Sheer Sound
Founded1994 (1994)
FounderDamon Forbes
Distributor(s)IRIS (South Africa)
GenreJazz, rock, world, Afropop, house
Country of originSouth Africa
Official websitewww.sheersound.co.za

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 "R1 500 (just over $200) and a dream", Forbes established his own label, Sheer Sound. (Ansell 2005:269)

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.

Roster

Singer-songwriter

Rock

Afropop

Jazz

Awards and nominations

Award Year Artist Category Title Result
South African Music Awards (SAMA)
2009 340ml Best Alternative Album Sorry for the Delay Won
340ml Best Duo or Group of the Year Sorry for the Delay Nominated
340ml Best Album of the Year Sorry for the Delay Nominated
340ml MTN Record of the Year Sorry for the Delay Nominated
340ml Best Producer Sorry for the Delay Nominated
340ml Best Engineer Sorry for the Delay Won
Ernie Smith Best Adult Contemporary Album (English) Nominated
Nibs van der Spuy Best Instrumental Album Autumn Light Nominated
Imbokodo Best Pop Album (African) Nominated
Jaziel Brothers Best Remix Of The Year Nominated
The Dirty Skirts Best Rock Album Daddy Don't Disco Nominated
Paul E. Flynn Best Rock Album Fields Nominated
Gavin Minter Best Traditional Jazz Album I'll Be Seeing You Nominated
Zim Ngqawana Best Traditional Jazz Album Won
Oliver Mtukudzi Best Traditional/Adult Contemporary DVD Nominated
2008 Jaziel Brothers Best Afro Pop Album The Beginning Won
Underbelly Best Alternative Album "For A Cynical Science" Nominated
Insek Best Alternative Album "Maaiers" Nominated
New Academics Best Alternative Album "City Of Strange" Nominated
McCoy Mrubata Best Male Artist "Brasskap Sessions - Vol 1" Nominated
McCoy Mrubata Best Traditional Jazz "Brasskap Sessions - Vol 1" Nominated
Jeff Maluleke Best Adult Contemporary African "A Twist Of Jeff" Nominated
Musa Manzini & Lawrence Matshiza (For Jeff Maluleke) Best Producer "A Twist Of Jeff" Nominated
Phinda Best Adult Contemporary African "Yithi Paha" Nominated
Jaziel Brothers Best PopAlbum "The Beginning" Nominated
Mina Nawe Best Urban Pop Album "Njalo" Nominated
Tony Cox Best Instrumental Album "Blue Anthem" Won
2007 Paul Hanmer Best Male Artist "Water & Lights" Nominated
Lesego Best Newcomer "Mymusic" Nominated
Paul Hanmer Best Instrumental Jazz Album "Water & Lights" Won
Four Forty Best Instrumental Jazz Album "Us+Them=1" Nominated
Chris Letcher Best Adult Contemporary Album: English "Frieze" Nominated
Wonderboom Best Rock Album: English "City Of Gold" Nominated
Chris Letcher Best Rock Album: English "Frieze" Nominated
Martin Rocka and the Sick Shop Best Alternative Music Album "Through Sick & Sin" Nominated
Prankster Best Alternative Music Album "Bravo" Nominated
Lesego Best Pop Album: African "Mymusic" Won
Oliver Mtukudzi Best Compilation DVD "Wonai" Nominated
2006 Phinda Best Adult Contemporary Album: African "Mbheka Phesheya" Won
2005 Wessel van Rensburg Best Instrumental Album "Song For E" Won
McCoy Mrubata Best South African Traditional Jazz Album "Discovery" Won
Evert de Munnick (Sakhile) Best Engineer "Togetherness" Won
Sipho Gumede & Ernie Smith Best Joint Composition "" Won
2004 Zim Ngqawana Best Male Artist "Zimphonic Suites" Won
Zim Ngqwana Best South African Traditional Jazz Album "Zimphonic Suites" Won
Andile Yenana & Winston Mankunku Ngozi (Winston Mankunku Ngozi) Best Producer "" Won
Peter Pearlson (Zim Ngqwana) Best Engineer "Zimphonic Suites" Won
Gloria Bosman Best Female Composer "Nature Dances" Won
MK Video Awards 2008 Chris Letcher Best Roadtrip Video "Deep Frieze" Nominated
Farryl Purkiss Sexiest Video "Better Days" Nominated

See also

References

  • Ansell, Gwen. 2005. Soweto Blues. New York: Continuum Books. (The history of Sheer Sound taken from this book)
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