NOLA’s WATER SEED Band Releases New Album, Wonderlove p.1 Today

+ Spring Tour Dates, Free Download

Soul-Funk-Jazz outfit, Water Seed, released its third studio album Tuesday, March 12 via iTunes and Amazon. The release is actually part one of a two-part project entitled Wonderlove, the latter half of which is scheduled to be released later this year. Departing from the more synth-heavy futuristic undercurrent of their last release, Water Seed’s Wonderlove p.1 roots their sound firmly in their New Orleans and Atlanta – bred Soul, Funk and Jazz sensibilities, with just enough Hip Hop for good measure. Keen to steer clear of the loathen genre label, “Neo-Soul,” the band’s five to eight pieces create the thick, rich sonic fabric only true Soul groups possess, perhaps making R&B a more appropriate label for their sound – original R&B, that is.

Dubbed “New Orleans’ Future Funk Stars,” Water Seed has been co-signed by Funk pioneers such as George Porter Jr. (of the legendary Meters) as well as soulful dance music producers like DJ Kemit (Arrested Development, Cooly’s Hotbox, Donnie), not to mention the countless DJs now lining up to remix their current project. As Star Watson of AOL’s City Best put it, Water Seed is “vibrant and loud like Prince, but soulful enough to gain more than any other typical, fast-paced R&B music.”

A few of the arrangements and even some of the vocal stylings on Wonderlove p.1 echo that of D’Angelo and live House aficionados, Tortured Soul, making for tunes that may very well make the cut into the “timeless track” list. The album’s first single for example, “Hues of Blue,” might have you guessing who the vocalist is, as the mid-range croon sounds just so familiar. But money on the table says that most if the musicians on this album are new to you. That is, unless you have been following the super underground modern Soul-Funk scene in New Orleans or Atlanta of late. Watch the official music video for “Hues of Blue” here. We are hooked on “Hues of Blue” already and digging the free download of the “Hues of Blue” B-side, available here.

Water Seed Record Release Show wsg Tortured Soul - Sunday, March 17

OffBeat Magazine is a proud sponsor of Water Seed’s official New Orleans record release party for Wonderlove p.1, which takes place Sunday, March 17 at 8pm at a Frenchmen Street location to be announced and will also feature, in addition to a fresh new set from Water Seed themselves, dance music cult staple, Tortured Soul live, and rising New Orleans DJ, OttO. OffBeat subscribers get in to the Water Seed record release party on 3/17 in New Orleans with Tortured Soul for FREE with advance RSVP here!

For those quality music fans outside New Orleans, if you have not had the opportunity to catch Water Seed live opening for fellow New Orleans favorites like the Rebirth Brass Band or the Soul Rebels Brass Band in New Orleans, Atlanta, New York and beyond in recent months, be sure look out for their Spring 2013 tour dates at The Nick in Birmingham, AL (3/15); Vinyl in Atlanta, GA (3/16); the famed Blue Note Music Club in New York City (4/12) and more. Their 3/16 and 3/17  tour dates will also feature Brooklyn-based funky electro-dance band, Tortured Soul. Select spring tour dates will also feature Atlanta’s DJ Kemit.

More: www.waterseedmusic.com

“Water Seed gives me hope!” –George Porter Jr. (The Meters) on the future of music