Funk-soul, jazz band, Water Seed will deliver their melodic fusion of music to Detroit, Saturday, October 8, 8 p.m. at the Corktown dive, PJ Lager House. This promises to be an evening filled with high energy grooves as they emit sounds that are simultaneously retro and futuristic. Their raw and soul stirring passion is epitome of what audiences desire from a live performance.
Inspired by industry icons including Earth, Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder and Sly and the Family Stone, Water Seed’s sound has its own distinct niche. Starting from humble beginnings, the group has endured changes in location and members, transforming into an indomitable force. Along with a five-piece band, Water Seed is comprised of drummer and founding member, Lou Hill, fellow founder and keyboardist, Jay Sharp, vocalist, Shaleyah and flutist Cinese.
Water Seed is an anomaly in an era of soundalikes and fabricated substance. With past appearances at premier events such as the Essence Music Festival, they have gained a devoted fan base along with international acclaim as far away as Russia. Resisting the urge to sell out to the industry, Water Seed is determined to maintain their originality.
“It’s crucially important,” Hill says. “We were taught to be versatile — ‘You have to play everything, you have to be good at everything, you have to play like this.’ A lot of pressure was put on us. Imagine having that put into you, then you enter the music scene and no one is doing it. Everybody has the same sound … It came down to sticking to our guns. We made a conscious decision we were a band, we’re always going to be a band, and we’ll always remain a band … Our heritage is this music.”
Fellow New Orleans based Gabriel Brass Band is also scheduled to perform. Water Seed is currently prepping for the 2017 release of their next album, We Are Stars.
