Sinsemilia, also known as Sinsé, is a reggae band that was formed in Grenoble

Grenoble

Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...

, France in 1990. The name of the group is very similar to the cannabis plants "Sinsemilla," which are the unfertilised, thus seedless, female plants.

The band first used this name in concert at the Fête de la Musique in 1991, referring to the reggae album Sinsemilia by Black Uhuru. This first concert drew one thousand attendants, and in the following fifteen years more than one million albums have been sold.

Since the success of their first album and their single Tout le bonheur du monde, Sinsemilia has helped French reggae gain the attention of the media. In 2005, because of the success of Tout le bonheur du monde, they were invited by the editors of France 2 to appear on the 1 pm news. They began their performance but were quickly interrupted because of their politically charged song Bienvenue en Chiraquie, which provoked a small media scandal.

Before their latest album, their involvement with politics increased substantially. The solo careers of two of the singers and keyboard player, and their changes to an anticonformist and anti-consumption perspective has significantly delayed the release of their next album.

Members

For the first three albums:

• Riké - Guitar and Vocals
• Mike - Guitar and vocals
• Natty - Bass
• Ivan - Percussion
• Roukin - Percussion
• Fabin - Trumpet
• Loucos - Tenor Saxophone
• Carine - Alto Saxophone
• Zazz - Keyboard
• Chid - Sound effects
• Moussaya - Guitar

In 2003:

• Olivah - Joined on Trumpet
• Fabien - Experimented with Guitar and Keyboard

In 2005

• Loucos - Left the group
• Bozo - Replaced Loucos on Tenor Saxophone

In 2008:

• Ali - Keyboard
• Nordine - Guitar

Discography

• 1996 Première Récolte
• 1998 Résistance
• 2000 Tout c'qu'on a
• 2002 Sinsemilia part en live
• 2004 Debout, les yeux ouverts
• 2009 En Quête De Sens

Their next album: in the interim

In June 2003, Riké released a solo album called Air frais ("Fresh Air"), with more traditional French music. The lyrics of this album were written by Mike, Riké's childhood friend. The lyrics are considered by many to be moving, and are less politically engaged than the group's albums. The song Reveillez-Vous features Tiken Jah Fakoly. Riké hopes to continue his solo career, without forgetting Sinsemilia which remains dear to him. Riké released a single after Air Frais with the song Allez Savoir Pourquoi, which is of the "hardline" variety, a musical style that draws more and more than singer after his latest interviews. His second album Vivons! was released on January 29, 2007.

• Ivan works as a sound engineer for Wareika Hills, a reggae group from Grenoble.
• Fafa sings with Yoanna, a young Swiss singer who is accompanied by a group from Grenoble.
• Zazz is producing hip hop.
• Mike began his label ECHOPROD, and has signed artists such as Les Suprêmes Dindes, Pep's, Djemdi, Riké, and Junior Tshaka. The first release by his label was "Pas Vus à la Télé", a compilation of 70 French groups from all genres, with the hope of promoting artists who have never appeared on television but who have a nice sound. A second appearance on TV2 is already being planned.
• Bozo is present in some parts of Root'Secours' latest album Enfant Soldats, and has been invited to appear on Brahim's next album.
• Olivah has worked exclusively with JFK, a reggae group from Grenoble. He has produced and arranged a CD of 7 songs called Politricks, and has collaborated with many local and national groups.
• Natty and the Special Hommage Band (made up of musicians from Grenoble and Zazz and Roukin) have given many Bob Marley tribute concerts. The reviews of their concerts have been very positive.
• Many members of the group have also been approached by Tiken Jah Fakoly for different projects with African reggae groups.
• Sinsemilia's next album is in progress and will be released next summer.