The Black Seeds Explained

The Black Seeds
Landscape:	yes
Background:	group_or_band
Origin:	Wellington, New Zealand
Genre:	Reggae, roots reggae, funk, dub, rock, pop, soul, world music
Years Active:	1998–present
Label:	Sonar Kollektiv, Easy Star Records, Loop, Capitol
Associated Acts:	Fly My Pretties Flash Harry Flight of the Conchords Video Kid Hollie Smith Fat Freddy's Drop
Current Members:	Barnaby Weir Daniel Weetman Ned Ngatae Jarney Murphy Francis Harawira Nigel Patterson Barrett Hocking Matthew Benton
Past Members:	Mike Fabulous Jabin Ward Bret McKenzie Rich Christie Shannon Williams Andrew Christiansen Tim Jaray Toby Laing Ruben Kiers

The Black Seeds are a reggae inspired musical group from Wellington, New Zealand.^[1] Their rocksteady song "One by One" became an international hit when it was played in top ranked TV series Breaking Bad. Their music is a mixture of big beat funk, dub, afro music, pop, rock, soul, and roots reggae/ragga.^[2]

Formed in 1998, the Black Seeds perform with eight members,^[3] with instruments including vocals, guitar, saxophone, trumpet, bass, drums, bongos, keyboard and wood block. Black Seeds first album, Keep On Pushing, was released 2001 following a number of live performances.^[4] Already very successful in New Zealand and popular in Australia, Europe and North & South America, their third album Into the Dojo (2007) introduced Black Seeds internationally.^[5] They have released five albums, a live album, and two remix albums. They have two double-platinum selling albums in New Zealand, and successful European album releases through the German-based Sonar Kollektiv label. In 2011, the Black Seeds was described by Rolling Stone as "The best reggae band in the world right now".^[6]

Lead singer Barnaby Weir, the son of veteran radio broadcaster Dick Weir, is also associated with the side-projects Fly My Pretties and Flash Harry.^[7] Former band member Bret McKenzie is also a member of international comedy duo Flight of the Conchords, as well as playing the role of Figwit the elf in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings.^[8]

The band released their sixth studio album Fabric in early September 2017.

Their song "One by One" was used in AMC's Breaking Bad Season 2 episode "4 Days Out" and also appears on the series' official soundtrack.^{[9] [10]}

Discography

See main article: The Black Seeds discography.

• Keep On Pushing LP (2001)
• On the Sun (2004)
• Into the Dojo (2006)
• Solid Ground (2008)
• The Black Seeds Live – Vol 1 (2009)
• Specials: Remixes and Versions Off Solid Ground (2010)
• Dust and Dirt (2012)
• Fabric (2017)
• Love & Fire (2022)

External links

• • The Black Seeds – Amplifier.co.nz
• Black Seeds Bio – Muzic.net.nz

Notes and References

1. Campbell-Livingston, Cecelia (2013) "The Black Seeds, rooted in reggae", Jamaica Observer, 27 November 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2013
2. Web site: The Black Seeds Bio. 10 April 2012.
3. Web site: The Black Seeds. Under the Radar. 10 April 2012.
4. Web site: Kellman. Andy. The Black Seeds. Biography. AllMusic. AllMusic; All Media Network, LLC. 17 April 2016.
5. Web site: The Black Seeds. Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa. Loop Media, NZ. 17 April 2016.
6. Web site: The Black Seeds. Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa. Loop Media, NZ. 17 April 2016.
7. Web site: Fly My Pretties – Barnaby Weir is Flying High. NZ Musician. 10 April 2012. Rebecca Thomson. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130217122349/http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/article/pi_articleid/751. 17 February 2013.
8. Web site: THE BLACK SEEDS – BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION. Rock Paper Scissors. 10 April 2012.
9. Web site: Breaking Bad (Music from the Original TV Series). iTunes. 10 April 2012.
10. News: 'Breaking Bad': La musica on sale Tuesday on I-tunes and Amazon. 10 April 2012. Los Angeles Times. 18 May 2010. Maria Elena Fernandez.