Lou Hill (founder/drummer), Cinese (flutist), J Sharp (keyboardist), Shaleyah (lead vocalist)
What are the origins of the group?
Lou Hill: Water Seed started on the campus of Xavier University in New Orleans as a writing and production team. From there we felt that we really wanted to put some of that music on the stage, so we started performing and then Hurricane Katrina happened and we moved to the Atlanta area, [and] we found the ladies. They joined the group and we have been rocking ever since.
Define the sound of the group.
Cinese: The sound of the group is more of a mixture of the funk-jazz-soul, and that’s pretty much it. But you know you find people that says it’s R&B, and some people say jazz, so in a way we kind of leave it up to the listener as to what they think it is.
Does that bother you, or are you just happy they’re listening?
LH: I think it’s funny; it’s real interesting to hear the different types of ways that people describe it. We hear everything from New Orleans to funk and soul, so it’s always entertaining.
J Sharp: At the end of the day, we want to make our own sound and let the chips fall where they may. It’s about having an original sound for us.
Who are some of your band’s inspirations in music?
JS: Earth Wind & Fire, Sly and the Family Stone, Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder and pretty much everything in that era where music meant a whole lot more and still it speaks for itself still today.
