1. History

2. Roster
    Singer-songwriter  Rock  Afropop  Jazz 

3. Awards and nominations

4. See also

5. External links

6. References

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

• Farryl Purkiss
• 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

• Jaziel Brothers
• Lesego
• Mina Nawe
• Phinda
• Naledi

Jazz

• Jeff Maluleke
• McCoy Mrubata
• Winston Mankunku Ngozi
• Paul Hanmer
• Voice
• Louis Mhlanga
• Gavin Minter
• Tony Cox
• Ernie Smith

Awards and nominations

See also

• List of record labels

External links

• Sheer Sound official site

References

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

• Maurice Mandrillon
• Maurice Manificat
• Maurice Manning (Poet)
• Maurice Manning (poet)
• Maurice Mansergh
• Maurice, Margrave of Meissen
• Maurice Marie Alfred Couette
• Maurice Martel
• Maurice Maunoury
• Maurice Mavoungou
• Maurice McCanlis
• Maurice McCarthy (American football)
• Maurice McCrae Blackburn
• Maurice McDermott
• Maurice McIntyre
• Maurice McVeigh
• Maurice Mealing
• Maurice Merleau Ponty
• Maurice Meslans
• Maurice Meyricke
• Maurice Meyssonnier
• Maurice Michael Stephens
• Maurice Milliere
• Maurice Mitchell Paul
• Maurice "Mo" Carter