What happens when you rant about federal banks and we happen to have a stack of fake $100 bills nearby? We give them to you to hold, and decide that it would be a fabulous touch to light them on fire. All in the name of a good photo, of course!
Tribal Seeds wandered into their interview with us sweaty, thirsty, and fresh from their outdoor set at the Sunset Strip Music Festival. Thank goodness we were there to provide them with refreshments and take the edge off. And thank goodness we took the edge off because that really facilitated us being able to engage them in some goofy antics.
Based out of San Diego, Tribal Seeds have become the band to watch in the reggae rock scene. The six member group, which features sibling duo Steven Rene and Tony-Ray Jacobo, has created a buzz with their spiritually driven and refreshing roots, rock, and reggae vibe. The guys sat down with ChinaShop to discuss the inspiration behind their controversial lyrics and explain how they were destined to be a reggae band.
Your bio says you have created an art form for rebel music enthusiasts. Can you elaborate on that?
Joe: We play roots reggae like Bob Marley/Steel Purse kinda style. We’re kind of reintroducing it to the masses so we’re just trying to spread the roots rock once again.
Tony: It’s just a rebel style. You know talking to the people about being positive, kind of questioning authority but not being negative about it. Not being violent about it, just being conscious and aware of more than just what’s being fed to you. To look for more information than just what’s out there.
What inspires most of your lyrics? Any one particular issue?
Steve: The world is run by banks – federal banks. They have control over the whole system so my lyrics come from how messed up that shit is. It sounds like it’s a movie or something but they are trying to control the whole world. That’s where my lyrics stem from. We have to acknowledge these issues. As logical people, we need to stand up against this and take a stand.
You guys had POD front man Sonny Sandoval as a special guest on the song ‘Warning.” How did that come about?
Tony: A mutual friend of ours brought us together. POD has known about our music for a long time now. It just seemed natural for him to come in. We both grew up in the same town in South San Diego and he found out about us and did that for us.
Joe: Big ups to POD too. They recently started to go on the road again after many years of not doing it.
Out of all the big reggae acts that you have shared the stage with, who was your favorite?
Joe: We’ve played with everybody! It’s just a pleasure to play reggae festivals!
How did you guys get so into reggae?
Tony: Steve is my brother and we grew up with it. My parents used to play reggae in the house as we were babies so we grew up with that and developed a great love and passion for it.
We weren’t able to catch your set today due to logistics but how was it out there?
Joe: It was great. We played as the doors open so you know how that goes. But it was so great to be part of this festival.
You were one of the curveball bands here. Everyone else was hard rock and dark makeup.
Carlos: Yeah! We like that. We got to play for people as they were coming it too. They were probably all mad from waiting in line.
Well then you appeased them as soon as they came in.
Joe: It was cool that we played first too. We got to get a big soundcheck.
Tony: We had a half hour set but the soundcheck and the load in was more relaxing for us.
Have you seen any noteworthy weirdoes on the strip yet?
Steve: Noteworthy? Not for me.
Carlos: We saw Keyshawn Johnson yesterday.
Where at?
Carlos: He drove by us. He had like P-Diddy lip-gloss on and stuff. It was kind of funny.
What’s the most controversial song that you’ve written?
Steve: “Vampire.”
What’s controversial about it?
Steve: Just fuck the system you know. Everyone thinks that we should vote. They think we have a say in what goes on but we don’t. It’s controversial. I know this but this is how we see it.
Have you always felt that way or did you have a revelation one day?
Steve: I always felt that was the way it went but when I started reading up and learning things how things really go, it only proved it. It influences my lyrics.
Your music has taken you to some strange places. How was playing in Guam?
Tony: Guam was tight. To just be able to fly to an island and get so much love over there. We played on the radio station where they play Britney Spears and Akon and it’s really cool to get that kind of love out there.
Joe: Aruba was tight too. They speak English. Different cultures and it was a good experience.
Carlos: We’re going to Hawaii in a couple of weeks. We’re headlining a festival out there. Hawaii is always fun.
Have you ever had any scary festival stories? Any crazy protestors or anything?
Carlos: We played at some scary places.
Tony: We played at some venues across the country that had some history.
Carlos: Weird vibes and stuff!
Steve: We played at a venue where the Nazi’s were trying to make that venue a command center for Hitler so that’s what they originally made that venue for. So now the whole place is just weird. The vibe is just gray. It was in Milwaukee. It’s called The Eagle’s Nest.
Joe: Reggae festivals are usually pretty good then. Oh and before we wrap, we have a new CD out called “Sound Waves EP” that just came out July 19th on iTunes. Check it out!
Words by Nicole Pajer (@NicolePajer) . Photos by Dustin Downing (@MeTakeaPhoto)
