Sinsemilia

{{Short description|French reggae band}} {{About|the French reggae band|the cannabis cultivation technique|Sinsemilla}} {{refimprove|date=July 2017}}

thumb '''Sinsemilia''' ({{IPA|fr|sinsemilja}}), also known as '''Sinsé''', is a French reggae band that was formed in Grenoble, Isère in 1990. The name of the group is very similar to sinsemilla, referring to cannabis which is unfertilised and hence seedless (literally "without seed" in Spanish). The band first used this name in concert at the Fête de la Musique in 1991, referring to the reggae album ''Sinsemilia'' by Black Uhuru.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sinsemilla - Black Uhuru|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/sinsemilla-mw0000651120|website=AllMusic|accessdate=11 July 2017}}</ref> This was the first of more than a thousand concerts, and in the following fifteen years more than one million albums have been sold.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

Since the success of their first album and their single "Tout le bonheur du monde", Sinsemilia has helped French reggae gain the attention of the media. In 2005, because of the success of "Tout le bonheur du monde", they were invited by the editors of France 2 to appear on the 1:00 pm news. They began their performance by singing "Tout le bonheur du monde" but quickly interrupted it to then sing their politically charged song "Bienvenue en Chiraquie", which provoked a small media scandal.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

==Members== ; Current members * Riké – lead vocals, guitar (1990–present) * Mike – lead vocals, guitar (1990–present) * Moussaya – guitar (1990–present) * Natty – bass (1990–present) * Zazz – keyboards (1990–present) * Fabin – trumpet (1990–present) * Carine – alto saxophone (1990–present) * Ivan – percussion (1990–present) * Roukin – percussion (1990–present) * Chid – sound effects (1990–present) * Olivah – trumpet (2003–present) * Bozo – tenor saxophone (2005–present) * Ali – keyboards (2008–present) * Nordine – guitar (2008–present)

; Former members * Loucos – tenor saxophone (1990–2005)

==Discography== * 1996 ''Première Récolte'' * 1998 ''Résistances'' * 2000 ''Tout C'Qu'On A'' * 2002 ''Sinsemilia Part en Live'' * 2004 ''Debout, Les Yeux Ouverts'' * 2009 ''En Quête De Sens'' * 2015 ''Un Autre Monde Est Possible''

==Band member activities outside of Sinsemilia== In June 2003, Riké released a solo album called ''Air frais'' ("Fresh Air"), with more traditional French music. The lyrics of this album were written by Mike, Riké's childhood friend. The lyrics are considered by many{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} to be moving, and are less politically engaged than the group's albums. The song "Reveillez-Vous" features Tiken Jah Fakoly. Riké released a single after ''Air Frais'' with the song "Allez Savoir Pourquoi", which is of the "hardline" variety. His second album ''Vivons!'' was released on January 29, 2007.

Mike began his label ECHOPROD, and has signed artists such as Les Suprêmes Dindes, Pep's, Djemdi, Riké, and Junior Tshaka. The first release by his label was "Pas Vus à la Télé", a compilation of 70 French groups from all genres, with the hope of promoting artists who have never appeared on television.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

Ivan works as a sound engineer for Wareika Hills, a reggae group from Grenoble. Fafa sings with Yoanna, a young Swiss singer who is accompanied by a group from Grenoble. Zazz is producing hip hop. Bozo is present in some parts of Root'Secours' latest album, ''Enfant Soldats''. Olivah has worked exclusively with JFK, a reggae group from Grenoble. He has produced and arranged a CD of 7 songs called ''Politricks''. Natty and the Special Hommage Band (made up of musicians from Grenoble and Zazz and Roukin) have given many Bob Marley tribute concerts.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == {{commons category}} * [http://www.sinsemilia.com Official site]

{{Authority control}} Category:French reggae musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1990 Category:Organisations based in Grenoble Category:Musical groups from Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes