1 00:00:07,133 --> 00:00:10,453 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack Team podcast 2 00:00:10,613 --> 00:00:11,733 Speaker 1: from News Talks at Me. 3 00:00:14,373 --> 00:00:17,853 Speaker 2: So True Swart again from New. 4 00:00:20,253 --> 00:00:23,493 Speaker 3: You Seed Get the Best of Me. 5 00:00:25,293 --> 00:00:34,213 Speaker 2: So True again from New That You See Get the 6 00:00:34,253 --> 00:00:38,813 Speaker 2: Best of Me. The Black Seeds have been jamming for 7 00:00:38,973 --> 00:00:42,173 Speaker 2: over a quarter of a century. They're infamous for their 8 00:00:42,213 --> 00:00:44,893 Speaker 2: part in shaping the modern Kiwi music scene and have 9 00:00:44,973 --> 00:00:49,093 Speaker 2: been blending funk, soul, dubbins, South Pacific influences to develop 10 00:00:49,093 --> 00:00:53,373 Speaker 2: a uniquely Kiwi sound since nineteen ninety eight. Yep, it's 11 00:00:53,413 --> 00:00:56,893 Speaker 2: been that long to celerate the twentieth anniversary of the 12 00:00:56,973 --> 00:01:00,493 Speaker 2: album that really gave the band their breakthrough, On the Sun, 13 00:01:00,893 --> 00:01:04,053 Speaker 2: their second album is having a very special re release, 14 00:01:04,493 --> 00:01:07,693 Speaker 2: and Dan Wheatman of the Black Seeds, joins me, now, Cura, 15 00:01:07,733 --> 00:01:12,053 Speaker 2: good morning, Cura. I feel really old reading that out. 16 00:01:12,973 --> 00:01:14,213 Speaker 2: It's a quarter of a century. 17 00:01:14,253 --> 00:01:19,093 Speaker 4: I record of a century. I know, it's how does 18 00:01:19,173 --> 00:01:23,453 Speaker 4: that feel? I used to I think in the past, 19 00:01:23,493 --> 00:01:26,813 Speaker 4: I used to say I used to feel older. But 20 00:01:27,493 --> 00:01:30,173 Speaker 4: you feel proud and I think that's that's what takes over. 21 00:01:32,173 --> 00:01:36,493 Speaker 4: And also we're still creating music, so I'm excited. Just 22 00:01:36,573 --> 00:01:39,733 Speaker 4: last weekend we're done in Wellington working on album eight 23 00:01:40,533 --> 00:01:43,653 Speaker 4: and if I was coming here and we had were 24 00:01:43,693 --> 00:01:46,013 Speaker 4: just celebrating this and it's twenty years and we haven't 25 00:01:46,053 --> 00:01:48,493 Speaker 4: done an album in five, you know, in a long 26 00:01:48,493 --> 00:01:50,893 Speaker 4: period of time, I think it'd be a little bit 27 00:01:50,933 --> 00:01:54,733 Speaker 4: depressed about that. 28 00:01:54,733 --> 00:01:57,413 Speaker 2: That's a really good point because if I think about 29 00:01:57,533 --> 00:01:59,533 Speaker 2: bands who are touring, there are a lot of bands. 30 00:01:59,573 --> 00:02:02,253 Speaker 2: It's sort of entrend at the moment to have done 31 00:02:02,293 --> 00:02:06,093 Speaker 2: nothing for ten fifteen years and suddenly, you know, older 32 00:02:06,093 --> 00:02:08,373 Speaker 2: bands are heading the road again, and there seems to 33 00:02:08,413 --> 00:02:09,893 Speaker 2: be a bit of a market for that. But I 34 00:02:09,973 --> 00:02:12,853 Speaker 2: get I can see that little difference that you've got there. 35 00:02:14,253 --> 00:02:16,093 Speaker 2: We're still really productive and we're. 36 00:02:15,933 --> 00:02:20,573 Speaker 3: Still really productive. I'm really excited. I was saying to 37 00:02:20,613 --> 00:02:23,693 Speaker 3: the boys about before doing you know, a whole lot 38 00:02:23,733 --> 00:02:28,973 Speaker 3: of media to talk about on the sun that I'm 39 00:02:29,013 --> 00:02:33,973 Speaker 3: just I'm so energized. My soul is energized from what 40 00:02:34,013 --> 00:02:36,253 Speaker 3: we did on the weekend of working on this new album. 41 00:02:36,613 --> 00:02:40,293 Speaker 3: And and that's partly before it because it was so 42 00:02:40,373 --> 00:02:44,933 Speaker 3: productive and you know, I'm we're old fellas and you 43 00:02:45,013 --> 00:02:49,933 Speaker 3: kind of start questioning like where you're at and do 44 00:02:50,053 --> 00:02:52,493 Speaker 3: we carry I mean I do. I'm not speaking for 45 00:02:52,493 --> 00:02:54,373 Speaker 3: the rest of the guys. But you know, how long 46 00:02:54,413 --> 00:02:59,013 Speaker 3: do we do this? And but when I come back 47 00:02:59,253 --> 00:03:03,413 Speaker 3: to the band and we're all together and we're creating 48 00:03:03,813 --> 00:03:08,093 Speaker 3: and people are bringing ideas, it's just exactly what I need. 49 00:03:08,133 --> 00:03:10,733 Speaker 3: It's the medicine that I need. And I think that's 50 00:03:10,733 --> 00:03:13,613 Speaker 3: the same for the guys. And so I come here 51 00:03:13,613 --> 00:03:16,173 Speaker 3: today and I'm just you know, I'm excited about twenty 52 00:03:16,253 --> 00:03:21,213 Speaker 3: years on the Sun, but I'm very excited about album. 53 00:03:21,253 --> 00:03:24,333 Speaker 2: Mate, tell me about On the Sun. How formative was 54 00:03:24,373 --> 00:03:27,173 Speaker 2: this album to how the band sound and operate today? 55 00:03:27,933 --> 00:03:33,533 Speaker 3: Well, yeah, I mean it's it's it's such a different band. 56 00:03:34,013 --> 00:03:38,453 Speaker 3: This is on last last weekend. We had Brett McKenzie, 57 00:03:39,453 --> 00:03:43,373 Speaker 3: you know from Flight to the Concord Fame, come back 58 00:03:43,453 --> 00:03:46,053 Speaker 3: and celebrate because he was playing keys on this album 59 00:03:46,093 --> 00:03:51,653 Speaker 3: and wrote brought Fire the tune Fire to our attention, 60 00:03:52,413 --> 00:03:58,053 Speaker 3: and we had Shannon Williams on bass and Rich Christy 61 00:03:58,133 --> 00:04:06,213 Speaker 3: on drums. And I think like this period is there's 62 00:04:06,213 --> 00:04:11,613 Speaker 3: a bit of naivety. There's just trying to young and 63 00:04:11,733 --> 00:04:15,973 Speaker 3: trying things and trying to achieve that. And I think 64 00:04:15,973 --> 00:04:19,973 Speaker 3: with Lee Pepper, who also recorded it, he's said that 65 00:04:20,053 --> 00:04:22,053 Speaker 3: as well, you know, like, how do we get you know, 66 00:04:22,053 --> 00:04:24,253 Speaker 3: we'd go to Lin and say, how do we make 67 00:04:24,333 --> 00:04:27,893 Speaker 3: this sound like this? And he's like, oh, yes, well, 68 00:04:28,973 --> 00:04:32,653 Speaker 3: you know I probably feed us, make us feel secure, 69 00:04:32,693 --> 00:04:34,453 Speaker 3: and give us some sort of answer, and then we'd 70 00:04:34,853 --> 00:04:39,893 Speaker 3: carry on. And so we've brought in you know, with fire, 71 00:04:39,933 --> 00:04:42,613 Speaker 3: it's got the funk part of it, and you can 72 00:04:42,653 --> 00:04:46,773 Speaker 3: feel some of those elements come into this album. And then, 73 00:04:48,653 --> 00:04:53,653 Speaker 3: you know, when Barney wrote brought the idea so true, 74 00:04:54,013 --> 00:04:57,973 Speaker 3: I personally didn't think. I didn't really think too much 75 00:04:57,973 --> 00:04:59,493 Speaker 3: of it. I thought, yeah, that's a love song, and 76 00:04:59,533 --> 00:05:01,373 Speaker 3: I'm not at that stage in my life where I'm 77 00:05:01,413 --> 00:05:05,413 Speaker 3: thinking about that. I've said it before. I think I 78 00:05:05,453 --> 00:05:09,293 Speaker 3: was in my nine inch al's face and it still am. 79 00:05:09,853 --> 00:05:12,733 Speaker 3: I still love that that heavier type of music. And 80 00:05:12,773 --> 00:05:18,573 Speaker 3: I didn't understand this, this what he was saying. And 81 00:05:18,573 --> 00:05:20,813 Speaker 3: and then the music taught me that. The song taught 82 00:05:20,813 --> 00:05:22,013 Speaker 3: me wonderful. 83 00:05:21,653 --> 00:05:23,373 Speaker 2: To see it being released on vinyl? Is this the 84 00:05:23,413 --> 00:05:24,893 Speaker 2: first album you've released on vinyl? 85 00:05:25,373 --> 00:05:29,453 Speaker 3: No, We've got our first album, Keep on Bushing, that 86 00:05:29,653 --> 00:05:34,653 Speaker 3: was released on vinyl. We've got a remix album from 87 00:05:34,693 --> 00:05:38,773 Speaker 3: many years ago that's on vinyl. Into the Dojo. That's 88 00:05:38,773 --> 00:05:42,853 Speaker 3: also on vinyl Classic Album and that's a that's a 89 00:05:42,893 --> 00:05:47,293 Speaker 3: gold vinyl. Yeah, this one the double LP. 90 00:05:48,773 --> 00:05:49,813 Speaker 2: Got a new track on there. 91 00:05:50,133 --> 00:05:54,253 Speaker 3: We've got two new tracks on here Rogan Josh and 92 00:05:56,373 --> 00:06:04,053 Speaker 3: so True in Terre murri and and that's this has 93 00:06:04,053 --> 00:06:07,493 Speaker 3: brought it to life again. Well a song that was 94 00:06:07,533 --> 00:06:13,853 Speaker 3: a romantic song, so true to a song that is 95 00:06:13,893 --> 00:06:17,813 Speaker 3: more of love for just the message of love, I 96 00:06:17,813 --> 00:06:23,613 Speaker 3: think is where Barney feels with that song. Yeah. 97 00:06:23,733 --> 00:06:26,133 Speaker 2: It's interesting because because you have been around for twenty 98 00:06:26,173 --> 00:06:28,933 Speaker 2: six years, you've seen the music industry, I imagine, change 99 00:06:28,973 --> 00:06:31,613 Speaker 2: an awful lot. We've seen the explosion of digital music. 100 00:06:31,653 --> 00:06:34,733 Speaker 2: We're seeing the re emergence of you know, of physical 101 00:06:34,773 --> 00:06:39,453 Speaker 2: media like vinyl and things. Does it actually does any 102 00:06:39,493 --> 00:06:45,053 Speaker 2: of that actually change the way a band functions and 103 00:06:45,173 --> 00:06:46,813 Speaker 2: exists or at the end of the day, is it's 104 00:06:46,813 --> 00:06:50,093 Speaker 2: still just the same. You get together, you write music, 105 00:06:50,453 --> 00:06:54,053 Speaker 2: you create, create the music, record the music to the music. 106 00:06:54,293 --> 00:06:56,973 Speaker 2: Is it still the same as it used to be? 107 00:06:57,733 --> 00:07:01,533 Speaker 3: That is still the same. I don't think that can change. 108 00:07:02,853 --> 00:07:09,413 Speaker 3: I think we have to adjust to social media and 109 00:07:10,093 --> 00:07:12,693 Speaker 3: and what what what do we need to bring? What 110 00:07:12,733 --> 00:07:15,733 Speaker 3: do how much do we share what are we sharing 111 00:07:15,933 --> 00:07:20,893 Speaker 3: and and understanding that and is and you know, you 112 00:07:20,893 --> 00:07:23,653 Speaker 3: can have so many pop ups of like if you 113 00:07:23,693 --> 00:07:28,333 Speaker 3: think posting every day is the way, then it's not. 114 00:07:28,693 --> 00:07:33,853 Speaker 3: It's subscribe to this and I the one one thing, 115 00:07:34,333 --> 00:07:36,453 Speaker 3: like the creative part of it. Yes, that is still 116 00:07:36,453 --> 00:07:40,253 Speaker 3: the same. I guess. We have more technology now to 117 00:07:40,613 --> 00:07:44,773 Speaker 3: record through each have an individual interface to record into 118 00:07:46,053 --> 00:07:52,493 Speaker 3: the last album. During COVID we had zoom sessions and 119 00:07:52,893 --> 00:07:56,453 Speaker 3: me and Nige, our keyboarders, could set share share those 120 00:07:56,453 --> 00:08:01,493 Speaker 3: sessions and so that was great. But yeah, I think 121 00:08:01,573 --> 00:08:04,413 Speaker 3: like this this social media has been something that we've 122 00:08:04,453 --> 00:08:09,053 Speaker 3: had to adjust to. Not everybody's keen on sharing in 123 00:08:09,093 --> 00:08:13,533 Speaker 3: that way, and sometimes you can get a bit burnt 124 00:08:13,533 --> 00:08:22,173 Speaker 3: out of using that device, your phone and sharing hey 125 00:08:22,213 --> 00:08:24,533 Speaker 3: this is what I've done today? Or do we have 126 00:08:24,573 --> 00:08:26,853 Speaker 3: the content to put in there and getting those sort 127 00:08:26,853 --> 00:08:32,893 Speaker 3: of yeah, and I think but the one thing with 128 00:08:33,173 --> 00:08:36,773 Speaker 3: this social media is that and there's changed from the 129 00:08:36,773 --> 00:08:41,253 Speaker 3: past is that we can connect directly to our fans, 130 00:08:41,453 --> 00:08:44,733 Speaker 3: and that's how I like, That's what I love about 131 00:08:44,733 --> 00:08:47,653 Speaker 3: it is that if someone's got the time to message 132 00:08:47,733 --> 00:08:52,693 Speaker 3: us on you know, recently on a post about the 133 00:08:52,733 --> 00:08:57,893 Speaker 3: fire video and then yes, and you can see it instantly. 134 00:08:58,013 --> 00:09:03,493 Speaker 3: How many people are sending great messages to it, and 135 00:09:03,533 --> 00:09:07,413 Speaker 3: it's like we need to message back with a sentence 136 00:09:07,453 --> 00:09:11,653 Speaker 3: and not just a heart. And I have to take 137 00:09:11,693 --> 00:09:12,973 Speaker 3: a step back, like I do a bit of the 138 00:09:13,013 --> 00:09:15,373 Speaker 3: social media, and I have to take a step back. 139 00:09:15,413 --> 00:09:19,333 Speaker 3: And my expectations on the other guys are like, no, 140 00:09:19,413 --> 00:09:22,453 Speaker 3: you're not. It's a headspace right to be in there 141 00:09:22,493 --> 00:09:25,253 Speaker 3: to reply back to somebody that you're probably never going 142 00:09:25,333 --> 00:09:30,253 Speaker 3: to meet. But I think of it as that and 143 00:09:30,293 --> 00:09:33,533 Speaker 3: you can't sell those ideas. You have to experience it 144 00:09:33,653 --> 00:09:36,813 Speaker 3: and get your head around it. It's like I'm I 145 00:09:36,853 --> 00:09:41,773 Speaker 3: can easily message people because because I've got my head 146 00:09:41,773 --> 00:09:45,213 Speaker 3: into that space when I'm not burnt out by social media. 147 00:09:45,333 --> 00:09:49,573 Speaker 2: It's interesting you mentioned doing the recording via zoom because 148 00:09:49,773 --> 00:09:52,653 Speaker 2: we think of you as famously a Wellington band, but really, 149 00:09:52,773 --> 00:09:54,093 Speaker 2: is there anyone left in Wellington. 150 00:09:55,853 --> 00:09:59,773 Speaker 3: Ryan Prebble, who's our latest guitarist, has played with us 151 00:09:59,813 --> 00:10:03,613 Speaker 3: for many years overseas. He is the only one in Wellington. 152 00:10:03,253 --> 00:10:07,653 Speaker 2: So we've got Wellington is represented. How does the band work? Then, 153 00:10:07,693 --> 00:10:10,693 Speaker 2: of course you've just been talking about that it's a 154 00:10:10,693 --> 00:10:13,733 Speaker 2: bad work because you just mentioned that album number eight 155 00:10:13,813 --> 00:10:15,933 Speaker 2: is and is in the work, So what happens do 156 00:10:16,013 --> 00:10:18,213 Speaker 2: you do? Do you do a certain amount separately and 157 00:10:18,213 --> 00:10:20,853 Speaker 2: then just sort of come together and go through that 158 00:10:20,853 --> 00:10:22,213 Speaker 2: in credit point, I. 159 00:10:22,173 --> 00:10:25,933 Speaker 3: Mean it's it's it's hard and you don't want to 160 00:10:25,973 --> 00:10:31,253 Speaker 3: think about it's it's frustrating, and which we we get 161 00:10:31,293 --> 00:10:36,093 Speaker 3: together like we did on the weekend, all stay in 162 00:10:36,173 --> 00:10:41,413 Speaker 3: the studio and just trying to bring ideas. I brought 163 00:10:41,413 --> 00:10:49,013 Speaker 3: an idea, Barney brings an idea, Johnny our drummer, and 164 00:10:49,173 --> 00:10:51,653 Speaker 3: we have some other demos that we had from the 165 00:10:51,693 --> 00:10:54,693 Speaker 3: previous session. So it's really in these small pockets of time. 166 00:10:55,253 --> 00:10:59,693 Speaker 3: So when we're down there, it is you know, ten 167 00:10:59,693 --> 00:11:04,053 Speaker 3: o'clock till if it's you know, three in the morning, 168 00:11:04,653 --> 00:11:08,173 Speaker 3: and that's not all of us, it's me and Bunny 169 00:11:08,293 --> 00:11:11,253 Speaker 3: are very big on Okay, if you've got a vocal 170 00:11:11,293 --> 00:11:17,093 Speaker 3: idea to just get down, let's just try it. Usually 171 00:11:17,133 --> 00:11:22,253 Speaker 3: I'll be there like doing some percussion, just trying to 172 00:11:22,373 --> 00:11:26,653 Speaker 3: use up that time as just be as productive as possible, 173 00:11:26,973 --> 00:11:30,613 Speaker 3: and usually near the end you get a bit burnt out. 174 00:11:31,013 --> 00:11:33,493 Speaker 3: So yeah, over the weekend it was like three point 175 00:11:33,493 --> 00:11:37,173 Speaker 3: thirty you're in bed. It's hard. 176 00:11:37,573 --> 00:11:40,453 Speaker 2: You mentioned before day jobs, and I think that's a 177 00:11:40,453 --> 00:11:44,893 Speaker 2: reality of being for most musicians in New Zealand, regardless 178 00:11:44,933 --> 00:11:47,533 Speaker 2: of whether you're touring the world or not. What do 179 00:11:47,533 --> 00:11:47,813 Speaker 2: you do? 180 00:11:48,373 --> 00:11:56,013 Speaker 3: I am a height safety supervisor. We install height safety 181 00:11:56,093 --> 00:12:01,893 Speaker 3: systems like letters that probably get into this building anchor 182 00:12:01,933 --> 00:12:05,293 Speaker 3: points that you would have up there. So I'm we're 183 00:12:05,293 --> 00:12:09,893 Speaker 3: making it safe, safe access. And so I supervise young 184 00:12:09,933 --> 00:12:14,133 Speaker 3: little crews for this company, Technical Rigging Services, which my 185 00:12:14,173 --> 00:12:16,693 Speaker 3: boss will be stoked about to get that on there. 