“We’re a retro band, so we’ve got all our old instruments mixed with a bit of new technology; a new desk that we’d bought for the new album,” Weir explains, describing the boys’ studio which they pieced together in Mount Cook, to record in. “It’s very small. It’s not a proper studio as such. But it was good enough, with the good mics and a few nice preamps to track some good rhythms, and the good bones and meat of the main composition. Then later we’d do vocals and overdubs.”
The studio was called Proville, and from the clips you can see on the net it’s clear that the space wasn’t previously a studio at all. It has egg cartons and foam stalagmites stuck to its walls, and flowery curtains in what I imagine was the sunroom. “It was definitely on the budget end of it,” Weir laughs. “In that building there were heaps of little offices and studios for artistic people, then back in the ‘90s it was more of a TV production house, writers and filming and photography, and then later more independent artists of all kinds. So that’s why it had a good feeling about it, and we had a space that had some light, and it was just ours. We did the best with what we had, and I’m actually pretty pleased with the sounds of the album considering it wasn’t a sound studio.”
Mike Fabulous, the Seeds’ other guitarist, claims production credits on the album. “Yeah, Mike recorded everything,” says Weir. “We spent some money on some equipment and pooled a whole lot of resources, different mics and a few things we needed to buy, and just created our little studio so that it was always ready to go.”
While it would be admittedly awesome to have everything at your fingertips, it can make things difficult because time restraints are less of an issue. “Making Dust & Dirt we did give ourselves a fair amount of time and even extended it by a year or something,” Weir says. “We had done some work, but we didn’t want to rush it because, you know, the German label wanted it or because anyone wanted it, necessarily. Because it’s silly to rush your album for something like that. So we just gave it some good time. But at some point you have to put a line in the sand and go, ‘We’re going to release in these countries here on this date, so get it ready boys’.”
The band’s reputation is one that demands you do experience them live. Some of the most happy, mobile audiences you’ll see belong to Seeds’ shows, as the guys’ special style of groove is infectious.
“There’s generally some good energy being created, and you do want that,” Weir agrees, but tells me it’s not distracting at all. “That’s the kind of band that we are, we’re not a ‘be quiet and listen to my art’ so much band. We want people to party and that does mean shouting and getting on it and flailing around. We’re not exactly a mosh band so it’s not going to be harmful movement, it’s joyous,” he says. “It’s all part of it. It’s inspiring, actually.”
The nine-piece are sincerely excited about the way they’ve chosen to open their shows on this tour, beginning with their plans in Melbourne and hopefully extending to most venues across the country. “We really want to host our own gigs, so for these gigs coming up, the band are DJing before the show,” Weir says excitedly. “A casual, friendly, get amongst it kind of a way. We really want to bring the good vibe and get amongst the crowd, and party with everyone at this Hi-Fi gig.” Make a note of it, fans.
“It’s not that there aren’t good bands around to support, but actually we just want to play some good music that we like before the show,” Weir continues. “It’s probably the best way to warm up and probably the best way for the crowd to be on the same vibe as the band.” It’s not going to be a few token spins, either. “I reckon for a few hours!” Weir says. “We’re going to aim for getting it started from doors. We all like something different so grooves, maybe some jazz and hip hop, I like my old school hip hop. Afrobeats as well as funk, and soul classics. Not everyone likes the same kind of music so there might be a few surprises as well.”
There’s a tonne of new music up on the band’s site (theblackseeds.com) which is well worth checking out, as there’s some fantastic remixes of Dust & Dirt tracks and a few wholly unreleased tracks too. And they can’t wait to play ‘em for us live.
“We just can’t wait to get back to Melbourne and play a darn good show,” Weir says. “We’ve got heaps of material.”
BY ZOË RADAS
