Alex says. Sela writes the soulful lyrics and Alex and Ari handle the melodies and production, using what they call “an innate triplet connection” to create their sound. “That plays a huge part in our songwriting synergy and on stage,” Sela says. “We can pick up on each other’s moods without speaking.”
Self-taught musicians, the triplets are inspired by a wide range of performers, including Bob Dylan, John Mayer, Frank Sinatra and Fleetwood Mac. But their biggest inspiration comes from their ema, Scottsdale art gallery owner Riva Yares, who died in 2022. “She’s the heart and soul of our band, and growing up in her gallery had a profound effect on our music,” Sela says. She taught the trio that art fosters emotion. “That’s what we try to do with our music,” Ari says. “We let people feel what they need to feel.” justsecondsapart.com
