The Black Seeds

{{short description|Band}} {{for|the album by The Main Ingredient|Black Seeds (album)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2012}} {{Infobox musical artist |name = The Black Seeds |image = BlackSeeds1.jpg |caption = Performing in Leicester, August 2012 |landscape = yes |background = group_or_band |alias = |origin = Wellington, New Zealand |instrument = |genre = Reggae, roots reggae, funk, dub, rock, pop, soul, world music |occupation = |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 |website = {{URL|http://www.theblackseeds.com}} |current_members = Barnaby Weir Daniel Weetman Ryan Prebble 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 Ned Ngatae }}

'''The Black Seeds''' are a reggae inspired musical group from Wellington, New Zealand.<ref name="CCL1311">Campbell-Livingston, Cecelia (2013) "[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/The-Black-Seeds--rooted-in-reggae_15529369 The Black Seeds, rooted in reggae]", ''Jamaica Observer'', 27 November 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2013</ref> 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.<ref name=muzic>{{cite web|title=The Black Seeds Bio|url=http://www.muzic.net.nz/artists/201/the-black-seeds|access-date=10 April 2012}}</ref>

Formed in 1998, the Black Seeds perform with eight members,<ref name=utr>{{cite web|title=The Black Seeds|url=http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/utr/artists/A/882/N/The-Black-Seeds.utr|publisher=Under the Radar|access-date=10 April 2012}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kellman|first1=Andy|title=The Black Seeds. Biography|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-black-seeds-mn0000098842/biography|website=AllMusic|publisher=AllMusic; All Media Network, LLC|access-date=17 April 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Black Seeds|url=http://www.loop.co.nz/artists/the-black-seeds/|website=Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa|publisher=Loop Media, NZ|access-date=17 April 2016}}</ref> They have released seven studio albums, a live album, and two remix albums. They have two double-platinum selling albums in New Zealand,<ref name=muzic /> 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".<ref>{{cite web|title=The Black Seeds|url=http://www.loop.co.nz/artists/the-black-seeds/|website=Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa|publisher=Loop Media, NZ|access-date=17 April 2016}}</ref>

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''.<ref name=fly>{{cite web|title=Fly My Pretties – Barnaby Weir is Flying High|url=http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/article/pi_articleid/751|publisher=NZ Musician|access-date=10 April 2012|author=Rebecca Thomson|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217122349/http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/article/pi_articleid/751|archive-date=17 February 2013}}</ref> 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''.<ref name=rps>{{cite web|title=THE BLACK SEEDS – BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION|url=http://www.rockpaperscissors.biz/index.cfm/fuseaction/current.bio/project_id/448.cfm|publisher=Rock Paper Scissors|access-date=10 April 2012}}</ref>

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.<ref name=itunes>{{cite web|title=Breaking Bad (Music from the Original TV Series)|url=https://music.apple.com/nz/album/breaking-bad-music-from-original/370928500|publisher=iTunes|access-date=10 April 2012}}</ref><ref name=latimes>{{cite news|title='Breaking Bad': La musica on sale Tuesday on I-tunes and Amazon|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/05/breaking-bad-la-musica-on-sale-tuesday-on-itunes-and-amazon.html|access-date=10 April 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=18 May 2010|author=Maria Elena Fernandez}}</ref>

== Discography == [[File:The Black Seeds-3.jpg|thumb|left|The Black Seeds at Summerjam 2013]] {{main|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)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} * {{Official website|http://www.theblackseeds.com}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20050224214623/http://www.amplifier.co.nz/nzmusic/2121/The_Black_Seeds.html The Black Seeds – Amplifier.co.nz] * [http://www.muzic.net.nz/artists/201/the-black-seeds Black Seeds Bio – Muzic.net.nz]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Black Seeds, The}} Category:New Zealand reggae musical groups Category:Sonar Kollektiv artists Category:Easy Star Records artists Category:Pacific reggae