Sheer Sound is a South African independent record label formed in 1994 by Damon Forbes.
History Sheer Sound was formed in November 1994, shortly after South Africa's first democratic elections. The label was initially a home for jazz and world music and fast gained a reputation for its extensive South African and African jazz catalogue.
By the mid-1990s, a young music marketer, Damon Forbes, was getting restless with the limited vision of his industry.
"I sunk my teeth into jazz because it carried a world music message for me; it was truly culturally representative.... I just looked at the market and I saw the economics of the people of South Africa changing, due to better access to education.... [And] the workplace was going to change; a lot more black people getting into jobs that are of medium and higher income levels.... With all that, comes the aspiration to listen to better quality music. [So] the market, in the long term, is going to increase."
With what he calls "R5 000 (just over $500) and a dream", Forbes established his own label, Sheer Sound. (Ansell 1994:269)
In 2006 two imprint labels, Seed and 2Feet Music, were formed under the Sheer Sound umbrella and has since released some of the most prolific rock and singer-songwriter music, respectively, in South Africa.
Sheer grew over the years to represent Beggars Banquet group, Concord, Ninja Tune, Cooking Vinyl, World Circuit and numerous others. They were also the South African distributor for labels such as Carrot Top Records, Lusafrica, Palm Pictures, Shanachie, Telarc, and Union Square Music, with their own CDs having seen a global market largely through its folk/rock imprint, 2 Feet.
In late 2014 Sheer Sound was acquired by Times Media LTD / the Gallo Record Company, and the two companies were merged.
Roster Singer-songwriter Farryl Purkiss Jeremy Loops Chris Letcher Nibs van der Spuy Shawn Phillips Baz Corden Simon van Gend
Rock Wonderboom Myepic Cassette (Outside of RSA only) Bed on Bricks Paul E. Flynn Martin Rocka and The Sick Shop Misled Pestroy Insek Libido Gently Scar'd Underbelly New Academics Lionel Bastos Elusion The Dirty Skirts Mann Friday Gonzo Republic eVoid Walt
Afropop Jeff Maluleke Jaziel Brothers Lesego Mina Nawe Phinda Oliver Mtukudzi Naledi
Jazz McCoy Mrubata Winston Mankunku Ngozi Paul Hanmer Louis Mhlanga Sipho Gumede Gavin Minter Tony Cox Ernie Smith
Awards and nominations AwardYearArtistCategoryTitleResultSouth African Music Awards (SAMA)2009340mlBest Alternative AlbumSorry for the DelayWon340mlBest Duo or Group of the YearSorry for the DelayNominated340mlBest Album of the YearSorry for the DelayNominated340mlMTN Record of the YearSorry for the DelayNominated340mlBest ProducerSorry for the DelayNominated340mlBest EngineerSorry for the DelayWonErnie SmithBest Adult Contemporary Album (English)NominatedNibs van der SpuyBest Instrumental AlbumAutumn LightNominatedImbokodoBest Pop Album (African)NominatedJaziel BrothersBest Remix Of The YearNominatedThe Dirty SkirtsBest Rock AlbumDaddy Don't DiscoNominatedPaul E. FlynnBest Rock AlbumFieldsNominatedGavin MinterBest Traditional Jazz AlbumI'll Be Seeing YouNominatedZim NgqawanaBest Traditional Jazz AlbumWonOliver MtukudziBest Traditional/Adult Contemporary DVDNominated2008Jaziel BrothersBest Afro Pop AlbumThe BeginningWonUnderbellyBest Alternative Album"For A Cynical Science" NominatedInsekBest Alternative Album"Maaiers"NominatedNew AcademicsBest Alternative Album"City Of Strange"NominatedMcCoy MrubataBest Male Artist"Brasskap Sessions - Vol 1"NominatedMcCoy MrubataBest Traditional Jazz"Brasskap Sessions - Vol 1"NominatedJeff MalulekeBest Adult Contemporary African"A Twist Of Jeff"NominatedMusa Manzini & Lawrence Matshiza (For Jeff Maluleke)Best Producer"A Twist Of Jeff"NominatedPhindaBest Adult Contemporary African"Yithi Paha"NominatedJaziel BrothersBest PopAlbum"The Beginning"NominatedMina NaweBest Urban Pop Album"Njalo"NominatedTony CoxBest Instrumental Album"Blue Anthem"Won2007Paul HanmerBest Male Artist"Water & Lights"NominatedLesegoBest Newcomer"Mymusic"NominatedPaul HanmerBest Instrumental Jazz Album"Water & Lights"WonFour FortyBest Instrumental Jazz Album"Us+Them=1"NominatedChris LetcherBest Adult Contemporary Album: English"Frieze"NominatedWonderboomBest Rock Album: English"City Of Gold"NominatedChris LetcherBest Rock Album: English"Frieze"NominatedMartin Rocka and the Sick ShopBest Alternative Music Album"Through Sick & Sin"NominatedPranksterBest Alternative Music Album "Bravo"NominatedLesegoBest Pop Album: African "Mymusic"WonOliver MtukudziBest Compilation DVD"Wonai"Nominated2006PhindaBest Adult Contemporary Album: African"Mbheka Phesheya"Won2005Wessel van RensburgBest Instrumental Album"Song For E"WonMcCoy MrubataBest South African Traditional Jazz Album"Discovery"WonEvert de Munnick (Sakhile)Best Engineer"Togetherness"WonSipho Gumede & Ernie SmithBest Joint Composition""Won2004Zim NgqawanaBest Male Artist"Zimphonic Suites"WonZim NgqwanaBest South African Traditional Jazz Album "Zimphonic Suites"WonAndile Yenana & Winston Mankunku Ngozi (Winston Mankunku Ngozi)Best Producer ""WonPeter Pearlson (Zim Ngqwana)Best Engineer"Zimphonic Suites"WonGloria BosmanBest Female Composer"Nature Dances"WonMK Video Awards2008Chris LetcherBest Roadtrip Video"Deep Frieze"NominatedFarryl PurkissSexiest Video"Better Days"Nominated
See also List of record labels
References Ansell, Gwen. 2005. Soweto Blues. New York: Continuum Books. (The history of Sheer Sound taken from this book)
External links