On the Sun

New Zealand group the Black Seeds build on a foundation of island grooves with a sound that incorporates funk, soul, and Afrobeat into their reggae-rooted music. Extensive gigging made the band a solid live act long before they entered the studio, and that sturdy background in performance made their recordings all the more impressive. Their 2006 album Into the Dojo debuted at number one in New Zealand. The band toured internationally in support of albums like 2017's Fabric.

The Black Seeds formed in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1997 as an eight-piece reggae/soul group with a focus on horns and percussion. Their first album, Keep on Pushing, wasn't issued until 2001, but by then, they had already established themselves as a strong live act, and their first release solidified a fan base that spread through France, Belgium, Australia, and Switzerland as well as platinum sales. The follow-up, 2004's On the Sun, went double platinum in the band's native country. Into the Dojo, released in the middle of 2006, debuted at number one; in addition to touring throughout Europe, the band also played some dates in the U.S. Into the Dojo introduced the Black Seeds to a much broader fan base, and subsequent releases like 2008's Solid Ground, 2012's Dust and Dirt, and 2017's Fabric just built on their existing success. The group's songs were used in cable television shows like Breaking Bad and Weeds, as well as finding their way to placements in films like Eight Below and The Inbetweeners II. ~ Andy Kellman