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Highlights
In July, 2009, The Black Seeds signed with top North American label Easy Star Records - masterminds behind one of the decade’s best-selling reggae albums: The Easy Star All-Stars’ Dub Side of the Moon
Solid Ground was successfully released in September 2009, debuting in the top 15 of the Billboard reggae charts, the album has received critical acclaim including recently being named ‘Soul Album of The Year’ by jambase.com’s Dennis Cook
Solid Ground has also spent eight consecutive weeks in the ‘Top 10’ of CMJ’s World Music charts, and five weeks in the overall ‘CMJ Top 200’
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Bio
Originating from Wellington, New Zealand, The Black Seeds have carved out their reputation through platinum selling albums, a masterful 8-piece live show, and a unique sound that fuses infectious grooves and melodies with undiluted roots music. With numerous European festival tours and releases behind them, and a successful 2009 North American release, their following continues to spread quickly around the globe.
Led by the vocals of Barnaby Weir and Daniel Weetman, at its core The Black Seeds music is a boundary-crossing sound fusion of big-beat funk, dub, soul, and afro-beat, mixed with vintage roots-reggae.
Described by Clash Magazine as ‘one of the best reggae acts on the planet’, their legendary 8-piece live show brings the raw energy and good vibes wherever it goes. They now have countless sell-out New Zealand and Australasian tours behind them, and regularly perform at many of Europe’s biggest festivals.
Lyrically The Black Seeds music expresses messages on different levels. Personal triumphs and failures, the fear of love, death, apathy, and relationships, give a personal insight into the lives of the musicians. Ultimately though, their songs are always under-pinned with an underlying positivity and optimism.
“If any band ever carried the spirit of Morphine in their blood, it has to be New Zealand reggae-inspired outfit The Black Seeds. Musically the connection is subtle; vocally, Barnaby Weir exhibits the easeful, country-tinged, downtrodden-but-hopeful tendencies of Mark Sandman. Had that man not passed on a decade prior, you'd think he just reappeared somewhere just south of the Shire. Sure, comparisons are awful when dealing with a group as talented as The Black Seeds. This one, however, is an honor--Morphine was a damn good band, and Solid Ground (Easy Star) is a damn fine record.”
The Huffington Post - August '09
"… The Black Seeds bring harmony and good vibes where-ever they go, moving from their New Zealand base to become one of the best live reggae bands on the planet."
clashmusic.com (UK) - June '08
"The Black Seeds manage to play beyond the normal boundaries of reggae without compromising the music’s heart. While “Rotten Apple” has all the thump of a vintage Parliament-Funkadelic jam , “Afrophone”’s punchy horns and get-on-the-good-foot rhythm recall James Brown and the J.B.s at their peak – and the Seeds manage to pull it all off while retaining their voice. They make the blend of sounds feel absolutely natural. This is not a reggae band dropping a novelty funk cover into the middle of a set, this is simply Black Seeds music."
jambase.com (U.S.A) – Nov. '09