186 00:12:16,733 --> 00:12:19,293 Speaker 2: And I really wasn't expecting you were going to say. 187 00:12:19,093 --> 00:12:22,293 Speaker 3: That, oh, the high safety supervisor. 188 00:12:22,693 --> 00:12:24,893 Speaker 2: I'm teaching or I work here, you know, like it's 189 00:12:24,893 --> 00:12:28,133 Speaker 2: sort of something within within. I like that that you've 190 00:12:28,173 --> 00:12:30,413 Speaker 2: got two different worlds. Although that is quite that'd be 191 00:12:30,493 --> 00:12:32,213 Speaker 2: quite a new racking job. You've got to get that right. 192 00:12:32,493 --> 00:12:36,293 Speaker 3: Yeah, you have to get that right. I think. 193 00:12:37,253 --> 00:12:37,573 Speaker 1: I think. 194 00:12:37,653 --> 00:12:40,813 Speaker 3: I think both my job with the Seeds and that 195 00:12:40,973 --> 00:12:46,333 Speaker 3: job have made me I think routine is I need 196 00:12:46,373 --> 00:12:50,493 Speaker 3: it and the responsibility that I have. I wasn't a 197 00:12:50,493 --> 00:12:55,413 Speaker 3: supervisor before in previous jobs, and that's just put me 198 00:12:55,453 --> 00:12:58,973 Speaker 3: in a in a good headspace for direction and what's 199 00:12:59,013 --> 00:13:04,373 Speaker 3: coming next? And and I think with the band, dealing 200 00:13:04,413 --> 00:13:10,413 Speaker 3: with other people has been helpful being a supervisor. It's 201 00:13:10,493 --> 00:13:13,173 Speaker 3: it's not easy if anybody would. 202 00:13:13,093 --> 00:13:15,693 Speaker 2: Know to have someone with better health and safety kind 203 00:13:15,733 --> 00:13:16,773 Speaker 2: of consciousness. 204 00:13:16,853 --> 00:13:22,413 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I'm the one of those guys is like, yeah, 205 00:13:22,413 --> 00:13:24,453 Speaker 3: they shouldn't have that post for a backstage. 206 00:13:24,493 --> 00:13:26,373 Speaker 2: It's like, did someone cover this cable please? 207 00:13:26,853 --> 00:13:29,013 Speaker 3: She should have cones and barriers over here. 208 00:13:29,093 --> 00:13:31,853 Speaker 2: I love it. I love it. Oh Dan, it's been 209 00:13:31,933 --> 00:13:34,773 Speaker 2: really good to talk to you. Enjoy celebrating this album. 210 00:13:34,933 --> 00:13:35,893 Speaker 3: Thank you so much. 211 00:13:35,933 --> 00:13:38,293 Speaker 2: Wait for the album number eight? When can we expect that. 212 00:13:37,973 --> 00:13:39,013 Speaker 3: That's going to be next year? 213 00:13:39,573 --> 00:13:39,853 Speaker 1: Yeah? 214 00:13:40,293 --> 00:13:44,413 Speaker 3: So yeah, you can get on the Sun. There's about 215 00:13:44,413 --> 00:13:47,133 Speaker 3: a thousand of these, like I was saying, have been pressed, 216 00:13:47,333 --> 00:13:51,733 Speaker 3: and yeah, we've got the bonus tracks on there as well, 217 00:13:51,973 --> 00:13:55,253 Speaker 3: and it's just a it's just a little beauty. Yeah, 218 00:13:55,613 --> 00:13:56,813 Speaker 3: so enjoy that. 219 00:13:56,973 --> 00:14:00,573 Speaker 2: Thanks for chatting, Thank you, and on the Sun. The 220 00:14:00,853 --> 00:14:03,733 Speaker 2: anniversary version is available now. 221 00:14:04,733 --> 00:14:07,853 Speaker 1: For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live 222 00:14:07,933 --> 00:14:10,733 Speaker 1: to News Talks at B from nine am Saturday, or 223 00:14:10,813 --> 00:14:12,693 Speaker 1: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.